Blues Is King
View chords used in this chart
Intro: F# D E (4x) F#
D E F# D E
Blues is king, a beautiful thing
F# D E
You just don't know whenever
F#
You're done by the one you love
F# D E
And the joke's on you
F# D E
If you don't know it's true
F# D E
If you lose your dreams
F#
You'll know what I'm thinking of
E D7+ A7+ D7+ A7+
Yeah, blues is king, so let it ring
D7+ A7+ G E
Surrender do, to the sound so real and true
D7+ A7+ D7+ A7+
And relax your mind, go on, you'll be fine
D7+ A7+ G C7+
Surrender do, 'cause you'll never displace it
Am7 Eb F G Eb G7+
So face it, blues is king
F# D E F# D E
As the sun descends, rain begins
F# D E F#
Everything in view is a dull shade of blue
F# D E F# D E
And the traffic sounds, the lights uptown
F# D E F#
Make a sad and uninviting scene to walk into
E D7+ A7+
But the blue of the night
D7+ A7+
Everything in daylight
D7+ A7+ G E
Don't even begin, to be as blue as the mood I'm in
D7+ A7+ D7+ A7+
You go out alone, on their way home
D7+ A7+ G C7+
I'm wandering on, remembering only
Am7 Eb F G Eb G
That I'm lonely and blues is king
F# D E F# D E
Blues is king, a beautiful thing
F# D E
You just don't know whenever
F#
You're torn by the one you love
F# D E
And the joke's on you
F# D E
If you don't know it's true
F# D E
If you lose your dreams
F#
You'll know what I'm thinking of
E D7+ A7+ D7+ A7+
Yeah, blues is king, so let it ring
D7+ A7+ G E
Surrender do, to the sound so real and true
D7+ A7+ D7+ A7+
Just relax your mind, go on, you'll be fine
D7+ A7+ G C7+
Surrender do, 'cause you'll never displace it
Am7 Eb F G Eb G Eb7+ F G
So face it, blues is king
How to play Blues Is King
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 F#. 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.