Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars Piano, Ukulele & Guitar Chord Progression

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars Piano, Ukulele & Guitar Chord Progression

ChordsEmFGGsus4CGsus2

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This is the chord progression of Western Stars by Bruce Springsteen on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
| Em | F | Em | F | G | G

[Verse 1]
Em               F               G                  Gsus4               G
I wake up in the morning, just glad my boots are on
Em                                           F                                           G
Instead of empty in the whispering grasses down the Five at Forest Lawn
Em                             F               G               Gsus4                G
On the set, the makeup girl brings me two raw eggs and a shot of gin
Em                             F                             G               Gsus4                                           G
Then I give it all up for that little blue pill that promises to bring it all back to you again

[Chorus]
C               F               G               Gsus4               G
Ride me down easy, ride me down easy, friend
Em                             F                             G
Tonight the western stars are shining bright again

[Verse 2]
Em               F               G                             Gsus4                             G
Here in the canyons above Sunset, the desert don’t give up the fight
Em                                                         F                                           G
A coyote with someone’s Chihuahua in its teeth skitters ‘cross my veranda in the night
Em                             F                           G               Gsus4                             G
Some lost sheep from Oklahoma sips her Mojito down at the Whiskey Bar
Em                                                         F                                                         G
Smiles and says she thinks she remembers me from that commercial with the credit card

[Chorus]
C                                                         F                             G
Hell, these days there ain’t no more, now there’s just again
Em                                           F                             G
Tonight the western stars are shining bright again

[Interlude]
Em F G G

[Verse 3]
Em               F               G                             Gsus4               G
Some days I take my El Camino, throw my saddle in and go
Em                                           F                             G
East to the desert where the charros, they still ride and rope
C                                           F                             G
Our American brothers cross the wire and bring the old ways with them
Em                             F                             G
Tonight the western stars are shining bright again

[Instrumental]
C | F | G | G | Em | F | G | G

[Verse 4]
Em                                           F                             G
Once I was shot by John Wayne, yeah, it was towards the end
Em                             F               G               Gsus4                             G
That one scene’s bought me a thousand drinks, set me up and I’ll tell it for you, friend
C                             F                                           G
Here’s to the cowboys, riders in the whirlwind
Em               F                                           G
Tonight the western stars are shining bright again
Em                                           F                             G
And the western stars are shining bright again

[Chorus]
C                             F                             G
Tonight the riders on Sunset are smothered in the Santa Ana winds
Em                                           F                             G
And the western stars are shining bright again
C                             F                             G
C’mon and ride me down easy, ride me down easy, friend
Em                 F             G                             Gsus2               G
‘Cause tonight the western stars are shining bright again
Em                 F                   G                 Gsus4                 G
I woke up this morning just glad my boots were on

How to play Western Stars: key, chords and progression

Western Stars by Bruce Springsteen is in the key of C major (no sharps or flats). The song uses 6 chords: Em, F, G, Gsus4, C and Gsus2.

The backbone of the song is G – Em – F – G (V – iii – IV – V in C major). In solfa, that is soh – mi – fah – soh. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes Bm, C, D, Dsus4, G, Dsus2 (83% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 67% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
Gsus4 chord on guitar (330013)
Gsus4G C D
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.

Western Stars chords: questions

What key is Western Stars in?

Western Stars by Bruce Springsteen is in the key of C major (no sharps or flats).

What chords are in Western Stars?

Western Stars uses 6 chords: Em, F, G, Gsus4, C, Gsus2.

What is the chord progression of Western Stars?

The main progression is G – Em – F – G (V – iii – IV – V).

Is Western Stars easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes Bm, C, D, Dsus4, G, Dsus2 (83% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 67% without a capo).

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