Patterns
View chords used in this chart
Dm
The night sets softly
F Dm
With the hush of falling le-e-eaves,
Casting shivering shadows
C
On the houses through the trees,
Dm
And the light from a street lamp
F Dm
Paints a pattern on my wa-a-all,
C
Like the pieces of a puzzle
Bb C Dm
Or a child's uneven scrawl
Dm
Up a narrow flight of stairs
F Dm
In a narrow little ro-o-oom,
As I lie upon my bed
C
In the early evening gloom.
Dm
Impaled on my wall
F Dm
My eyes can dimly se-e-e
C
The pattern of my life
Bb C Dm
And the puzzle that is me.
Dm
From the moment of my birth
F Dm
To the instant of my de-e-eath,
There are Patterns I must follow
C
Just as I must breathe each breath.
Dm
Like a rat in a maze
F Dm
The path before me li-i-ies,
C
And the pattern never alters
Bb C Dm
Until the rat dies.
Dm
And the pattern still remains
F Dm
On the wall where darkness fe-e-ell,
And it's fitting that it should,
C
For in darknesss I must dwell.
Dm
Like the color of my skin,
F Dm
Or the day that I grow o-o-o-old,
C
My life is made of Patterns
Bb C Dm
That can scarcely be controlled.
How to play Patterns
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 Dm. 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.