This American Life
View chords used in this chart
Ocultar tablatura
Intro/verse 1:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6-----------|
D|---------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9-----------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5---------------5--5-5---------------5--5-5-------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-9-----------------------------------------------------|
D|---------7-7-9-9-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Repeat 4x
Pre-Chorus
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9--------9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----------|
D|--------------------------9h11-9-------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Chorus:
Bm D
it's hard to tell as daytime
Bm D
becomes confused with night time.
Bm D
there's just never enough time.
E
i'm always tired.
Bm D
it's hard to make the most of
Bm D
being so lucky
Bm D
when i feel like a ghost
E
most of the time.
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Interlude:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------5----------------------5-----------------------5----------------|
G|---------6---6-7-7-6-7-6--------6---6-7-7-6-7-9---------6---6-6--7-6-7-6---|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5-----------------5--5-5------------------5--5-5--------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------5---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------6---6-7-6---------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5-------------------------------------------------------------------|
verse 2:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6-----------|
D|---------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9-----------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5---------------5--5-5---------------5--5-5-------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-9-----------------------------------------------------|
D|---------7-7-9-9-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Repeat 2x
Pre-Chorus
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9--------9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----------|
D|--------------------------9h11-9-------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Chorus:
Bm D
i'm working every day now
Bm D
slaving to a wage now.
Bm D
it drives me insane
E
how hopeless i feel.
Bm D
i'm going to die someday,
Bm D
and that should be okay,
Bm D
because that's how it is.
E
that's how it goes.
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Solo:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----9-9----9-9----11-11----11-11----12-12----12-12----14-14----14-14------|
A|--0------0------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----9-9----9-9----11-11----11-11----12-12----12-12----14-14-14-14-14-14---|
A|--0------0------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Do your own little solo thing for the length of the above part, it's more fun to make it up yourself
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----9-9----9-9----11-11----11-11----12-12----12-12----14-14----14-14------|
A|--0------0------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----9-9----9-9----11-11----11-11----12-12----12-12----14-14-14-14-16-16---|
A|--0------0------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
verse 3:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------7---------7---9----------7----------7---9--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5----------5-------------5-----------5-----------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| 4x
E|--5--5-5-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6-9-9-9-9-9-|
D|---------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9-----------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5---------------5--5-5---------------5--5-5-------------------------|
Chorus:
Bm D
they happen every day now,
Bm D
in almost every minute.
Bm D
they happen when i want them,
E
and when i don't.
Bm D
i'm missing, and these moments
Bm D
only make me lonely.
Bm D
they only make me wish
E
i could go back home.
Ocultar tablatura
Outro:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6----------------6-7-6-----------|
D|---------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9--------------7-7-9-9-----------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5---------------5--5-5---------------5--5-5-------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------6-7-9-----------------------------------------------------|
D|---------7-7-9-9-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5--5-5-------------------------------------------------------------------|
How to play This American Life
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.