The Who – Summertime Blues Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression & Tab

The Who – Summertime Blues Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression & Tab

ChordsA5DE5G5D5AEBF#B/AB5F#5Esus4

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This is the chords of Summertime Blues by The Who on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
A5 D E5 A5 D E5 A5 D
E5 A5 D E5 A5 G5

[Verse 1]
D A5 D E5 A5
Well, I’m a gonna raise a fuss, I’m a gonna raise a holler
D
about a working all summer just to try and earn a dollar
E5 A5 D
Well, I went to the boss, said I got a date
A5
The boss said “No Dice, son, you gotta work late”
D
Sometimes I wonder, what am I gonna do
A5 D5 E5 A5 D E5 A5
There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

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[Verse 2]
D A5 D E5 A5
Well, my mom and poppa told me, “Son you gotta earn some money
D
If you want to use the car to go out next Sunday
E5 A5 D
Well, I didn’t go to work, I told the boss I was sick
A5
He said “You can’t use the car cause you didn’t work a lick”
D
Sometimes I wonder, what am I gonna do
A5 D5 E5 A5 D E5 A5
There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

[Guitar Solo]
A D E x8
A E A D E A B E
F# B E F# B B/A

[Verse 3]
B5 E5 F#5 B5
Gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation
E5 F#5 B5
Gonna take my problems to the United Nations
E
Well, I went to my congressman, he said, quote
B5
“I’d like to help you son but you’re too young to vote”
E5 Esus4 E
Sometimes I wonder, what I’m gonna do
B
There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

[Outro]
B5 E5 F#5 B5 E5 F#5 B5
E F# B E F# B

How to play Summertime Blues: key, chords and progression

Summertime Blues by The Who is built around E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯), with 13 chords in all: A5, D, E5, G5, D5, A, E, B, F#, B/A, B5 and F#5 and 1 more.

The backbone of the song is A5 – D – E5 – A5 (IV – ♭VII – I – IV in E major). 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 G5, C, D5, F5, C5, G, D, A, E, A5 (92% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 67% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

A5 chord on guitar (x022xx)
A5A E
D chord on guitar (xx0232)
DD F♯ A
E5 chord on guitar (022xxx)
E5E B
G5 chord on guitar (355xxx)
G5G D
D5 chord on guitar (xx023x)
D5D A
A chord on guitar (x02220)
AA C♯ E
E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
B chord on guitar (x24442)
BB D♯ F♯
F# chord on guitar (244322)
F♯F♯ A♯ C♯
B5 chord on guitar (x244xx)
B5B F♯
F#5 chord on guitar (244xxx)
F♯5F♯ C♯
Esus4 chord on guitar (022200)
Esus4E A B

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

Summertime Blues chords: questions

What key is Summertime Blues in?

Summertime Blues by The Who is centred on E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

What chords are in Summertime Blues?

Summertime Blues uses 13 chords: A5, D, E5, G5, D5, A, E, B, F#, B/A, B5, F#5 and 1 more.

What is the chord progression of Summertime Blues?

The main progression is A5 – D – E5 – A5 (IV – ♭VII – I – IV).

Is Summertime Blues easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes G5, C, D5, F5, C5, G, D, A, E, A5 (92% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 67% without a capo).

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