https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:14:44 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-376458 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:54:18 +0000 Here's a video of Don playing it, just voice and solo guitar.

Except for the arpegiated bits at the beginning, the strumming is pretty easy to follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Y_XRiJsCI]]> Easy Songs kent_eh https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-376458 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97624 Sat, 09 Apr 2005 17:44:36 +0000 Easy strumming pattern also

http://www.grouptherapy.guernsey.net/americanpie.html

Tim]]> Easy Songs Maritimer https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97624 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97327 Fri, 08 Apr 2005 05:37:44 +0000 Easy Songs J Rock https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97327 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97247 Thu, 07 Apr 2005 23:12:59 +0000 Easy Songs Danabis https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97247 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97079 Thu, 07 Apr 2005 01:23:27 +0000 Easy Songs Rodders https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97079 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97025 Wed, 06 Apr 2005 19:49:23 +0000
But nice job mate, another "pub classic" nailed!!!!

:D :D :D

Vic]]> Easy Songs Vic Lewis VL https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-97025 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-8242 Wed, 06 Apr 2005 16:29:09 +0000
The faster paced choruses also have a great pattern for practice changing from G to C & D. Just keep repeating the chorus over and over if you like it really helps to stretch those fingers.

Anyway enjoy.


Verse 1:

A (G)long, (D)long (Em7)time ago,


(Am)I can still (C)remember how that (Em)music used to make me (D)smile


And (G)I know (D)if I (Em7)had my chance,


That (Am)I could make those (C)people dance and (Em)maybe they'd be (C)happy for a (D)while


But (Em)February (Am)made me shiver, with (Em)every paper (Am)I'd deliver


(C)Bad news (G)on the (Am)doorstep, I (C)couldn't take one more (D)step


I (G)can't (D)remember if I (Em)cried when I (Am7)read about his (D)widowed bride


(G)Something (D)touched me (Em)deep inside


The (C)day the (D7)music (G)died (C) (G)



Chorus:


So (G)bye, (C)bye Miss (G)American (D)Pie


Drove my (G)Chevy to the (C)levy but the (G)levy was (D)dry


And them (G)good old (C)boys were drinkin' (G)whiskey and (D)rye


Singin' (Em)this will be the day that I (A7)die, (Em)this will be the day that I (D7)die



Verse 2:


(G)Did you write the (Am)book of love


And do (C)you have faith in (Am)god above, (Em)if the bible (D)tells you so?


(G)Do you (D)believe in (Em)rock and roll


Can (Am7)music save your (C)mortal soul and (Em)can you teach me (A7)how to dance real (D)slow?


Well I (Em)know that you're in (D)love with him 'cos I (Em)saw you dancin' (D)in the gym


You (C)both kicked (G)off your (A7)shoes, man I (C)dig those rhythm and (D7)blues


I was a (G)lonely (D)teenage (Em)broncin' buck with a (Am)pink carnation and a (C)pickup truck


But (G)I knew (D)I was (Em)out of luck the (C)day the (D7)music (G)(C)died, (G)I started singin'


Chorus again:


The other verses:

Now for ten years we've been on our own,
and moss grows fat on a rolling stone but that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean in a voice that came from you and me
And while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned
And while Lenin read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark the day the music died, we were singin'


Helter skelter in a summer swelter
the birds flew off with a fallout shelter, eight miles high and fallin' fast
It landed foul on the grass
the players tried for a forward pass, with the jester on the sidelines in
a cast
Now at halftime there was sweet perfume, while sergeants played a marching
tune
We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance
'Cuz the players tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was the feel the day the music died, we started singin'


And there we were all in one place,
a generation lost in space, with no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candle stick, 'cos fire is the devil's
only friend
And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell could bread that Satan's spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died, he was singin'


Last Verse:


I (G)met a (D)girl who (Em)sang the blues


And I (Am)asked her for some (C)happy news, but (Em)she just smiled and turned (D)away


I (G)went down (D)to the (Em)sacred store


Where I'd (Am)heard the music (C)years before, but the (Em)man there said the (C)music wouldn't (D)play


But (Em)in the streets the (Am)children screamed, the (Em)lovers cried and the (Am)poets dreamed


But (C)not a (G)word was (Am)spoken, the (C)church bells all were (D)broken


And the (G)three men (D)I adm(Em)ire most, the (Am7)Father, (C)Son, and the (D7)Holy Ghost


(G)They caught the (D)last train (Em)for the coast the (Am7)day the (D7)music (G)died,


(D7)And they were singin'


Last Chorus:


So (G)bye, (C)bye Miss (G)American (D)Pie


Drove my (G)Chevy to the (C)levy but the (G)levy was (D)dry


And them (G)good old (C)boys were drinkin' (G)whiskey and (D)rye


Singin' (C)this will be the (D7)day that I (G)die.(C)(G)



Best regards,

Chris]]> Easy Songs dogsbody https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/american-pie-don-mclean/#post-8242