Rock, Pop

Purple Rain Chords

Prince Intermediate Key of A#/Bb 4 Chords 3 min read

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

A#/Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F

Purple Rain Chords – Guitar

Prince’s iconic power ballad with soaring melodies and emotional depth. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Power Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of A shapes for easier chord voicings. Let the arpeggios ring out during the intro and verses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Intro

BbEbGmF

BbEbGmF

Verse 1

Bb Eb

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

Gm F

I never meant to cause you any pain

Bb Eb

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Gm F

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

Verse 2

Bb Eb

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

Gm F

I only wanted to be some kind of friend

Bb Eb

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Gm F

It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Verse 3

Bb Eb

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing

Gm F

It’s time we all reach out for something new

Bb Eb

That means you, too

Gm F

You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind

Bb Eb

I think you better close it and let me guide you

Gm F

To the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

If you know what I’m singing about up here

Eb

Come on, raise your hand

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Outro

Bb

I only want to see you, only want to see you

Eb

In the purple rain

GmF

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

Practice tip: With a capo on fret 1, play A, D, F#m, E instead of Bb, Eb, Gm, F. The F#m barre chord is the only challenging shape in this simplified version.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

A#/Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F

Purple Rain Chords – Ukulele

Prince’s iconic power ballad with soaring melodies and emotional depth. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Power Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of A shapes for easier chord voicings. Let the arpeggios ring out during the intro and verses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Intro

BbEbGmF

BbEbGmF

Verse 1

Bb Eb

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

Gm F

I never meant to cause you any pain

Bb Eb

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Gm F

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

Verse 2

Bb Eb

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

Gm F

I only wanted to be some kind of friend

Bb Eb

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Gm F

It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Verse 3

Bb Eb

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing

Gm F

It’s time we all reach out for something new

Bb Eb

That means you, too

Gm F

You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind

Bb Eb

I think you better close it and let me guide you

Gm F

To the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

If you know what I’m singing about up here

Eb

Come on, raise your hand

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Outro

Bb

I only want to see you, only want to see you

Eb

In the purple rain

GmF

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

Practice tip: With a capo on fret 1, play A, D, F#m, E instead of Bb, Eb, Gm, F. The F#m barre chord is the only challenging shape in this simplified version.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

A#/Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F

Purple Rain Chords – Piano

Prince’s iconic power ballad with soaring melodies and emotional depth. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Power Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of A shapes for easier chord voicings. Let the arpeggios ring out during the intro and verses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Intro

BbEbGmF

BbEbGmF

Verse 1

Bb Eb

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

Gm F

I never meant to cause you any pain

Bb Eb

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Gm F

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

Verse 2

Bb Eb

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

Gm F

I only wanted to be some kind of friend

Bb Eb

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Gm F

It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Verse 3

Bb Eb

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing

Gm F

It’s time we all reach out for something new

Bb Eb

That means you, too

Gm F

You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind

Bb Eb

I think you better close it and let me guide you

Gm F

To the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

If you know what I’m singing about up here

Eb

Come on, raise your hand

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Outro

Bb

I only want to see you, only want to see you

Eb

In the purple rain

GmF

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

Practice tip: With a capo on fret 1, play A, D, F#m, E instead of Bb, Eb, Gm, F. The F#m barre chord is the only challenging shape in this simplified version.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

A#/Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F

Purple Rain Chords – Banjo

Prince’s iconic power ballad with soaring melodies and emotional depth. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Power Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of A shapes for easier chord voicings. Let the arpeggios ring out during the intro and verses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Intro

BbEbGmF

BbEbGmF

Verse 1

Bb Eb

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

Gm F

I never meant to cause you any pain

Bb Eb

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Gm F

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

Verse 2

Bb Eb

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

Gm F

I only wanted to be some kind of friend

Bb Eb

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Gm F

It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Verse 3

Bb Eb

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing

Gm F

It’s time we all reach out for something new

Bb Eb

That means you, too

Gm F

You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind

Bb Eb

I think you better close it and let me guide you

Gm F

To the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

If you know what I’m singing about up here

Eb

Come on, raise your hand

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Outro

Bb

I only want to see you, only want to see you

Eb

In the purple rain

GmF

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

Practice tip: With a capo on fret 1, play A, D, F#m, E instead of Bb, Eb, Gm, F. The F#m barre chord is the only challenging shape in this simplified version.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

A#/Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F

Purple Rain Chords – Mandolin

Prince’s iconic power ballad with soaring melodies and emotional depth. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Power Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of A shapes for easier chord voicings. Let the arpeggios ring out during the intro and verses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Intro

BbEbGmF

BbEbGmF

Verse 1

Bb Eb

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

Gm F

I never meant to cause you any pain

Bb Eb

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Gm F

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

Verse 2

Bb Eb

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

Gm F

I only wanted to be some kind of friend

Bb Eb

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Gm F

It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Verse 3

Bb Eb

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing

Gm F

It’s time we all reach out for something new

Bb Eb

That means you, too

Gm F

You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind

Bb Eb

I think you better close it and let me guide you

Gm F

To the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

If you know what I’m singing about up here

Eb

Come on, raise your hand

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Outro

Bb

I only want to see you, only want to see you

Eb

In the purple rain

GmF

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

Practice tip: With a capo on fret 1, play A, D, F#m, E instead of Bb, Eb, Gm, F. The F#m barre chord is the only challenging shape in this simplified version.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

A#/Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F

Purple Rain Chords – Harmonica

Prince’s iconic power ballad with soaring melodies and emotional depth. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Power Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of A shapes for easier chord voicings. Let the arpeggios ring out during the intro and verses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Intro

BbEbGmF

BbEbGmF

Verse 1

Bb Eb

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

Gm F

I never meant to cause you any pain

Bb Eb

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Gm F

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

Verse 2

Bb Eb

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

Gm F

I only wanted to be some kind of friend

Bb Eb

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Gm F

It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Verse 3

Bb Eb

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing

Gm F

It’s time we all reach out for something new

Bb Eb

That means you, too

Gm F

You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind

Bb Eb

I think you better close it and let me guide you

Gm F

To the purple rain

Chorus

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

If you know what I’m singing about up here

Eb

Come on, raise your hand

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Outro

Bb

I only want to see you, only want to see you

Eb

In the purple rain

GmF

Bb Eb

Purple rain, purple rain

Gm F

Purple rain, purple rain

Bb

Practice tip: With a capo on fret 1, play A, D, F#m, E instead of Bb, Eb, Gm, F. The F#m barre chord is the only challenging shape in this simplified version.