Saturday 19 March 2011

popular songs + (piano/keyboard chords)

My Heart Will Go On
(Theme to "Titanic", by J. Horner/W. Jennings (in C with no key change)

Intro Am G F9 G

Verse 1
C G F C G
Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you
C G F
That is how I know you go on
C G F C G
Far across the distance and spaces between us
C G F
You have come to show you go on

Chorus
Am G F9 G
Near, far, wherever you are
Am G F9 Em Dm
I believe that the heart does go on
Am G F9 G
Once more you open the door
Am G F9 C G C
And you`re here in my heart and my heart will go on and on

Verse 2

Love can touch us one time, and last for a life time
And never let go till we`re gone
Love was when I loved you one true time I hold to
In my life will always go on

(Chorus)

Link Am G F G Am G F Am G

Chorus 3

You`re here there`s nothing I fear
And I know that my heart will go on
We`ll stay forever this way
You are safe in heart and my heart will go on and on


Candle In The Wind

Elton John/Bernie Taupin (Princess Diana Tribute Version)

Intro G F C G F

Verse 1
C F
Goodbye England`s rose; may you ever grow in our hearts,
C/E F Bb/F F
You were the grace that placed itself where lives were torn apart.
C F
You called out to our country, and you whispered to those in pain.
C/E F Bb/F F
Now you belong to heaven, and the stars spell out your name.

Chorus
G C F
And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind:
C G C/G G
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in.
F Am
And your footsteps will always fall here, along England`s greenest hills;
G C/G G
Your candle burned out long before
F C/E F C G F C G
your legend ever will.


Verse 2

Loveliness we`ve lost; these empty days without your smile.
This torch we`ll always carry for our nation`s golden child.
And even though we try, the truth brings us to tears;
All our words cannot express the joy you brought us through the years.

Verse 3

Goodbye England`s rose; may you ever grow in our hearts,
You were the grace that placed itself where lives were torn apart.
Goodbye England`s rose, from a country lost without your soul,
Who`ll miss the wings of your compassion more than you`ll ever know.


Happy Birthday (in G)

G D
Happy Birthday to you
D G
Happy Birthday to you
G/B C
Happy Birthday dear ............
G D G
Happy Birthday to you

The song is often sung in F major. Here the chords are more difficult for the guitar. It's pitched slighty lower and may suite your voice more. Here the first note sung is a "C", moving to a "D" on the first chord.

Happy Birthday (in F)

F C
Happy Birthday to you
C F
Happy Birthday to you
F/A Bb
Happy Birthday dear ............
F C F
Happy Birthday to you

Of course you could always start the song in F, and then sing it again up a tone in G. Now that would be really impressive!


Amazing Grace

The lyrics to the song "Amazing Grace", penned by the slave trader turned church minister John Newton (b.1725), is one of the best known christian hymns. It resonates with believers in Christ because it speaks vividly of God's love for humanity. The song is also popular with human rights activists due to its connection with slave trading and Newton's testimony. The song recently featured in the film "Amazing Grace" (2006, directed by Michael Apted) chartering the campaign led by William Wilberforce to overturn slave trading.


Amazing Grace

G C G
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
Em D D7
That saved a wretch like me!
G C G
I once was lost, but now am found;
Em D7 G
Was blind, but now I see.

G C G
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
Em D D7
And grace my fears relieved;
G C G
How precious did that grace appear
Em D7 G
The hour I first believed.

G C G
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
Em D D7
I have already come;
G C G
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
Em D7 G
And grace will lead me home.

G C G
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Em D D7
Bright shining as the sun,
G C G
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Em D G
Than when we'd first begun.





And here's the song again, this time in the more conventional key of F major. This is more difficult for the guitar as it involves the barre chords of F and Bb. However, this pitch is generally easier for most people to sing at.

Amazing Grace

F Bb F
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
Dm C c7
That saved a wretch like me!
F Bb F
I once was lost, but now am found;
Dm C7 F
Was blind, but now I see.

F Bb F
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
Dm C C7
And grace my fears relieved;
F Bb F
How precious did that grace appear
Dm C7 F
The hour I first believed.

F Bb F
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
Dm C C7
I have already come;
F Bb F
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
Dm C7 F
And grace will lead me home.

F Bb F
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Dm C C7
Bright shining as the sun,
F Bb F
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Dm C F
Than when we'd first begun.


Yesterday
Folk legend has it that Paul McCartney dreamt the entire melody of "Yesterday", and then scurried down stairs on waking and recorded it on the piano in case he should forget it. "Yesterday" is the most covered song in musical history (there are at least 3000 different versions in existence!) and is one of the best known songs of all time. However, the song was not without controversey for the Beatles. Although attributed to "Lennon/McCartney", the music and lyrics were entirely McCartney's own work. When the work was originally first recorded and performed, Paul was the only band member singing and performing the song (accompanied by a string quartet). Such was the other band members disquiet that they vetoed it's release as a single in the UK. (The work was later released in 1976, 6 years after the break-up of the band).


Whilst the melody to "Yesterday" may have a simple and nursery-like quality to it, the chord structure is quite the opposite. In the space of two lines of melody, there are seven different chords. A challenge for both keyboard player and guitarist alike!


Yesterday
(The Beatles)

Verse 1
F Em7 A Dm Dm/C
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away
Bb C7 F C Dm G7 Bb F
Now I need a place to hide away oh I believe in yesterday

Verse 2

Suddenly I'm not half the man I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me oh I believe in yesterday

Middle 8
Em A7 Dm Bb Gm C7 F
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say
Em A7 Dm Bb Gm C7 F
I said some thing wrong now I long for yesterday

Verse 3

Yesterday love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away oh I believe in yesterday

(repeat middle 8 then verse 3)

(finish by repeating the last line: "I believe in yesterday" to "mm"


"Ghost" song
One of the most popular songs of the 20th century, "Unchained Melody" has been recorded by numerous artists and performers. Perhaps the most famous version, by "The Righteous Brothers" saw a revival in 1990 when used in the film "Ghost", starring the late Patrick Swayze.
A relatively easy song for the guitar, with just the C#m and G#m the tricky chords to look out for. However, E major is more challanging key for the pianist or keyboard player, with almost every chord containing a black key or two.


Unchained Melody
(music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret)

Verse 1
E C#m A
Whoa my love My darling
B E C#m
I've hungered for your touch alone
B
Lonely times
E C#m A
And time goes by so slowly
B E
And time can do so much
C#m B
Are you still mine

Chorus
E B
I need your love.
C#m G#m
I need your love.
A B E E7
Darling, speed your love to me.

Bridge
A B A G
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea.
A B E
To the open arms of the sea.
A B A G
Lonely rivers sigh wait for me, wait for me.
A B E
I'll be coming home. Wait for me.

Verse 2

Whoa. my love. My darling.
I've hungered, hungered for your touch, for love
Lonely times.
I know time goes by so slowly,
And time can do so much.
Are you still mine?

(repeat chorus)

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