The Lumineers – Donna Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

The Lumineers – Donna Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsF#mEAC#mB

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This is the chord progression of Donna by The Lumineers on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
F#m E F#m E

[Verse 1]
E                                                A
It’s not the words you say but how you say it
E                                                               A
I saved the picture where your hair was braided
E                                      A
They found your wallet in the cemetery
E                                                  A
You told your daughter she was ordinary

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[Chorus]
C#m              B              E
You hate the name Junior
A
Your husband loved his computers
C#m              B                          E
Your mother never was one
A
The eldest of seven children

[Interlude]
F#m E F#m E

[Verse 2]
E                                                  A
If you don’t have it then you’ll never give it
E                                                  A
And I don’t blame you for the way you livin’
E                                      A
The little boy was born in February
E                                                      A
You couldn’t sober up to hold a baby

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[Chorus]
C#m              B                          E
You hate the name Donna
A
You love to judge strangers’ karma
C#m              B              E
You drove from New Jersey
A
The trucks always made you worry

[Bridge]
C#m    B     E    A
Oh, my henna tattoo
C#m    B              E              A
Go to bed it’s way too late

[Chorus]
C#m              B              E
You hate the name Donna
A
You love to judge strangers’ karma
C#m              B                          E
You drove from New Jersey
A
The trucks always made you worry
C#m              B              E
You raised a saint, Donna

You love to judge strangers’ karma
C#m B E
You’re praying for a funeral
A
You’re singing like Hallelujah

[Outro]
E A
You´re singing like Hallelujah
E A
You´re singing like Hallelujah
E A
You’re singing like Hallelujah
E A
You´re singing like Hallelujah
F#m E F#m E

How to play Donna: key, chords and progression

Donna by The Lumineers is built around E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯), with 5 chords in all: F#m, E, A, C#m and B.

The backbone of the song is E – A – C#m – B (I – IV – vi – V in E major), a pop progression that moves to the vi before resolving through V. In solfa, that is doh – fah – lah – soh. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes Em, D, G, Bm, A (80% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 40% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

F#m chord on guitar (244222)
F♯mF♯ A C♯
E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
A chord on guitar (x02220)
AA C♯ E
C#m chord on guitar (x46654)
C♯mC♯ E G♯
B chord on guitar (x24442)
BB D♯ F♯

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

Donna chords: questions

What key is Donna in?

Donna by The Lumineers is centred on E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

What chords are in Donna?

Donna uses 5 chords: F#m, E, A, C#m, B.

What is the chord progression of Donna?

The main progression is E – A – C#m – B (I – IV – vi – V), a pop progression that moves to the vi before resolving through V.

Is Donna easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes Em, D, G, Bm, A (80% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 40% without a capo).

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