American Pie by Don McLean
Welcome to my American Pie chords and guitar lesson by Don McLean. This is a song that I love and hate. I love it because it has a lot of different chords. None of which are barre chords! I also this is it a bit of lyrical genius.
What I don’t like? It’s so damn long!!!
When I used to do this song in lessons with students, we would usually do one or two versus and move on since the full song is almost 9 minutes!
Let’s check out the chords we will be using on this song first.
AMERICAN PIE CHORDS:
AMERICAN STRUMMING PATTERNS:
Simple Strum:
1 + 2+ 3+ 4+
D DU D DU
Strumming Pattern:
1 + 2+ 3+ 4+
D DU U DU
AMERICAN PIE CHORDS BY DON MCLEAN
We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.
Verse: One Strum Per Chord
G D Em
A long, long time ago
Am C Em D
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.
G D Em Am C
And I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance
Em C D
and maybe they'd by happy for a while.
Em Am Em Am
But February made me shiver with every paper I'd deliver.
C G Am C D
Bad news on the doorstep. I couldn't take one more step
G D Em Am7 D
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride,
G D Em C D7 G
Something touched me deep inside the day the music died.
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.
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?
Am C Em A7 D7 D7
Can music save your mortal soul? and can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Em Am Em Am
Well I know that you're in love with him 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym,
|C G| A7 C D7
You both kicked off your shoes, Man I dig those rhythm and blues!
| G D | Em Am C
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck, with a pink carnation and a pick-up truck.
|G D| Em C D7 |G C |
But I knew that I was out of luck the day, the music died.
|G D7|
I started singing....
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.
So forth and so on….
Final Verse:
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.
G D Em Am C
I went down to the sacred store. Where I heard the music years before.__
Em C D
But the 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.
C G Am C D
But not a word was spoken.__ The church__ bells_ all_ were_ broken.
G D Em Am7 D
And the three men I admire most: the father, Son and the Holy Ghost__
G D Em C D7 G
They caught the last train for the coast the day, the music died.
|G D7 |
And they were singing:
Chorus twice, ending: this'll be the day that I die
This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.