Don McLean- American Pie

Unknown · 120 BPM · 4/4

Don McLean- American Pie

Unknown

0:000:00

Capo

F#

A long, F#long time ago

I can stillD remember how that muF#msic used to mEmake me smile

EmAndB I knew if I had my chD#mance thaEmt I coBuld make thoDse people dance

DAnd maF#ybe they'd Gbe happEmy for a while

ButB FebruarD#my made me sEmhiver

EmWithA everyD paper I'd deliver

BadEm newsB on Ethe doorsEmtep

EmI couldn't take one mD#more step

D#mI can't remember iAmf I cried

WEmhen I read G#about hDis widowed bride

DBut something tD#mouched me deep inside

BThe Dday Gthe muEmsic died

EmSCo bye-byeAm, MisDs AmerGmicanG Pie

GDroveGm my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry

And tGhem good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and Crye

CSingin'G "This'll bDe the day that I die

ThiCs'lGl be the dDay thEmat I dieA"

ADid you write the book oEmf love, anBd do you have faitDh in God above

DIf the BiblGe tells you so?

Now do you beliEmeve in rockGm and rEmoll, can music save yoDur mortal soul

DAnd canG you teach Emme how to dance Amreal slEmow?

EmWell, I know that you're in love with him

Em'Cause I saw you dAancin' in the gym

YouEm both kicked off your Bshoes

BMan, I dig thEmose rhythm and blues

EmI was a loneF#ly teenage broncin' buck

With aEm pink carnation and a pickup truDck

DBut I knew I was outEm of luck

EmThe dayA the musCic died

I started siEmngin' bye-bye, GMiss AmerEmican Pie

Drove my Chevy to tGhe levee, but the levee was dry

GThEmem good old boys wGere drinkin' whiskey and rye

GAnd singin' "This'll be the day that I die

This'll bGe the day that I die"

NEmow for ten years we'vAe been on oEmur own

EmAnd moss grows fatD on a rollin' stone

DBut that'Gs not how it used to be

GWhen the jester Csang for the king aEmnd queen

EmIn a coat he borrowedD from James Dean

DAnd a voiGce that cEmame from you Amand me

AmOh, Emand while the king was looking down

EmThe jestAer stole his A#thorny crown

The courtroom Emwas adjoBurned

BNo verdict Emwas returned

EmAnd whGile Lenin read a book on MarxEm

EmA quartet practiced in the park

And we Gsang dirges in the dark

GThe day the AmmusicEm died

EmWe were sGingin' bye-Embye, Miss GAmerican CPie

CDroveG my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry

GThem good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

GSingin' "This'll be the day that I die

GThis'll be the day that I die"

HeEmlter skelter in a suAmmer swelter

AThe Embirds flew off with a fallout shelGter

GEigDmht miles Ghigh and falling fasEmt

EmIt lanCded foul on theEm grass, the players tried for a forwaGrd pass

GWAith the jester Gon the sidelinEmes in a cast

EmNow the halftime air was sweet perfume

EmWhile the sergeGants played a marching tunDe

DWe all got up to dance

OAh, but we never got tEmhe chance

Em'Cause the players tried to take Cmthe field

CmThe Emmarching band refused toG yield

GDo yoEmu recall whaGt was revealed

GTEmhe day the music diGed?

We startEmed singiF#mn' bye-Embye, Miss American Pie

EmDrove my Chevy to the levee, but tGhe levee was dry

GThem good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

GAnd singin' "This'll be the day that I die

GThis'll be the day that I die"

Oh, and thEmere we were all iAn one place, a gEmeneration lost in Dspace

DWith no time left to sGtart again

GSo come on, JEmack be nimble, Jack be quick

EmJack Flash sat on a candleDstick

D'Cause fire is the devil's oEmnly friend

EmOh, and asAm I watched hCim on theEm stage

EmMy hands were clenched in fists ofGm rage

GmNo angelD born in Hell

Could breD#mak that Satan's sEmpell

EmAnd as the flames cliD#mbed high into theG night

GTo liEmght thGme sacEmrificial rite

CI saw Satan laughing with deGlight

GTheF#m day the muAmsic diBed

BHe was singGin' bye-byF#me, MisEms American Pie

DCrove my Chevy Emto the levee, but the leveeG was dry

GThem good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

GAnd singin' "This'll be the day that I die

This'lGl be the day that I die"

GI met a girlEm who sang the bluAes, and I askedEm her for some haDppy news

DBut she F#mjust smiled anGd turned away

I went Edown to the sacEmred store where I'd heardC the music Emyears before

EmBut the man Dthere Gsaid the mEmusic wouldn't play

And in the streets, the childrenB screameD#md

D#mThe lovers Ccried, and the poets dreaDmed

DBut not a word waBs spEmoken

EmThe church bells alAml were brBoken

BAnd the Emthree menB I admire mGost

GThe FaF#mther, Son, and the Holy Ghost

They caught tEhe last train for the coast

ThC#me day the musDic dGied

GAndA they Emwere singin' bye-bye, Miss AmeriA#can Pie

A#Drove myG Chevy tGmo the levee, but theCm levee was dry

And themD good oldC boys wGere drinkin' whiskey aDnd rye

DSinGgin' "ThisF#'ll be Gthe day thEmat I die

TDhis'll bGe the day that I dDie"

DThey were Emsingin'D#m bye-Abye, Miss AmeEmrican Pie

EmDrove my BChevy to the leveDe, but the levee was dry

DThF#mem good old boDys were drinkin' whiskEmey and rye

EmAGnd sDingin' ThiGs'll be the day tDhat I dGie"

D

♪ instrumental ♪

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All Chords Used (18)

KeyE minor

Tempo~120 BPM

How to play Don McLean- American Pie by Unknown on guitar

This song is a great one to learn because it has a steady, familiar drive and a strong sing-along feel. At about 120 BPM, it sits in a comfortable groove that helps you build timing while keeping the energy up. You will feel the progression move in a way that is easy to follow once it locks in.

Most of the shapes here are the harder barre chords, with only D and Em among the easier open shapes in the opening progression. The main change to watch is the move from F# to D and then into F#m, because that shift can make your hand reset quickly before you land on Em cleanly. Keep the changes small and efficient.

Start by looping F# - D - F#m - Em slowly until the shapes feel automatic. Then add the rhythm at a relaxed pace and focus on clean chord changes rather than speed. Once that is solid, bring the tempo up little by little until you can play it smoothly all the way through.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.

Looking for more? Browse the full guitar song library or explore chord diagrams.

Tutorials & guides for "Don McLean- American Pie"

Am Chord Guitar: How to Play A Minor (With Finger Diagram)

D Chord Guitar — How to Play D Major (Finger Positions + Tips)

Em Chord on Guitar — The Easiest Chord You

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