Sep172018

Eric Church – Monsters Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsE C#m B A

KeyKeyCapo

View

This is the chord progression of Monsters by Eric Church on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Verse 1]
E C#m
I killed my first monster when I was seven years old
E B
He melted like butter in my bathroom’s sixty-watt bulb
E C#m
Kept a three-cell MagLite from Daddy’s workshop drawer
E B
Under my pillow and I’d pull it like a sword

[Chorus]
A E B C#m
Anymore when a restless feelin’ keeps me up at night
A E B E
Fallin’ on my knees is my new turnin’ on the light
A E B C#m
I keep my faith intact, make sure my prayers are said
A E A E A
‘Cause I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t the ones beneath the bed

[Verse 2]
E A
The wolf hunts a hungry man and the devil a lonely heart
E B
A minefield of bad decisions lay hidin’ in the dark
E A
Greed stalks, sickness steals, and pride lays a wicked trap
E B E
You can’t avoid ’em all, no, you gotta trust me on that

[Chorus]
A E B C#m
Anymore when a restless feelin’ keeps me up at night
A E B E
Fallin’ on my knees is my new turnin’ on the light
A E B C#m
I keep my faith intact, make sure my prayers are said
A E B C#m
‘Cause I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t the ones beneath the bed
A E B E
I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t underneath the bed

[Verse 3]
E A
Daddy, check my closet, leave on the bathroom light
E B
I smile and say “All clear” when I tuck him in for the night
E A
But Daddy, I’m still scared, can I sleep with you instead?
E
I kneel down beside my little man and I bow my head

[Chorus]
A E B C#m
Anymore when a restless feelin’ keeps me up at night
A E B E
Fallin’ on my knees is my new turnin’ on the light
A E B C#m
I keep my faith intact, make sure my prayers are said
A E B C#m
‘Cause I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t the ones beneath the bed
A E B E
I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t underneath the bed

How to play Monsters: key, chords and progression

Monsters by Eric Church is written in E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯) and moves through 4 chords: E, C#m, B and A.

Most of the song cycles through A – E – B – C#m (IV – I – V – vi in E major), a rotation of the four-chord pop progression that starts on the IV chord. In solfa, that is fah – doh – soh – lah. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes D, Bm, A, G (75% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 50% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.