Apr252022

Shawn James – Brighter Day Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
A A7sus4  A* A7sus4
A A7sus4  A* A7sus4
A A7sus4  A* A7sus4
A A7sus4  A* A7sus4

[Verse 1]
A             A7sus4
I can see the pain
       A*   A7sus4
in your eyes,
   A          A7sus4
No matter how hard
   A*     A7sus4
you try to hide,
  D
I know that there's
something going on in
                 A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
the back of your mind,
A                 A7sus4
It's not that I'm trying
   A*   A7sus4
to pry,
     A           A7sus4
It's just that I know
       A*    A7sus4
what it feels like,
   D
To hide something deep
down, something deep
     A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
down inside.

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[Chorus]
E7  D7
Oh     it’s gonna be
           A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
a brighter day.
A A7sus4 A* A7sus4

[Verse 2]
          A
I've been watching
     A7sus4  A*    A7sus4
your storm unfold,
          A             A7sus4
I've been wondering how long
   A*           A7sus4
you gonna hold onto,
D
All those ghosts that's
been haunting you
          A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
from your past,
        A           A7sus4
You’d unchained yourself
      A*    A7sus4
like a slave,
A          A7sus4   A*    A7sus4
Digging up your own grave,
    D
But you ain't gotta dig
             A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
like that anymore.

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

[Outro]
E7  D7
Oh      it’s gonna be
           A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
a brighter day.
E7  D7
Oh      it’s gonna be
           A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
a brighter day.
A A7sus4 A* A7sus4
 A    A7sus4 A* A7sus4
(Brighter    day),
 A    A7sus4 A* A7sus4
(Brighter    day),
 A    A7sus4 A* A7sus4
(Brighter    day),
 A    A7sus4 A* A7sus4
(Brighter    day),
E7                D7            A
Oh, there's gonna be a brighter day.

How to play Brighter Day: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Brighter Day by Shawn James on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Brighter Day by Shawn James is centred on A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯). The song uses 5 chords: A, A7sus4, D, E7 and D7.

Listen for A7sus4 – A – A7sus4 – D (I7sus4 – I – I7sus4 – IV in A major): the song comes back to it again and again. In solfa, that is doh – doh – doh – fah. 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.