Sting – Roxanne Chord Progression on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard

Sting – Roxanne Chord Progression on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard

ChordsEmBmCmaj7Bm7Am7DF#5G

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This is the chord progression of Roxanne by Sting on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Verse 1]
Em            Bm                     Cmaj7                     Bm7
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Am7                     D
Those days are over
Em
You don’t have to sell your body to the night
Em           Bm                     Cmaj7                     Bm7
Roxanne, you don’t have to wear that dress tonight
Am7                               D
Walk the streets for money
Em
You don’t care if it’s wrong or if it’s right

[Chorus]
Am7                               D                               Em
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Am7                                         D                     Em
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Em           F#5                     G                     D
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Em                                                   G
Put on the red light, put on the red light
D                               Em
Put on the red light, oh

[Verse 2]
Em                               Bm
I loved you since I knew ya
Cmaj7                     Bm7
I wouldn’t talk damn to ya
Am7                               D
I have to tell you just how I feel
Em
I won’t share you with another boy
Em                               Bm
I know my mind is made up
Am7                                         D
So put away your make up
Em
Told you once I won’t tell you again it’s a bad way

[Chorus]
Am7                               D                               Em
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Am7                                         D                               Em
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Em                     F#5           G                     D
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Em                                                             G
Put on the red light, put on the red light
D                               Em
Put on the red light, oh

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How to play Roxanne: key, chords and progression

Roxanne by Sting is written in E minor (one sharp: F♯) and moves through 8 chords: Em, Bm, Cmaj7, Bm7, Am7, D, F#5 and G.

The progression the song keeps returning to is Am7 – D – Em – Am7 (iv7 – VII – i – iv7 in E minor). Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 7th fret and play the shapes Am, Em, Fmaj7, Em7, Dm7, G, B5, C (88% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 63% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B
Bm chord on guitar (x24432)
BmB D F♯
Cmaj7 chord on guitar (x32000)
Cmaj7C E G B
Bm7 chord on guitar (x24232)
Bm7B D F♯ A
Am7 chord on guitar (x02010)
Am7A C E G
D chord on guitar (xx0232)
DD F♯ A
F#5 chord on guitar (244xxx)
F♯5F♯ C♯
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D

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

Roxanne chords: questions

What key is Roxanne in?

Roxanne by Sting is in the key of E minor (one sharp: F♯).

What chords are in Roxanne?

Roxanne uses 8 chords: Em, Bm, Cmaj7, Bm7, Am7, D, F#5, G.

What is the chord progression of Roxanne?

The main progression is Am7 – D – Em – Am7 (iv7 – VII – i – iv7).

Is Roxanne easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 7th fret and play the shapes Am, Em, Fmaj7, Em7, Dm7, G, B5, C (88% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 63% without a capo).

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