Tom Odell – China Dolls Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression

Tom Odell – China Dolls Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression

ChordsAbAbmGbmGbBEEmDbm

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This is the chords of China Dolls by  on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
Ab

[Verse 1]
Ab
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Ab
You gave it all you had
Ab
Something inside you
Ab
Petrified you
Ab
Try not to feel so bad

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[Verse 2]
Ab
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Ab
The game is cruel and tough
Abm
You had a straight
Abm
And a couple of aces
Abm Ab Gbm
But it wasn’t quite enough

[Chorus]
Gb B
That’s the way it goes
E
Some you win and some you don’t
Em B Gb
Some you sing and hearts get broke
Dbm Gb B E
Like china dolls, like china dolls
Dbm Gb B E
Delicate and beautiful

[Post-Chorus]
Dbm Ab
Look at their purple, look at their purple eyes
Dbm Ab
Your stepfather’s on the phone
Dbm Gb B E
He wants to know if you’re coming home
Dbm Gb B E
He’s sick of you always getting stoned
Dbm Gb
With your china dolls
B E
And your china dolls
Dbm Gb B E
Delicate and beautiful
Ab
Oh

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[Verse 3]
Ab
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Ab
We know that you tried
Abm
Gave ’em some love
Abm
And a couple of doves
Abm Gbm
But they didn’t wanna fly

[Chorus]
Gb B
And that’s the way it goes
E
Some they fill your heart and soul
Em B Gb
Some they treat you so damn cold
Dbm Gb B E
Like china dolls, like china dolls
Dbm Gb B E
Delicate and beautiful

[Post-Chorus]
Dbm Ab
Look at their devil, look at their devil eyes
Dbm Ab
The police are on the phone
Dbm Gb B E
They want to know if you’re coming home
Dbm Gb B E
God, I wish that your mother had never sold
Dbm Gb B E
Those china dolls, those china dolls
Dbm Gb B E
Delicate and beautiful
Dbm Gb B E
Oh, your china dolls and your china dolls
Dbm Gb B E Ab
China dolls, your china dolls

How to play China Dolls: key, chords and progression

China Dolls by Tom Odell is in the key of E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). The song uses 8 chords: Ab, Abm, Gbm, Gb, B, E, Em and Dbm.

The progression the song keeps returning to is Dbm – Gb – B – E (vi – II – V – I in E major). In solfa, that is lah – reh – soh – doh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 4th fret and play the shapes E, Em, Dm, D, G, C, Cm, Am (88% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 25% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Ab chord on guitar (466544)
A♭A♭ C E♭
Abm chord on guitar (466444)
A♭mA♭ C♭ E♭
Gbm chord on guitar (244222)
G♭mG♭ A D♭
Gb chord on guitar (244322)
G♭G♭ B♭ D♭
B chord on guitar (x24442)
BB D♯ F♯
E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B
Dbm chord on guitar (x46654)
D♭mD♭ F♭ A♭

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

China Dolls chords: questions

What key is China Dolls in?

China Dolls by Tom Odell is in the key of E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

What chords are in China Dolls?

China Dolls uses 8 chords: Ab, Abm, Gbm, Gb, B, E, Em, Dbm.

What is the chord progression of China Dolls?

The main progression is Dbm – Gb – B – E (vi – II – V – I).

Is China Dolls easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 4th fret and play the shapes E, Em, Dm, D, G, C, Cm, Am (88% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 25% without a capo).

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