Mar162020

Mayday Parade – It Is What It Is Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

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This is the chords of It Is What It Is by Mayday Parade on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
G G
Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F#
Cadd9 G D/F# Em7

[Verse 1]
Cadd9 Em7
Yesterday I flew across the world
G D/F#
And started a revolution
Cadd9 Em7
But truth be told I’m trying to find myself
G D/F#
In a lovesick evolution

[Pre-Chorus]
Cadd9 G D/F#
Oh somebody tell me I’m fine
Em7 D/F#
And that I’m gonna be alright
Cadd9 G D/F#
Oh cause nobody’s looking to die
Em7 D/F#
When they’re happy inside

[Verse 2]
Cadd9 Em7
Today’s the day I’m coming home again
G D/F#
But I’m further and further away now
Cadd9 Em7
I won’t leave my bed cause a part of me is dead
G Em7 D/F# Cadd9
I forgot to face all your pictures down

[Pre-Chorus]
G D/F#
Oh somebody tell me I’m fine
Em7 D/F#
And that I’m gonna be alright
Cadd9 G D/F#
Oh cause nobody’s looking to die
Em7 D/F#
When they’re happy inside

[Solo]
Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# x4

[Bridge]
Cadd9 G D/F# Em7
I’ll never get the chance to promise I’d never let go
Cadd9 G D/F#
I’ll never get the chance cause you’ll forever be the reason why
Em7 D/F#
I’m not happy inside

[Chorus]
Cadd9 G
But it is what it is
D/F# Em7 D/F#
And it hurts, make it fast
Cadd9 G
Well it is what it is
D/F# Em7 D/F#
It gets worse and it lasts
Cadd9 G D/F#
I never had the chance to promise I’d never let go
Em7 D/F#
But you let go
Cadd9 G
But it is what it is
D/F# Em7 D/F#
And it hurts, make it fast
Cadd9 G
But it is what it is
D/F# Em7 D/F#
And it hurts, make it fast
Cadd9 G
Well it is what it is
D/F# Em7 D/F#
It gets worse and it lasts

[Outro]
Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F#
Cadd9 G D/F#

How to play It Is What It Is: key, chords and progression

It Is What It Is by Mayday Parade sits in G major (one sharp: F♯), and you need 4 chords to play it: G, Cadd9, D/F# and Em7.

Listen for Cadd9 – G – D/F# – Em7 (IVadd9 – I – V – vi7 in G major), a rotation of the four-chord pop progression that starts on the IV chord: the song comes back to it again and again. In solfa, that is fah – doh – soh – lah. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

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