Alanis Morissette – Smiling Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

Alanis Morissette – Smiling Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsGCmEbEmCGsus2/F#

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This is the chords of Smiling by Alanis Morissette on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
G Cm G Cm

[Verse 1]
G                  Cm               G
This is a life of extremes
Cm                                                  G
Both sides are slippery and enticing
Cm                  G                          Cm
These are my places off the rails

[Verse 2]
G                                  Cm                           G
And this, my loose recollection of a falling
Cm                          G
I barely remember who I failed
Cm                  G          Eb          Cm
I was just trying to keep it together

[Pre-Chorus]
Em                                           C
This is my first wave of my white flag
G                                  Gsus2/F#
This is the sound of me hitting bottom
Em                          C
This my surrender, if that’s what you call it
G          Gsus2/F#          C
In the anatomy of my crash

[Chorus]
G          Cm          G
And I keep on smiling
Cm                  G
Keep on moving
Cm     G          Cm
Can’t stand still

[Verse 3]
G                  Cm                  G
Me, the notorious bottom dweller
Cm                          G
Me, the ceiling-less brave explorer
Cm          G                  Eb          Cm
Lured to the ends of overwhelm

[Pre-Chorus]
Em                                  C
This is my first wave of the white flag
G                                  Gsus2/F#
This is the sound of me hitting bottom
Em                                                  C
This my surrender, if that’s what I call it
G          Gsus2/F#          C
In the anatomy of my crash

[Chorus]
G          Cm          G
And I keep on smiling
Cm          G
Keep on moving
Cm          G          Cm
Can’t stand still

[Verse 4]
G          Cm                  G
Such pretty forks in the road
Cm                  G
On this continuum I’ve been bouncing
Cm                  G                  Eb          Cm
Life flashing promise before my eyes

[Pre-Chorus]
Em                  C
This is my first wave of the white flag
G                          Gsus2/F#
This is the sound of me hitting bottom
Em                          C
This my surrender, if I can bare it
G          Gsus2/F#                  C
In the anatomy of my crash

[Chorus]
G          Cm          G
And I keep on smiling
Cm                  G
Keep on moving
Cm G Cm G Cm
Can’t stand still

[Outro]
G Cm G Cm (x4)

How to play Smiling: key, chords and progression

Smiling by Alanis Morissette keeps coming home to C minor (three flats: B♭, E♭, A♭). You need 6 chords: G, Cm, Eb, Em, C and Gsus2/F#.

Most of the song cycles through Em – C – G – Gsus2/F# (iii – I – V – Vsus2 in C minor). Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes E, Am, C, C#m, A, Esus2 (67% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 50% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
Cm chord on guitar (x35543)
CmC E♭ G
Eb chord on guitar (x68886)
E♭E♭ G B♭
Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B
C chord on guitar (x32010)
CC E G
Gsus2 chord on guitar (x-10-12-12-10-10)
Gsus2G A D

Need another chord or a different shape? Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator.

Smiling chords: questions

What key is Smiling in?

Smiling by Alanis Morissette is centred on C minor (three flats: B♭, E♭, A♭).

What chords are in Smiling?

Smiling uses 6 chords: G, Cm, Eb, Em, C, Gsus2/F#.

What is the chord progression of Smiling?

The main progression is Em – C – G – Gsus2/F# (iii – I – V – Vsus2).

Is Smiling easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes E, Am, C, C#m, A, Esus2 (67% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 50% without a capo).

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