Iron Maiden – The Writing On The Wall Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Iron Maiden – The Writing On The Wall Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated

ChordsDmBbCGF

Key
View
[Intro]
Dm

[Intro 2]
0:48
Bb Dm Bb Dm
C Dm C G
Dm

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[Verse 1]
Dm
Across a painted desert lies
                F
a train of vagabonds
Dm
All that’s left of what we
                         F
were it’s what we have become
Dm
Once our empires glorious
                      F
but now the empire’s gone
Dm
The dead gave us the time to
                          F
live and now our time is done

[Pre-Chorus]
C                         Dm
Now we are victorious we’ve
become our slaves
Bb
A land of hope and glory
           C
building graveyards for the brave

[Chorus]
Dm         F        C             G
Have you seen the writing on the wall
Dm         F         C      G
Have you seen that writing
Dm       F       C              G
Can you see the riders on the storm
Bb                C
Can you see them riding ~
 Bb                C
can you see them riding

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[Riff]
Dm

[Verse 2]
Dm
Holding on to jury is
                  F
that all we ever know
Dm
Ignorance our judge and
                       F
jury all we’ve got to show
      C
From Hollywood to Babylon ~
      G
holy war to kingdom come
       Dm
On a trail of dust and ashes ~
                         F
when the burning sky is done

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[Pre-Chorus]
   C
A tide of change is coming
     Dm
and that is what you fear
Bb
The earthquake is a coming
     C
but you don’t want to hear
You’re just too blind to see

[Chorus]
Dm         F        C             G
Have you seen the writing on the wall
Dm         F         C      G
Have you seen that writing
Dm       F       C              G
Can you see the riders on the storm
Bb                C
Can you see them riding ~
 Bb                C
can you see them riding

[Riff]
Dm

[Solo 1]
Am F G |
Am C G | x2

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

[Riff]
Dm Bb C|
Dm C   | x2

[Solo 2]
Dm C F x4

[Chorus]
Dm         F        C             G
Have you seen the writing on the wall
Dm         F         C      G
Have you seen that writing
Dm       F       C              G
Can you see the riders on the storm
Bb                C
Can you see them riding

[Chorus]
Dm         F        C             G
Have you seen the writing on the wall
Dm         F         C      G
Have you seen that writing
Dm       F       C              G
Can you see the riders on the storm
Bb                C
Can you see them riding ~
 Bb                C
can you see them riding
                Dm
Riding next to you

How to play The Writing On The Wall: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for The Writing On The Wall by Iron Maiden on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

The Writing On The Wall by Iron Maiden keeps coming home to C major (no sharps or flats). You need 5 chords: Dm, Bb, C, G and F.

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

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes Bm, G, A, E, D (80% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 60% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Dm chord on guitar (xx0231)
DmD F A
Bb chord on guitar (x13331)
B♭B♭ D F
C chord on guitar (x32010)
CC E G
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C

The Writing On The Wall chords: questions

What key is The Writing On The Wall in?

The Writing On The Wall by Iron Maiden is centred on C major (no sharps or flats).

What chords are in The Writing On The Wall?

The Writing On The Wall uses 5 chords: Dm, Bb, C, G, F.

What is the chord progression of The Writing On The Wall?

The main progression is Dm – F – C – G (ii – IV – I – V).

Is The Writing On The Wall easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes Bm, G, A, E, D (80% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 60% without a capo).

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