Black
View chords used in this chart
This is Aaron Lewis covering one of Pearl Jam's best songs.
Amazing live performance, just like Outside.
Standard Tuning EADGBe
Intro & First Verse...
Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay.
Her legs spread out before me, as her body holds still.
All five horizons, revolve around her soul - like the Earth to the Sun.
Now the air I tasted and breathed, has taken a turn.
e|---6---6---6---6---8--|--4---4------4---4---4--|
B|---8---8---8---8---8--|--4---4------4---4---4--|
G|---6---6---6---6---8--|--5---5------5---4---5--|
D|---8---8---8---8---8--|--6---6------6---6---6--|
A|---6---6---6---6---8--|--6---6------6---6---6--|
E|----------------------|--4---4------4---4---4--|
Pre-Chorus...
And all I taught her, was everything.
I know she gave me all that she wore.
e|---7---7---7---7----|---6---6---6---6----|
B|---7---7---7---7----|---6---6---6---6----|
G|---8---8---8---8----|---8---8---8---8----|
D|---9---9---9---9----|---8---8---8---8----|
A|---9---9---9---9----|---6---6---6---6----|
E|---7---7---7---7----|--------------------|
Chorus...
And now my bitter hands, shake beneath the clouds, of what was everything.
All the pictures, have been washed in black, tattooed everything.
e|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
B|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
G|---6---6------6---6---6---|---4---4------4---4---|---8---8------8---8---|
D|---6---6------6---6---6---|---4---4------4---4---|---8---8------8---8---|
A|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
E|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
Verse...
I take a walk outside, I'm surrounded by some kids at play.
I can feel their laughter, what can I say?
e|---6---6---6---6---8--|--4---4------4---4---4--|
B|---8---8---8---8---8--|--4---4------4---4---4--|
G|---6---6---6---6---8--|--5---5------5---4---5--|
D|---8---8---8---8---8--|--6---6------6---6---6--|
A|---6---6---6---6---8--|--6---6------6---6---6--|
E|----------------------|--4---4------4---4---4--|
Pre-Chorus...
And twisted thoughts that spin 'round my head - I'm spinning, I'm spinning.
How quick the Sun it can, drop away.
e|---7---7---7---7----|---6---6---6---6----|
B|---7---7---7---7----|---6---6---6---6----|
G|---8---8---8---8----|---8---8---8---8----|
D|---9---9---9---9----|---8---8---8---8----|
A|---9---9---9---9----|---6---6---6---6----|
E|---7---7---7---7----|--------------------|
Chorus...
And now my bitter hands, cradle broken glass, of what was everything.
All the pictures have been washed in black, tattooed everything.
All my love gone bad, turned my world to black.
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all that I'll ever be.
I know some day you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be the Sun.
In somebody else's skies, but why, why, can't it be mine?
e|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
B|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
G|---6---6------6---6---6---|---4---4------4---4---|---8---8------8---8---|
D|---6---6------6---6---6---|---4---4------4---4---|---8---8------8---8---|
A|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
E|---4---4------4---4---4---|---2---2------2---2---|---6---6------6---6---|
That's all folks!
How to play Black
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is B. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.