Apr62020

Zach Bryan – Codeine Pills Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsC#m B A

KeyKeyCapo

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This is the chords of Codeine Pills by Zach Bryan on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
Getting high and running around, the blame you intend on placing
C#m B A B x2

[Verse]
C#m B A B
I remember waking up with you, wish you’d leave me laying.
C#m B A B
Hoping God would get us through the bills we ain’t been paying
C#m B A B
Hear a lot of people talk about you, can’t hear what they’re saying.
C#m B A B
You’re not used to sticking around, grown accustomed to the staying.
C#m B A B

[Verse]
C#m B A B
Every time you come to town, we wind up doing the same thing
C#m B A B
Getting high and running around the blame you intend on placing
B

[Verse]
C#m B A B
Daddy says I’ve lost my mind, my momma she’d be grieving
C#m B A B
Face down in a bathroom stall, vices planned on keeping
C#m B A B

[Chorus]
C#m B A B
Cheap booze and codeine pills ain’t worth all the losing,
C#m B A B
Not a thing can come between us… damn the life we’re choosing.
C#m B A B
Cheap booze and codeine pills ain’t worth all the losing,
C#m B A B
Not a thing can come between us… damn the life we’re choosing.
C#m B A B
Cheap booze and codeine pills ain’t worth all the losing,
C#m B A B
Not a thing can come between us… damn the life we’re choosing.
C#m B A B
Cheap booze and codeine pills ain’t worth all the losing,
C#m B A B
Not a thing can come between us… damn the life we’re choosing.
C#m B A B x2

How to play Codeine Pills: key, chords and progression

Codeine Pills by Zach Bryan is in the key of C♯ minor (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). The song uses 3 chords: C#m, B and A.

The backbone of the song is C#m – B – A – B (i – VII – VI – VII in C♯ minor), a minor “Aeolian” loop common in rock and Afrobeats. 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 Bm, A, G (67% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 33% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.