May52023

Stereolab – Chemical Chords on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsGm7 Dm7 Em7 F#m7 Fm7 Fmaj7 Gmaj7 Cm7 Cmaj7 G

KeyKeyCapo

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[Instrument]
Gm7  Gm7  Gm7  Gm7
Gm7  Gm7  Dm7  Em7 F#m7
Gm7  Gm7  Dm7  Em7 F#m7

Gm7  Gm7  Gm7  Gm7
Fm7   Fm7
Fmaj7  Em7   F#m7

Gm7    Gm7
Fm7     Fm7
Fmaj7  Em7     F#m7
Gmaj7

[Verse 1]
Gm7     Gm7
Gm7    Gm7
Sometimes it is
 Fm7      Fm7
 half full
Fmaj7  Em7        F#m7
Or sometimes half empty
Gm7        Gm7   Fm7   Fm7
For some   it is theory
Fmaj7          Em7
But for who is concerned
            F#m7
 it's truly   a pity
Gmaj7
A pity

[Instrument]
Gm7    Gm7   Dm7  Em7  F#m7
Gm7   Gm7  Dm7  Em7  F#m7
Gmaj7

[Verse 2]

Gm7   Gm7     Gmaj7
Unde---r the ocean night
 Gmaj7      Fmaj7
o---f deep sorrows
    Gmaj7 Gmaj7  Fmaj7
And qui-e-tly he misses you
F#m7    F#m7     Cm7
The ha---rm is visible
  Dm7      F#m7   F#m7
in the water and
     Cm7      Dm7
Ingested, how will
         Em7    Em7
it show later?

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[Instrument]
Gm7   Gm7   Dm7  Em7   F#m7
Gm7    Gm7  Dm7   Em7  F#m7
Gmaj7  Gmaj7

Gm7     Gm7   Gmaj7  Gmaj7
Fmaj7  Gmaj7 Gmaj7  Fmaj7
F#m7  F#m7   Cmaj7 Dm7
F#m7  F#m7  Cmaj7 Dm7
Em7   Em7

 Gm7    Gm7   Dm7  Em7   F#m7
 Gm7   Gm7    Dm7  Em7  F#m7
 Gmaj7 Gmaj7

[Outro]
Dm7  Em7           F#m7  Dm7
     In the water (ooooo-ooooo)
Em7                F#m7
Our child suffers (ooooo)
Dm7              Em7   F#m7
By your absence (ooooo-ooooo)
Dm7           Em7   F#m7
  He suffers (ooooo-ooooo)

Dm7 Em7
F#m7 Dm7  Em7 F#m7
Dm7     Em7 F#m7 G

How to play Chemical: key, chords and progression

These are Chemical Chords chords by Stereolab on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard.

Chemical by Stereolab is built around D minor (one flat: B♭), with 10 chords in all: Gm7, Dm7, Em7, F#m7, Fm7, Fmaj7, Gmaj7, Cm7, Cmaj7 and G.

The progression the song keeps returning to is Gm7 – Dm7 – Em7 – F#m7 (iv7 – i7 – ii7 – iii7 in D minor). Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: on guitar, Gm7, F#m7, Fm7 and Cm7 need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.