“American Pie” by Don McLean is a timeless classic, beloved by generations. For guitar players, it’s also a fantastic song to learn, offering a great introduction to common chord progressions and strumming patterns. If you’re looking for Guitar Chords For American Pie, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide you with the chords you need to play this iconic song, making it accessible for guitarists of all levels, especially beginners.
The song primarily uses a set of fundamental chords that are staples in many popular songs. Let’s break down the chords for each section to make learning easier.
For the Verse, you’ll be playing these chords in a repeating sequence:
Verse: G Am, C Am
Did you write the book of love and do you have faith in God above?
Em D D |G D| Em
If the Bible tells you so Now do you believe in rock and roll? Can
Am C Em A7
music save your mortal soul? and can you teach me how to dance real slow? Well I
D7 D7
know that you're in love with him 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym, you
Em Am Em Am
both kicked off your shoes, Man I dig those rhythm and blues! I was a
|C G| A7 C D7
lonely teenage broncin' buck, with a pink carnation and a pick-up truck but I
| G D | Em Am C
knew that I was out of luck the day, the music died.
|G D| Em C D7 |G C |
|G D7| I started singing....Alt text: Easy guitar chords diagram showing G, Am, C, Em, and D for learning American Pie.
The Chorus of “American Pie” is instantly recognizable and uses a slightly different chord progression that’s still very approachable. Get ready to strum along with these chords:
Chorus: Start Strumming
|G C| |G D| |G C|
So bye-bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee but the
|G D| |G C| |G D|
levee was dry, them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing
Em A7 Em D D
this'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.And finally, the Final Verse brings a poignant close to the song, maintaining a similar chord structure to the opening verses with a few variations:
Final Verse: (One Strum)
G D Em
I met a girl who sang the blues so
Am C Em D
I asked her for some happy news but she just smiled__ and turned away. I went
G D Em Am C
down to the sacred store. Where I heard the music years before. But the
Em C D
man there said the music wouldn't play.__ And
Em Am Em Am
in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed. But
C G Am C D
not a word was spoken.__ The church__ bells_ all_ were_ broken. And the
G D Em Am7 D
three men I admire most: the father, Son and the Holy Ghost they
G D Em C D7 G
caught the last train for the coast the day, the music died.
|G D7 | And they were singing:Alt text: Guitar player learning American Pie chords from a chart for practice and musical enjoyment.
Learning “American Pie” on guitar is a rewarding experience. The song’s structure is repetitive, making it easier to memorize the chord changes. Start slowly, focusing on clean chord transitions. Once you’re comfortable with the changes, you can gradually increase your strumming speed. Experiment with different strumming patterns to find what sounds best to you. “American Pie” is typically strummed with a fairly simple down-down-up-down-up pattern, but feel free to explore and make it your own.
With a little practice, you’ll be playing guitar chords for American Pie and singing along to this classic tune in no time. Enjoy making music!
