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Monty Python - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life Chords

ChordsAm, D7, G, Em, A7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

SomeAmthingsinlifeareD7bad
TheycanGreallymakeyouEmmad,
AndAmotherthingsjustD7makeyouswearandGcurseEm.
Whenyou’reAmchewingonlife’sD7gristle,
Don’tGgrumblegiveaEmwhistle
AndA7this’llhelpthingsturnoutfortheD7bestand
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmbrightD7sideofGlife
WhistleEmAmD7
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmlightD7sideofGlife
WhistleEmAmD7
IfAmlifeseemsjollyD7rotten
ThereisGsomethingyou’veforEmgotten,
AndAmthat’stolaughandD7smileanddanceandGsingEm.
Whenyou’reAmfeelingintheD7dumps,Gdon’tbesillyEmchumps
JustA7purseyourlipsandwhistlethat’stheD7thingand
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmbrightD7sideofGlife
WhistleEmAmD7
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmlightD7sideofGlife
WhistleEmAmD7
ForAmlifeisquite D7absurdandGdeath’sthefinalEmword;
YoumustAmalwaysfacetheD7curtainwithaGbow.Em
ForAmgetaboutyourD7sin;givetheGaudienceaEmgrin
A7Enjoyit;it’syourlastchance D7anyhowand
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmbrightD7sideofGdeath
WhistleEmAmD7
GJustbeEmforeyouAmtakeyourD7terminalGbreathe.
WhistleEmAmD7
AmLife’sapieceofD7shitGwhenyoulookatEmit.
AmLife’salaughandD7death’sajokeit’sGtrueEm
AmYouseeit’sallaD7show;keepthemGlaughingasyouEmgo.
JustreA7memberthatthelastlaughisonD7youand
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmbrightD7sideofGlife
WhistleEmAmD7
GAlwaysEmlookontheAmlightD7sideofGlife
WhistleEmAmD7
AlbumMonty Python's Life of Brian Soundtrack
GenresPop
Year1979
KeyAm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Always Look on the Bright Side of Life on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Monty Python - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 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.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life uses these transitions most often: Am → D7 (28), D7 → G (28), and G → Em (28). 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 Am - D7 chord transition.

1. Am → D7 chord transition

To move from Am to D7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 28 times.

Am to D7

2. D7 → G chord transition

Switching from D7 to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 28 times.

D7 to G

3. G → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from G to Em:

  1. While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 28 times.

G to Em

4. Em → Am chord transition

Switching from Em to Am:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 24 times.

Em to Am

5. Em → A7 chord transition

Switching from Em to A7:

  1. While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

6. A7 → D7 chord transition

To move from A7 to D7:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

  • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life includes 119 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life contains 2 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Always Look on the Bright Side of Life connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    • D7 → Am: 2%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → D7: 2%