ChordSongs
Rock

Gimme Shelter Chords

The Rolling Stones Intermediate Key of E 4 Chords 2 min read
C#mtap to play
Btap to play
Atap to play
Etap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
C#m · B · A · E

The Rolling Stones’ dark, urgent masterpiece about war, violence, and shelter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C#m.

Dark Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Play with capo on 4th fret using Am shapes. This song has a raw, desperate energy. Build from a restrained verse to an explosive chorus.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Am C
Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today
F C
If I don’t get some shelter
Am C
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 2

 
Am C
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ our very street today
F C
Burns like a red coal carpet
Am C
Mad bull lost its way
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 3

 
Am C
Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
Rape, murder yeah, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
The floods is threatening my very life today
F C
Gimme, gimme shelter
Am C
Or I’m gonna fade away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
 

Outro

 
Am C
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
F C
It’s just a kiss away
Am C
It’s just a kiss away, kiss away
F CAm
Kiss away
 

Practice tip: The Am-C-F-C progression gives this a dark, urgent feel. Practice building intensity throughout — start almost whispering and end at full volume. The dynamics tell the story.

C#mtap to play
Btap to play
Atap to play
Etap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
C#m · B · A · E

The Rolling Stones’ dark, urgent masterpiece about war, violence, and shelter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C#m.

Dark Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Play with capo on 4th fret using Am shapes. This song has a raw, desperate energy. Build from a restrained verse to an explosive chorus.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Am C
Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today
F C
If I don’t get some shelter
Am C
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 2

 
Am C
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ our very street today
F C
Burns like a red coal carpet
Am C
Mad bull lost its way
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 3

 
Am C
Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
Rape, murder yeah, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
The floods is threatening my very life today
F C
Gimme, gimme shelter
Am C
Or I’m gonna fade away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
 

Outro

 
Am C
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
F C
It’s just a kiss away
Am C
It’s just a kiss away, kiss away
F CAm
Kiss away
 

Practice tip: The Am-C-F-C progression gives this a dark, urgent feel. Practice building intensity throughout — start almost whispering and end at full volume. The dynamics tell the story.

C#mtap to play
Btap to play
Atap to play
Etap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
C#m · B · A · E

The Rolling Stones’ dark, urgent masterpiece about war, violence, and shelter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C#m.

Dark Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Play with capo on 4th fret using Am shapes. This song has a raw, desperate energy. Build from a restrained verse to an explosive chorus.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Am C
Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today
F C
If I don’t get some shelter
Am C
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 2

 
Am C
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ our very street today
F C
Burns like a red coal carpet
Am C
Mad bull lost its way
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 3

 
Am C
Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
Rape, murder yeah, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
The floods is threatening my very life today
F C
Gimme, gimme shelter
Am C
Or I’m gonna fade away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
 

Outro

 
Am C
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
F C
It’s just a kiss away
Am C
It’s just a kiss away, kiss away
F CAm
Kiss away
 

Practice tip: The Am-C-F-C progression gives this a dark, urgent feel. Practice building intensity throughout — start almost whispering and end at full volume. The dynamics tell the story.

C#mtap to play
Btap to play
Atap to play
Etap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
C#m · B · A · E

The Rolling Stones’ dark, urgent masterpiece about war, violence, and shelter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C#m.

Dark Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Play with capo on 4th fret using Am shapes. This song has a raw, desperate energy. Build from a restrained verse to an explosive chorus.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Am C
Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today
F C
If I don’t get some shelter
Am C
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 2

 
Am C
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ our very street today
F C
Burns like a red coal carpet
Am C
Mad bull lost its way
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 3

 
Am C
Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
Rape, murder yeah, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
The floods is threatening my very life today
F C
Gimme, gimme shelter
Am C
Or I’m gonna fade away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
 

Outro

 
Am C
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
F C
It’s just a kiss away
Am C
It’s just a kiss away, kiss away
F CAm
Kiss away
 

Practice tip: The Am-C-F-C progression gives this a dark, urgent feel. Practice building intensity throughout — start almost whispering and end at full volume. The dynamics tell the story.

C#mtap to play
Btap to play
Atap to play
Etap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
C#m · B · A · E

The Rolling Stones’ dark, urgent masterpiece about war, violence, and shelter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C#m.

Dark Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Play with capo on 4th fret using Am shapes. This song has a raw, desperate energy. Build from a restrained verse to an explosive chorus.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Am C
Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today
F C
If I don’t get some shelter
Am C
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 2

 
Am C
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ our very street today
F C
Burns like a red coal carpet
Am C
Mad bull lost its way
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 3

 
Am C
Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
Rape, murder yeah, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
The floods is threatening my very life today
F C
Gimme, gimme shelter
Am C
Or I’m gonna fade away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
 

Outro

 
Am C
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
F C
It’s just a kiss away
Am C
It’s just a kiss away, kiss away
F CAm
Kiss away
 

Practice tip: The Am-C-F-C progression gives this a dark, urgent feel. Practice building intensity throughout — start almost whispering and end at full volume. The dynamics tell the story.

C#mtap to play
Btap to play
Atap to play
Etap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
C#m · B · A · E

The Rolling Stones’ dark, urgent masterpiece about war, violence, and shelter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C#m.

Dark Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Play with capo on 4th fret using Am shapes. This song has a raw, desperate energy. Build from a restrained verse to an explosive chorus.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Am C
Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today
F C
If I don’t get some shelter
Am C
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 2

 
Am C
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ our very street today
F C
Burns like a red coal carpet
Am C
Mad bull lost its way
 

Chorus

 
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
War, children, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Verse 3

 
Am C
Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
Rape, murder yeah, it’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
 

Chorus

 
Am C
The floods is threatening my very life today
F C
Gimme, gimme shelter
Am C
Or I’m gonna fade away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
F C
It’s just a shot away
Am C
It’s just a shot away
 

Outro

 
Am C
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
F C
It’s just a kiss away
Am C
It’s just a kiss away, kiss away
F CAm
Kiss away
 

Practice tip: The Am-C-F-C progression gives this a dark, urgent feel. Practice building intensity throughout — start almost whispering and end at full volume. The dynamics tell the story.