Arcade Fire – The Lightning Ii Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Arcade Fire – The Lightning Ii Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated

ChordsEADF#mD/F#

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These are the chords for The Lightning Ii by Arcade Fire on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

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[Intro]
E      E      A      A
D      D      F#m    D  D/F#
E      E      A      A
D      D      F#m    D  D/F#

[Verse 1]
E            E
 I heard the thunder
         A
 on the blue sky,
         A             D
 perfect day, I wonder why
   D          F#m    D
Am I the only one?
E           E             A
 I hear the thunder and I feel
           A            D
 I'm going under, Jesus Christ
D           F#m    D
Was an only son

[Pre-Chorus]
E         E                A
 A day, a week, a month, a year
         A                D
A day, a week, a month, a year
      D                F#m
Every second brings me here
D    D/F#
E         E                A
 A day, a week, a month, a year
         A                D
A day, a week, a month, a year
      D                F#m
Every second brings me here

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[Chorus]
D              E
Waiting on the lightning
E              A
Waiting on the lightning
A              D
Waiting on the light
              D
What will the light bring?
F#m    D    D/F#

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[Verse 2]
E            E
 I heard the thunder and
   A                  A
 I thought it was the answer
      D
But I find,
  D                F#m    D
I got the question wrong
E      E              A
 I was trying to run away
       A                 D
 but a voice told me to stay
          D            F#m    D
And put a feeling in a song

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Pre-Chorus]
E         E                A
 A day, a week, a month, a year
         A                D
A day, a week, a month, a year
      D                F#m
Every second brings me here
D    D/F#
E         E                A
 A day, a week, a month, a year
         A                D
A day, a week, a month, a year
      D                F#m
Every second brings me here

[Chorus]
D              E
Waiting on the lightning
E              A
Waiting on the lightning
A              D
Waiting on the light
              D           F#m
What will the light bring?
D              E
Waiting on the lightning
E              A
Waiting on the lightning
A              D
Waiting on the light
              D
What will the light bring?
F#m    D    D/F#    E

How to play The Lightning Ii: key, chords and progression

The Lightning Ii by Arcade Fire is in the key of A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯). The song uses 5 chords: E, A, D, F#m and D/F#.

The progression the song keeps returning to is E – A – D – F#m (V – I – IV – vi in A major). In solfa, that is soh – doh – fah – lah. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes D, G, C, Em (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 75% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
A chord on guitar (x02220)
AA C♯ E
D chord on guitar (xx0232)
DD F♯ A
F#m chord on guitar (244222)
F♯mF♯ A C♯

The Lightning Ii chords: questions

What key is The Lightning Ii in?

The Lightning Ii by Arcade Fire is in the key of A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯).

What chords are in The Lightning Ii?

The Lightning Ii uses 5 chords: E, A, D, F#m, D/F#.

What is the chord progression of The Lightning Ii?

The main progression is E – A – D – F#m (V – I – IV – vi).

Is The Lightning Ii easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes D, G, C, Em (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 75% without a capo).

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