Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsCGFE7AmDm

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This is the chord progression of Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
C G Am F / C G Am Am7 / F F
C C  G G F F C C
Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo…
F F E7 E7 Am Am F F
Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo…

[Verse]
C                 C         G              G
Somewhere over the rainbow
F     F     C         C
Way up high
F                 F         C                         C
And the dreams that you dreamed of
G    G   Am     Am     F     F
Once in a lullaby – high
C                 C         G         G
Somewhere over the rainbow
F    F    C         C
Blue birds fly
F                         F               C                 C
And the dreams that you dreamed of
G         G         Am         Am         F                 F
Dreams really do come true – ooh ooooh

[Prechorus]
C                                 C
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
G         G         Am         Am         F                 F
Wake up where the clouds are far behind – me
C                                 C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
G                 G                 Am                 Am         F                 F
High above the chimney tops that’s where you’ll find me

[Chorus]
C         C                 G                 G
Oh somewhere over the rainbow
F    F         C         C
Blue birds fly
F         F         C         C         G         G         Am         Am         F     F
And the dream that you dare to, oh why, oh why can’t I? – I?

[Verse]
C                 G                         F                 C
Well I see trees of green and red roses too
F                         C                 E7                 Am
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
F                         F
And I think to myself
G         G         Am         Am    F    F
What a wonderful world – world
C                         G               F                       C
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
F                 C               E7               Am
And the brightness of day – I like the dark
F                         F
And I think to myself
G      G    C     F     C    C
What a wonderful world

[Bridge]
G                 G                 C                         C
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
G                         G                 C                 C
Are also on the faces of people passing by
F                         C                 F                         C
I see friends shaking hands Saying, “How do you do?”
F         C         Dm         Dm         G         G
They’re really saying, “I – I love you”

[Verse]
C                         G                 F                 C
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
F                 C                 E7                         Am
They’ll learn much more Than we’ll know
F                         F
And I think to myself
G         G         Am         Am     F     F
What a wonderful world – world

[Prechorus]
C                         C
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
G         G                 Am         Am         F         F
Wake up where the clouds are far behind – me
C                                         C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
G         G         Am                 Am                         F                 F
High above the chimney tops that’s where you’ll find me

[Chorus]
C         C                 G         G
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow
F    F    C    C
Way up high
F F C C G G Am Am F F
And the dream that you dare to, oh why, oh why can’t I? – I?

[Outro]
C C G G F F C C
Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo…
F F E7 E7 Am Am F F (C)
Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo… Ooooo…

How to play Somewhere Over The Rainbow: key, chords and progression

Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole is in the key of C major (no sharps or flats). The song uses 6 chords: C, G, F, E7, Am and Dm.

Most of the song cycles through Am – F – C – G (vi – IV – I – V in C major), the “sensitive” minor-start rotation of the four-chord progression, a favourite in ballads and worship. In solfa, that is lah – fah – doh – soh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes G, D, C, B7, Em, Am (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 83% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

C chord on guitar (x32010)
CC E G
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C
E7 chord on guitar (020100)
E7E G♯ B D
Am chord on guitar (x02210)
AmA C E
Dm chord on guitar (xx0231)
DmD F A

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

Somewhere Over The Rainbow chords: questions

What key is Somewhere Over The Rainbow in?

Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole is in the key of C major (no sharps or flats).

What chords are in Somewhere Over The Rainbow?

Somewhere Over The Rainbow uses 6 chords: C, G, F, E7, Am, Dm.

What is the chord progression of Somewhere Over The Rainbow?

The main progression is Am – F – C – G (vi – IV – I – V), the “sensitive” minor-start rotation of the four-chord progression, a favourite in ballads and worship.

Is Somewhere Over The Rainbow easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes G, D, C, B7, Em, Am (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 83% without a capo).

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