Feb272024

The Sandpipers – Softly Chords on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsAmaj7 Dmaj7/A Bm7/AAmaj7sus2Aadd9 E A A7 D/A DmDEsus G7

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These are Softly chords by The Sandpipers on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard.

[Intro]
Amaj7    Dmaj7/A   Bm7/A
 Amaj7sus2  Amaj7
Aadd9  Bm7/A  Amaj7sus2

[Verse 1]
Amaj7
 Softly she comes
Bm7/A         E
 Whispers the breeze
      Amaj7
with her passing
Bm7/A      E
 In secret love
     A           A7
she is laughing
D/A       Dm
 Softly she comes
 A            Bm7/A
 in the night

[Verse 2]
Amaj7
 Softly she sighs
Bm7/A        E
 Sweetly she lies
Amaj7
never sleeping
Bm7/A          E
 Her fragrance all
    A          A7
 in my keeping
D/A       Dm
 Softly she comes
  A
 in the night
  D/A   A   D/A

[Bridge]
E
 Down the darkened hall
           D
I hear her footsteps
        A
 on the stair

Then she is in my
      E         Esus E
arms once more

[Verse 3]
Amaj7
 Then softly she goes
Bm7/A        E
 Her shinin' lips
    Amaj7
in the shadows
Bm7/A        E
 Whisper goodbye
     A         A7
at my window
D/A       Dm
 Softly she goes
   A
 in the dawn

[Outro]
D/A         G7
 Softly she goes
Amaj7         Aadd9
In the dawn
 Bm7/A  Bm7/A  Bm7/A

How to play Softly: key, chords and progression

Softly by The Sandpipers is centred on A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯). The song uses 13 chords: Amaj7, Dmaj7/A, Bm7/A, Amaj7sus2, Aadd9, E, A, A7, D/A, Dm, D and Esus and 1 more.

The progression the song keeps returning to is E – Amaj7 – Bm7/A – E (V – Imaj7 – ii7 – V in A major). In solfa, that is soh – doh – reh – soh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Beginner-friendly: almost every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.