Jul142022

Ian Matthews – Shady Lies Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsE A D G Bm

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
E A D

[Chorus]
          D
If you've handed me one
E
You've handed me
A                D
a thousand shady lies
E
If I needed someone
A                  G
I found someone to cut
           D    Bm
me down to size

[Verse 1]
A                   G
With every word you say
I'm learnin' every day
             E
And you keep handin' me
      A               D
These shady, shady lies.

[Chorus]
D
Don't you want me to be
E                A
Someone you can lean
                   D
on when you're down?
         E
Don't you want me to be
A                G
Waitin' when you turn
               D    Bm
your head around?

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[Bridge]
A                G
I think I must be mad
I think that I've been had
                E
'Cause you keep handin' me
      A             D
These shady, shady lies

[Pre-Chorus]
A
You're hidin' your smile
        D
for the last time
      G
Don't mention my
              D    A
name when I'm gone

[Chorus]
          D
If you've handed me one
       E
You've handed me
  A              D
a thousand shady lies.

[Solo]
D      E     A
D      E     A
G      D     Bm   A    G
E      A     D

[Verse 2]
          D
Don't you want me to be
E               A
Someone you can lean
               D
on when you're down?
          E
Don't you want me to be
A                G
Waitin' when you turn
            D       Bm
your head around?

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

[Bridge]
A                G
I think I must be mad
I think that I've been had
                E
'Cause you keep handin' me
      A            D
These shady, shady lies

[Pre-Chorus]
       A
You're hidin' your smile
        D
for the last time
      G
Don't mention my
              D    A
name when I'm gone

[Chorus/Outro]
D
If you've handed me one
E
You've handed me
  A              D
a thousand shady lies

How to play Shady Lies: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Shady Lies by Ian Matthews on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Shady Lies by Ian Matthews is built around A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯), with 5 chords in all: E, A, D, G and Bm.

Listen for A – D – E – A (I – IV – V – I in A major), the I–IV–V–I, the backbone of gospel, blues and folk: the song comes back to it again and again. In solfa, that is doh – fah – soh – doh. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 7th fret and play the shapes A, D, G, C, Em (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 80% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Shady Lies chords: questions

What key is Shady Lies in?

Shady Lies by Ian Matthews is centred on A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯).

What chords are in Shady Lies?

Shady Lies uses 5 chords: E, A, D, G, Bm.

What is the chord progression of Shady Lies?

The main progression is A – D – E – A (I – IV – V – I), the I–IV–V–I, the backbone of gospel, blues and folk.

Is Shady Lies easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 7th fret and play the shapes A, D, G, C, Em (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 80% without a capo).

How to play Shady Lies: key, chords and progression

Chord diagrams

Shady Lies chords: questions

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