Gtap to play
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
G · Am · C · D · Em
Don McLean’s classic tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Paint your palette blue and grey
G Em
Look out on a summer’s day
C D G
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Verse 2
G Em
Shadows on the hills
C G D
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
G Em
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
C D G
In colors on the snowy linen land
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Verse 3
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Bridge
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Portraits hung in empty halls
G Em
Frameless heads on nameless walls
C D G
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Em C
Like the strangers that you’ve met
G D
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Em C
The silver thorn of bloody rose
G D G
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Outro
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Practice tip: The chord progression G, Em, C, D is the core of this song; practice switching between these chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.
Gtap to play
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
G · Am · C · D · Em
Don McLean’s classic tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Paint your palette blue and grey
G Em
Look out on a summer’s day
C D G
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Verse 2
G Em
Shadows on the hills
C G D
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
G Em
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
C D G
In colors on the snowy linen land
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Verse 3
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Bridge
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Portraits hung in empty halls
G Em
Frameless heads on nameless walls
C D G
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Em C
Like the strangers that you’ve met
G D
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Em C
The silver thorn of bloody rose
G D G
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Outro
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Practice tip: The chord progression G, Em, C, D is the core of this song; practice switching between these chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.
Gtap to play
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
G · Am · C · D · Em
Don McLean’s classic tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Paint your palette blue and grey
G Em
Look out on a summer’s day
C D G
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Verse 2
G Em
Shadows on the hills
C G D
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
G Em
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
C D G
In colors on the snowy linen land
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Verse 3
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Bridge
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Portraits hung in empty halls
G Em
Frameless heads on nameless walls
C D G
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Em C
Like the strangers that you’ve met
G D
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Em C
The silver thorn of bloody rose
G D G
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Outro
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Practice tip: The chord progression G, Em, C, D is the core of this song; practice switching between these chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.
Gtap to play
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
G · Am · C · D · Em
Don McLean’s classic tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Paint your palette blue and grey
G Em
Look out on a summer’s day
C D G
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Verse 2
G Em
Shadows on the hills
C G D
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
G Em
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
C D G
In colors on the snowy linen land
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Verse 3
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Bridge
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Portraits hung in empty halls
G Em
Frameless heads on nameless walls
C D G
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Em C
Like the strangers that you’ve met
G D
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Em C
The silver thorn of bloody rose
G D G
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Outro
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Practice tip: The chord progression G, Em, C, D is the core of this song; practice switching between these chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.
Gtap to play
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
G · Am · C · D · Em
Don McLean’s classic tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Paint your palette blue and grey
G Em
Look out on a summer’s day
C D G
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Verse 2
G Em
Shadows on the hills
C G D
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
G Em
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
C D G
In colors on the snowy linen land
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Verse 3
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Bridge
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Portraits hung in empty halls
G Em
Frameless heads on nameless walls
C D G
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Em C
Like the strangers that you’ve met
G D
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Em C
The silver thorn of bloody rose
G D G
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Outro
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Practice tip: The chord progression G, Em, C, D is the core of this song; practice switching between these chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.
Gtap to play
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
G · Am · C · D · Em
Don McLean’s classic tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Paint your palette blue and grey
G Em
Look out on a summer’s day
C D G
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Verse 2
G Em
Shadows on the hills
C G D
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
G Em
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
C D G
In colors on the snowy linen land
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Verse 3
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Bridge
G Em
Starry, starry night
C G D
Portraits hung in empty halls
G Em
Frameless heads on nameless walls
C D G
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Em C
Like the strangers that you’ve met
G D
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Em C
The silver thorn of bloody rose
G D G
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Chorus
C G
Now I understand
Em D
What you tried to say to me
C G
How you suffered for your sanity
Em D
How you tried to set them free
C G Em
They would not listen, they did not know how
D G
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Outro
G Em
For they could not love you
C G D
But still your love was true
G Em
And when no hope was left in sight
C D
On that starry, starry night
G Em
You took your life, as lovers often do
C D
But I could have told you, Vincent
G Em
This world was never meant
C D G
For one as beautiful as you
Practice tip: The chord progression G, Em, C, D is the core of this song; practice switching between these chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.