Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar Em7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]We [Em]skipped the light fan[Am]dango [C]
[F]Turned [Am]cartwheels ‘cross the [Dm]floor [F]
[G]I was [G7]feeling kind of [Em7]seasick [G7]
[C]But the [Em]crowd called out for [Am]more [C]
[verse 2]
[F]The [Am]room was humming [Dm]harder [F]
[G]As the [G7]ceiling flew a[Em7]way [G7]
[C]When [Em]we called out for a[Am]nother [C]drink
[F]The [Am]waiter brought a [Dm]tray [G]
[chorus]
And so it [C]was [Em]that [Am]later [C]
[F]As the [Am]miller told his [Dm]tale [F]
[G]That her [G7]face at first just [Em7]ghostly [G7]
Turned a [C]whiter [F]shade of [C]pale [G7]
[verse 3]
[C]She [Em]said there is no [Am]reason [C]
[F]And the [Am]truth is plain to [Dm]see [F]
[G]But I [G7]wandered through my [Em7]playing cards [G7]
[C]And [Em]would not let her [Am]be [C]
[Closing]
[F]One of [Am]sixteen vestal [Dm]virgins [F]
[G]Who were [G7]leaving for the [Em7]coast [G7]
[C]And al[Em]though my eyes were [Am]open [C]
[F]They might [Am]just as well been [Dm]closed [G]
[chorus]
And so it [C]was [Em]that [Am]later [C]
[F]As the [Am]miller told his [Dm]tale [F]
[G]That her [G7]face at first just [Em7]ghostly [G7]
Turned a [C]whiter [F]shade of [C]pale [G7]
How to play A Whiter Shade Of Pale on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale on guitar requires 8 chords and 13 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
A Whiter Shade Of Pale uses these transitions most often: C → F (10), Am → C (8), and Am → Dm (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with C - Em chord transition.
1. C → Em chord transition
To move from C to Em;
- While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
2. Em → Am chord transition
To move from Em to Am;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
3. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
4. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
5. F → Am chord transition
To move from F to Am;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
6. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
7. Dm → F chord transition
To move from Dm to F;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
8. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
9. G → G7 chord transition
To move from G to G7;
- Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.
10. G7 → Em7 chord transition
To move from G7 to Em7;
- While playing G7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
11. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
12. Dm → G chord transition
To move from Dm to G;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
13. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
A Whiter Shade Of Pale chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
- A Whiter Shade Of Pale includes 95 chord transitions, 13 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- A Whiter Shade Of Pale contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how A Whiter Shade Of Pale connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → F: 16%
- C → Em: 8%
After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).- Am → C: 16%
- Am → Dm: 8%