Green Day – 1981 on Piano & Ukulele

Green Day – 1981 on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsAEDC#mF#mDmBGF

Key
View
 [Chorus]
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981
            A
She's gonna bang her head
      E  D
 like 1981 (So long,
 farewell)
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981

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[Verse 1]
A
 She's throwing punches
        D
 to the beat
       E               A
To the sound of cable TV

And she'll never see
     D         E
the world the same
A
 She is a Cold War
       D
in my head
    E            A
And I am East Berlin
On the danger side of
 D       E
 parts unknown

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  [Pre-Chorus]
C#m
   Coffee and cyanide
     F#m
for lovers in disgrace
D
 If this is not a test,
        E
 we got one foot in
 thе grave

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[Chorus]
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 hеad like 1981
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981
(So long, farewell)
            A
She's gonna bang
               E  D
 her head like 1981
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981

[Verse 2]
D                   Dm
Crime, from another time
                    A
Champagne and party lives
                     E
God-bless the end of times
B                   G
Pain, commies and cocaine
                    E
Slam danced in acid rain
We'll live the dream,
     D                  E
for fifteen minutes of fame

[Chorus]
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981
(So long, farewell)
            A
She's gonna bang
               E  D
her head like 1981
            A
She's gonna bang her
           E  D
 head like 1981
               A    F D
(So long, farewell)
              A    F D A
(So long, farewell)

How to play 1981: key, chords and progression

These are 1981 chords by Green Day on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard.

To play 1981 by Green Day, think in A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯). It takes 9 chords: A, E, D, C#m, F#m, Dm, B, G and F.

Most of the song cycles through A – E – D – A (I – V – IV – I in A major). In solfa, that is doh – soh – fah – doh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Good to know: on guitar, C#m, F#m, B and F need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.

Chord diagrams

A chord on guitar (x02220)
AA C♯ E
E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
D chord on guitar (xx0232)
DD F♯ A
C#m chord on guitar (x46654)
C♯mC♯ E G♯
F#m chord on guitar (244222)
F♯mF♯ A C♯
Dm chord on guitar (xx0231)
DmD F A
B chord on guitar (x24442)
BB D♯ F♯
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C

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

1981 chords: questions

What key is 1981 in?

1981 by Green Day is in the key of A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯).

What chords are in 1981?

1981 uses 9 chords: A, E, D, C#m, F#m, Dm, B, G, F.

What is the chord progression of 1981?

The main progression is A – E – D – A (I – V – IV – I).

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