Jul112020

Bon Jovi – American Reckoning Chord Progression on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsG Gsus4 Csus2 C Cmaj7 Asus4 Am Asus2 Em D

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This is the chords of American Reckoning by Bon Jovi on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
G  Gsus4 4x

[Verse 1]
G         Gsus4  G   Gsus4 G
 America's on   fire
                Gsus4      G    Gsus4
There's protests in the street
Csus2                C    Cmaj7  Csus2 C Cmaj7
 Her conscience has been looted
        Csus2       C  Cmaj7
And her soul is under siege
Asus4     Am       Asus2   Asus4 Am Asus2
 Another  mother's crying,
Csus2         C  Cmaj7
 As  history repeats
Csus2   C  G       Gsus4 G
 I   can't  breathe
G  Gsus4 | 3x

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[Verse 2]
G                 Gsus4     G
 God damn those  8 long minutes
Gsus4 G                   Gsus4    G
Lying  face down in cuffs on the ground
Csus2                 C   Cmaj7  Csus2
 Bystanders  pleaded  for  mercy
   C  Cmaj7
As one,
Csus2            C       Cmaj7  Csus2 C
Cop  shoved a kid in the crowd
Asus4             Am    Asus2  Asus4 Am
 When did a judge and a jury
Csus2           C      Cmaj7
 Become a badge and a knee
Csus2 C   G        Gsus4 G  Gsus4
On  these streets?

[Chorus]
C           G
 Stay alive, stay alive
Am             G
 Shine a light, stay alive
Em                  G            C
Use your voice and you remember me
               G   Gsus4 G  Gsus4
American reckoning

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

[Verse 3]
G                Gsus4      G   Gsus4 G
 I'll never know what it's like
              Gsus4     G   Gsus4
To walk a mile in his shoes
Csus2           C       Cmaj7     Csus2  C Cmaj7
 And I'll never have to have the talk
Csus2               C  Cmaj7  Csus2 C
 So it don't happen to you
Asus4                 Am     Asus2      Asus4
 Three little words written 'cross the chest
  Am  Csus2                C     Cmaj7      Csus2
Of a  twelve year old who hasn't lived life yet
    C  G    Gsus4 G
"Am I next?
Gsus4 G    Gsus4
Am I next?"

[Chorus]
C           G
 Stay alive, stay alive
Am             G
 Shine a light, stay alive
Em                  G            C
Use your voice and you remember me
               G   Gsus4 G  Gsus4
American reckoning
Em C D D  2x
Am Am G G 
G  Gsus4  2x

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[Bridge]
G                Gsus4    G    Gsus4 G
 Is this a moment or movement?
                Gsus4   G    Gsus4
Is this the tide or a flood?
Csus2         C  Cmaj7 Csus2 C Cmaj7
 Is our American reckoning?
Csus2              C   Cmaj7
 Our story written in blood
   C  Asus4  Am Asus2 Asus4
Or in love
   Am Csus2 C Cmaj7 Csus2 C
Or in peace
G  Gsus4 | 4x

[Chorus]
C           G
 Stay alive, stay alive
Am             G
 Shine a light, stay alive
Em                  G            C
Use your voice and you remember me
C           G
 Stay alive, stay alive
Am             G
 Shine a light, stay alive
Em                  G            C
Use your voice and you remember me
               G   Gsus4 G  Gsus4 G  Gsus4 G
American reckoning
          Gsus4  G
In our American reckoning

How to play American Reckoning: key, chords and progression

American Reckoning by Bon Jovi sits in G major (one sharp: F♯), and you need 10 chords to play it: G, Gsus4, Csus2, C, Cmaj7, Asus4, Am, Asus2, Em and D.

Most of the song cycles through Csus2 – C – Cmaj7 – Csus2 (IVsus2 – IV – IVmaj7 – IVsus2 in G major). In solfa, that is fah – fah – fah – fah. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Beginner-friendly: almost every chord here is an open shape on guitar: no capo, no barre chords needed.