They Might Be Giants – This Microphone Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression

They Might Be Giants – This Microphone Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression

ChordsEmAmFGDmCEEbAbBbBb/DCm

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This is the chord progression of This Microphone by They Might Be Giants on Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Keyboard.

[Verse]
Em                 Am               F               G
Selflessly hiding all emotions inside
Em               Am               Dm               G
Chilly and dry, New England style
Em               Am               F                             G
Nobody’s figured out my twelve fatal flaws
Em                             Am               Dm               G
Who’s keeping score? Who wins that war?
F               C
I’m busting out
E               F               G
And I know everyone agrees

[Chorus]
Eb               Ab               Bb               Eb
Caring is carting bad ideas to the dump
Ab               Bb               Eb               Ab
And taking my time, taking my time
Bb               Eb               Ab               Bb Eb Bb/D
Hey, this microphone was turned on all along

[Break]
Em Am Dm G
Em Am F G
Em Am Dm G

[Verse]
Em               Am               F               G
I tried returning all that stuff to the store
Em               Am               Dm                             G
But then I bought more, then I bought more
Em               Am               F                             G
I’m done explaining all these reckless displays
Em               Am               Dm     G
Hard to defend, I’m in a haze
F               C
Old stories told
E                             F                             G
In brand-new clothes I bought today

[Chorus]
Eb               Ab               Bb                             Eb
Kindness is killing off my unfinished dreams
Ab               Bb               Eb               Ab
And walking away, just walking away
Bb Eb Ab Bb Eb Bb/D Cm Bb
Hey, this microphone was turned on all along

Eb               Ab               Bb               Eb
Caring is carting bad ideas to the dump
Ab               Bb               Eb               Ab
And taking my time, taking my time
Bb Eb Ab Bb Eb Bb/D Cm Bb Eb
Hey, this microphone was turned on all along

For corrections please use the comment box below

How to play This Microphone: key, chords and progression

This Microphone by They Might Be Giants is built around F major (one flat: B♭), with 12 chords in all: Em, Am, F, G, Dm, C, E, Eb, Ab, Bb, Bb/D and Cm.

The backbone of the song is Eb – Ab – Bb – Eb (♭VII – ♭III – IV – ♭VII in F major). Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

Good to know: on guitar, F, Eb, Ab, Bb and Bb/D need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.

Chord diagrams

Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B
Am chord on guitar (x02210)
AmA C E
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
Dm chord on guitar (xx0231)
DmD F A
C chord on guitar (x32010)
CC E G
E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
Eb chord on guitar (x68886)
E♭E♭ G B♭
Ab chord on guitar (466544)
A♭A♭ C E♭
Bb chord on guitar (x13331)
B♭B♭ D F
Cm chord on guitar (x35543)
CmC E♭ G

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

This Microphone chords: questions

What key is This Microphone in?

This Microphone by They Might Be Giants is centred on F major (one flat: B♭).

What chords are in This Microphone?

This Microphone uses 12 chords: Em, Am, F, G, Dm, C, E, Eb, Ab, Bb, Bb/D, Cm.

What is the chord progression of This Microphone?

The main progression is Eb – Ab – Bb – Eb (♭VII – ♭III – IV – ♭VII).

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