The National – Alphabet City Chords on Piano & Ukulele

The National – Alphabet City Chords on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsBmGF#mEm

Key
View
[Verse]
Bm
I don’t miss the world
G
Not the way it was
F#m         Bm
I can’t get there

Try to think of it
G
Always at a loss
F#m         Bm
I can’t get there

[Pre-Chorus]
All of your lonesomeness
kept in your wallet
Em
Nobody notices,
G
baby, you got this

[Chorus]
Em         F#m
I’ll still be here when you
Bm
come back from space
Em     F#m
I will listen for you
Bm
at the door

[Verse]
Bm
Take forever off
G
Anytime you want
F#m            Bm
I’ll save your place

If anybody asks
     G
I’ll say you’re coming back
F#m                Em
We’ll just have to wait

[Chorus]
    F#m           Bm
Sometimes I wanna drive
                Em
Around and find you
    F#m             Bm
And act like it’s a random thing
Em       F#m
I always wonder
       Bm
If you ever feel
       Em           F#m
Like I blew all the chances
         Bm
 of this happening

[Verse]
Bm
I’m not over it
G                    Em
Don’t know what it is
F#m         Bm
I can’t get there

Something’s wrong with me
G
Like it always is
F#m         Bm
I can’t get there

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

[Pre-Chorus]
All of your lonesomeness
 kept in your wallet
Em
Nobody notices,
G
baby, you got this
Bm
Everything’s orchestrated,
follow the arrows
      Em
Let’s meet where
we used to in
G
Alphabet City

[Chorus]
Em         F#m
I’ll still be here when you
Bm
come back from space
Em     F#m
I will listen for you
Bm
at the door
Em   F#m           Bm
Sometimes I barely recognize
this place
Em          F#m
When you’re with me,
          Bm
I don’t miss the world

Watch: The National - Alphabet City (Official Video)

From The National on YouTube. Play along with the chords above.

How to play Alphabet City: key, chords and progression

These are Alphabet City chords by The National on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard.

Alphabet City by The National is built around B minor (two sharps: F♯, C♯), with 4 chords in all: Bm, G, F#m and Em.

Most of the song cycles through Em – F#m – Bm – Em (iv – v – i – iv in B minor). Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes Am, F, Em, Dm (75% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 50% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Bm chord on guitar (x24432)
BmB D F♯
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
F#m chord on guitar (244222)
F♯mF♯ A C♯
Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B

Alphabet City chords: questions

What key is Alphabet City in?

Alphabet City by The National is centred on B minor (two sharps: F♯, C♯).

What chords are in Alphabet City?

Alphabet City uses 4 chords: Bm, G, F#m, Em.

What is the chord progression of Alphabet City?

The main progression is Em – F#m – Bm – Em (iv – v – i – iv).

Is Alphabet City easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes Am, F, Em, Dm (75% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 50% without a capo).

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