Nov192021

Mark Knopfler – Pale Imitation Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

These are the chords for Pale Imitation by Mark Knopfler on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

G Asus2 G/B Asus2 Cmaj7
Asus2 Em/G Asus2 Asus2

Asus2        E/A
Once I went back and
    G              D6/F#
I stayed on the street
        A
Where I used to live
Amaj7  F#m7add11
    Bm
Got up in the morning
 G
Put on my boots and
    E               Esus4  E
I crossed the road
           Bm
Stood in front of our house
          G
And went back to my
          E     Esus4  E
tricycle times
       Asus2       E/A
At the end of the terrace
   G            D6/F#
I looked up the alley
      A
And there he was
Amaj7  F#m7add11
   Bm
A little blonde boy
         G
With a stick in his hands
           E          Esus4 E
looking straight at me
        Bm
And if he wasn’t me
         G
Then my god, he was just
       E          Esus4  E
like I used to be

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     C#m7
We stared at each other
     Dsus2        A/C#
But he stared me down
       E
and I looked away
Esus4  E  E
C#m7
After a moment
     Dsus2      A/C#        E
When I turned again he was gone
F# F#maj7 E G#m
F# F#maj7 D#m7
G#m E C# C#sus4 C#
F# F#maj7 E G#m
F# F#maj7 D#m7
G#m E C#5 E13 E

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

   Asus2        E/A
I don’t think I ever
   G             D6/F#
became half the man
       A
That I used to be
Amaj7  F#m7add11
     Bm
The warrior captain
     G
The bold pirate king
        E   Esus4  E
of the sea
 Asus2  E/A         G
Nobody does me like I do
     D6/F#           A
Or that’s what they say to me
Amaj7  F#m7add11
           Bm
But I’m a pale imitation
           G
I’ve been keeping my secret
 E            Esus4  E
safe with me
G Asus2 G/B Asus2 Cmaj7 Asus2
Em/G Asus2 repeat Asus2

How to play Pale Imitation: key, chords and progression

Pale Imitation by Mark Knopfler is centred on A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯). The song uses 24 chords: G, Asus2, G/B, Cmaj7, Em/G, E/A, D6/F#, A, Amaj7, F#m7add11, Bm and E and 12 more.

The progression the song keeps returning to is Bm – G – E – Esus4 (ii – ♭VII – V – Vsus4 in A major). Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: F#m7add11, Bm, C#m7, F# and F#maj7 are played as barre or movable shapes on guitar. Practise the change into them slowly; on piano and ukulele the same chords are easier.