Forty Shades Of Grey
View chords used in this chart
A|----5------------------5-----------|---3----8----------5--------5------------|
E|----3--------------------3---------|-------------------3---------3-----------|
Repeat over these chords. Play 10th fret Gm here.
Gm Bb F Eb x2
e|-------------------13--------------|--------------------13----------------------|
B|-------------10-11----11-10-11-----|--------------10-11----11-10-11-------------|
G|----12-12-12-----------------------|----12-12-12--------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------13--------------|--------------------------------------------|
B|-------------10-11----11-10-11-----|--------------10-11-------------------------|
G|----12-12-12-----------------------|----12-12-12-----------10-10--8-8-----------|
D|-----------------------------------|-----------------------10-10--8-8-----------|
A|-----------------------------------|-----------------------8--8---6-6-----------|
E|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
strum once
Gm Bb
All shades are grey with no end in sight
F Eb
So we turned the lock and key and held the night-light tight
Gm Bb
When it feels just like the sun will never touch this place
F Eb
We spent our lives just counting lines and pulling out greys
[Verse 1]
Gm Bb
Keep it up, son, keep it up, you’re doin’ alright,
F Eb
it’s just a broken heart in a dole queue line
Gm Bb
You’ll never teach an old dog, teach an old dog new tricks
F Eb
You watch your grave get deeper with every shovel you dig
Gm Bb
I met an old man on the street the other day
F Eb
He taught me about the right and wrongs of having your way
Gm Bb
He said “You’ll never win it if you play life like a game
F Eb
Or if you look straight through a person just for something to gain
Gm Bb
There is no baby born in this life that is better than you
F Eb
There is no feudal forced agenda in the womb, it’s true
Gm Bb
The cross and crown have left it a little hard to cope
F Eb
But you’ll never lose sight if you never lose hope.”
[Pre-Chorus]
F Eb
There are billions of other people in this world and no-one has a clue
F
Take these words please don’t keep them to yourself
Gm Eb F F
Because these words are all I have to give to you
[Chorus]
Bb F Eb Gm F Bb
We have all been down, that’s the way life is
F Eb Gm F Gm
We have all worn frowns instead of smiling, kid
Bb F Eb Gm F Bb
We have all been down, but we’ll get up again
Bb F Eb Gm F Gm
Not all kings wear crowns, at least you have your friends
Intro riff again
[Verse 2]
Gm Bb
Intelligence seemed a solid ground
F Eb
But when you try to pin it down you see that holes are found
Gm Bb
“Dumb” just means you missed the point
F
Or else you’re working on a different level
Eb Gm
Never let them tell you that you’re thick
Bb
Or that you’re underachieving
F
They’re the ones who picked your goals
Eb
So don’t believe them when they say
Gm Bb F Eb
“You’ve let yourself down, let us all down.”
[Refrain]
Gm Eb
Beside my college is an unemployment office, there’s a nightclub next to a funeral home
Gm Eb
Beside my college is an unemployment office, there’s a nightclub next to a funeral home
Gm Bb F Eb
it’s in one door and it’s out the other, sometimes it’s in one door and I’m goin’ home
Gm Bb F Eb
it’s in one door and it’s out the other, sometimes it’s in one door and I’m goin’ home
[Pre-Chorus]
F Eb
There are billions of other people in this world and no-one has a clue
F
Take these words please don’t keep them to yourself
Gm Eb F F
Because these words are all I have to give to you
[Chorus]
Bb F Eb Gm F Bb
We have all been down, that’s the way life is
F Eb Gm F Gm
We have all worn frowns instead of smiling, kid
Bb F Eb Gm F Bb
We have all been down, but we’ll get up again
Bb F Eb Gm F Gm
Not all kings wear crowns, at least you have your friends
Bb F Gm Eb Gm F
Bb F Gm Eb Gm F
[Outro]
Bb F Gm Eb Gm F
We have all been down (I picked the right one, I picked the right one now)
Bb F Gm Eb Gm F
We have all been down (I picked the long way, the long way to the ground)
Bb F Gm Eb Gm F
We have all been down (I picked the right one, I picked the right one now)
Bb F Gm Eb Gm F
We have all been down (I picked the long way, the long way to the ground)
How to play Forty Shades Of Grey
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 A. 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.