Rock

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords

Procol Harum Intermediate Key of C 6 Chords 3 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

C · Am · F · Dm · G · Em

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords – Guitar

Procol Harum’s iconic psychedelic ballad with a Bach-inspired organ melody. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Soulful Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Emphasize the descending bass line feel with your chord changes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

We skipped the light fandango

Am

Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor

F G

I was feeling kind of seasick

C

The crowd called out for more

Am

The room was humming harder

F G

As the ceiling flew away

C

When we called out for another drink

Am F

The waiter brought a tray

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Verse 2

C

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Am

Who were leaving for the coast

F G

And although my eyes were open

C

They might have just as well’ve been closed

Am

And so it was that later

F G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Bridge

F

She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave,’

G

Though in truth we were at sea

C

So I took her by the looking glass

Am F

And forced her to agree

G

Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

C

Who took Neptune for a ride.’

Am

But she smiled at me so sadly

F G

That my anger straightway died

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Outro

C

If music be the food of love

Am

Then laughter is its queen

F G

And likewise if behind is in front

C

Then dirt in truth is clean

Am

My mouth by then like cardboard

F G

Seemed to slip straight through my head

C

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

Am F

And attacked the ocean bed

Practice tip: Work on the C to Am to F to G progression slowly to master the song’s melancholic, flowing feel before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · Am · F · Dm · G · Em

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords – Ukulele

Procol Harum’s iconic psychedelic ballad with a Bach-inspired organ melody. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Soulful Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Emphasize the descending bass line feel with your chord changes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

We skipped the light fandango

Am

Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor

F G

I was feeling kind of seasick

C

The crowd called out for more

Am

The room was humming harder

F G

As the ceiling flew away

C

When we called out for another drink

Am F

The waiter brought a tray

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Verse 2

C

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Am

Who were leaving for the coast

F G

And although my eyes were open

C

They might have just as well’ve been closed

Am

And so it was that later

F G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Bridge

F

She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave,’

G

Though in truth we were at sea

C

So I took her by the looking glass

Am F

And forced her to agree

G

Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

C

Who took Neptune for a ride.’

Am

But she smiled at me so sadly

F G

That my anger straightway died

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Outro

C

If music be the food of love

Am

Then laughter is its queen

F G

And likewise if behind is in front

C

Then dirt in truth is clean

Am

My mouth by then like cardboard

F G

Seemed to slip straight through my head

C

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

Am F

And attacked the ocean bed

Practice tip: Work on the C to Am to F to G progression slowly to master the song’s melancholic, flowing feel before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · Am · F · Dm · G · Em

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords – Piano

Procol Harum’s iconic psychedelic ballad with a Bach-inspired organ melody. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Soulful Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Emphasize the descending bass line feel with your chord changes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

We skipped the light fandango

Am

Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor

F G

I was feeling kind of seasick

C

The crowd called out for more

Am

The room was humming harder

F G

As the ceiling flew away

C

When we called out for another drink

Am F

The waiter brought a tray

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Verse 2

C

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Am

Who were leaving for the coast

F G

And although my eyes were open

C

They might have just as well’ve been closed

Am

And so it was that later

F G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Bridge

F

She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave,’

G

Though in truth we were at sea

C

So I took her by the looking glass

Am F

And forced her to agree

G

Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

C

Who took Neptune for a ride.’

