Oct112018

Gregory Alan Isakov – Southern Star Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsC Em G D

KeyKeyCapo

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This is the chord progression of Southern Star by Gregory Alan Isakov on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
C

[Verse 1]
C Em C Em
Oh my drunken southern star
C Em C G
How you tried to hide in darkness
C G
Slipped from orbit
D C G C G
Now you’re dangerously close

[Verse 2]
C    Em
Come out, come out
C Em
From all your hiding out
C    Em
We’ll dig in our heels
C    G
Salute the battlefields
D C G C G
Where our broken hearts were born, oh

[Chorus]
C
And the storm clouds are thirsty
Em       C    Em
I can see them bursting, watch them gathering light
C    Em    D    C
And the walls in the bedroom now are pounding out
C Em    C    Em
Were we broken open baby, maybe just a crack
C Em D C G C G
Swore I heard you whisper that you preferred us like that, oh

[Intrumental]
C Em C Em C Em D C
C Em C Em C Em D C G C G

[Verse 3]
C Em C Em
My broken open child
C Em C G
Were we thirsty, thorned with wild eyes
C G D C G
Still, we are slaves to the sirens of the salty sea
C G C G C G
Oh, oh, oh,

How to play Southern Star: key, chords and progression

Southern Star by Gregory Alan Isakov is built around G major (one sharp: F♯), with 4 chords in all: C, Em, G and D.

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

Beginner-friendly: on guitar every chord is an open shape, which makes this a good song to learn early on.