Rock, Alternative

Bittersweet Symphony Chords

The Verve Beginner Key of E 4 Chords 3 min read

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Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Guitar

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Ukulele

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

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Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Piano

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Banjo

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Mandolin

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Harmonica

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

E · Bm · D · A

Bittersweet Symphony Chords – Violin

The Verve’s iconic 1997 anthem about life’s contradictions. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Driving Rhythm (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret and play the chord shapes for C, G, Am, and F to match the original recording’s key of Ab.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G Am

Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die

F C

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Verse 2

C G

Well, I’ve never prayed

Am F

But tonight I’m on my knees, yeah

C G Am

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

F C

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

G Am F

But the airwaves are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Bridge

C G Am

’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life

F C G

Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die

Am F

I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down

C G Am F

You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

Chorus

C G Am F

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change

C G Am

But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold

F C G

But I’m a million different people from one day to the next

Am F

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Outro

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

C G Am

I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

F

I can’t change

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) separately before adding the lyrics, as it repeats throughout the entire song.