Am

But she smiled at me so sadly

F G

That my anger straightway died

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Outro

C

If music be the food of love

Am

Then laughter is its queen

F G

And likewise if behind is in front

C

Then dirt in truth is clean

Am

My mouth by then like cardboard

F G

Seemed to slip straight through my head

C

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

Am F

And attacked the ocean bed

Practice tip: Work on the C to Am to F to G progression slowly to master the song’s melancholic, flowing feel before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · Am · F · Dm · G · Em

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords – Banjo

Procol Harum’s iconic psychedelic ballad with a Bach-inspired organ melody. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Soulful Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Emphasize the descending bass line feel with your chord changes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

We skipped the light fandango

Am

Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor

F G

I was feeling kind of seasick

C

The crowd called out for more

Am

The room was humming harder

F G

As the ceiling flew away

C

When we called out for another drink

Am F

The waiter brought a tray

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Verse 2

C

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Am

Who were leaving for the coast

F G

And although my eyes were open

C

They might have just as well’ve been closed

Am

And so it was that later

F G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Bridge

F

She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave,’

G

Though in truth we were at sea

C

So I took her by the looking glass

Am F

And forced her to agree

G

Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

C

Who took Neptune for a ride.’

Am

But she smiled at me so sadly

F G

That my anger straightway died

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Outro

C

If music be the food of love

Am

Then laughter is its queen

F G

And likewise if behind is in front

C

Then dirt in truth is clean

Am

My mouth by then like cardboard

F G

Seemed to slip straight through my head

C

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

Am F

And attacked the ocean bed

Practice tip: Work on the C to Am to F to G progression slowly to master the song’s melancholic, flowing feel before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · Am · F · Dm · G · Em

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords – Mandolin

Procol Harum’s iconic psychedelic ballad with a Bach-inspired organ melody. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Soulful Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Emphasize the descending bass line feel with your chord changes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

We skipped the light fandango

Am

Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor

F G

I was feeling kind of seasick

C

The crowd called out for more

Am

The room was humming harder

F G

As the ceiling flew away

C

When we called out for another drink

Am F

The waiter brought a tray

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Verse 2

C

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Am

Who were leaving for the coast

F G

And although my eyes were open

C

They might have just as well’ve been closed

Am

And so it was that later

F G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Bridge

F

She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave,’

G

Though in truth we were at sea

C

So I took her by the looking glass

Am F

And forced her to agree

G

Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

C

Who took Neptune for a ride.’

Am

But she smiled at me so sadly

F G

That my anger straightway died

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Outro

C

If music be the food of love

Am

Then laughter is its queen

F G

And likewise if behind is in front

C

Then dirt in truth is clean

Am

My mouth by then like cardboard

F G

Seemed to slip straight through my head

C

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

Am F

And attacked the ocean bed

Practice tip: Work on the C to Am to F to G progression slowly to master the song’s melancholic, flowing feel before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · Am · F · Dm · G · Em

A Whiter Shade of Pale Chords – Harmonica

Procol Harum’s iconic psychedelic ballad with a Bach-inspired organ melody. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Soulful Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Emphasize the descending bass line feel with your chord changes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

We skipped the light fandango

Am

Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor

F G

I was feeling kind of seasick

C

The crowd called out for more

Am

The room was humming harder

F G

As the ceiling flew away

C

When we called out for another drink

Am F

The waiter brought a tray

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Verse 2

C

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Am

Who were leaving for the coast

F G

And although my eyes were open

C

They might have just as well’ve been closed

Am

And so it was that later

F G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Bridge

F

She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave,’

G

Though in truth we were at sea

C

So I took her by the looking glass

Am F

And forced her to agree

G

Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

C

Who took Neptune for a ride.’

Am

But she smiled at me so sadly

F G

That my anger straightway died

Chorus

F

And so it was that later

G

As the miller told his tale

C

That her face, at first just ghostly

Am F

Turned a whiter shade of pale

G

She said, ‘There is no reason

C

And the truth is plain to see.’

Am

But I wandered through my playing cards

F G

And would not let her be

Outro

C

If music be the food of love

Am

Then laughter is its queen

F G

And likewise if behind is in front

C

Then dirt in truth is clean

Am

My mouth by then like cardboard

F G

Seemed to slip straight through my head

C

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

Am F

And attacked the ocean bed

Practice tip: Work on the C to Am to F to G progression slowly to master the song’s melancholic, flowing feel before adding the strum pattern.