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R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People Chords

ChordsF, Dm, Am, Bb, A, D, G, Em, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

FDmAmBbFDmAmBb
AShinyDhappyGpeoplelaughingADG
EmMeetmeinDtheEmcrowdGPeopleDpeople
EmThrowyourloveDaroundEmLoveGme Dloveme
EmTakeitDintoEmtownGHappyDhappy
EmPutitDintheEmgroundDwheretheGflowersDgrow
FGoldandsilverDshineD7
AShinyDhappyGpeopleholdinghands
AShinyDhappyGpeopleholdinghands
AShinyDhappyGpeoplelaughing
EmEveryoneDaroundGLovethemDlovethem
EmPutitinyourDhandsGTakeitDtakeit
EmThere’snotimetoDcryGHappyDhappy
EmPutitinDyourEmheartDwhereGtomorrowDshines
FGoldandsilverDshineD7
AShinyDhappyGpeopleholdinghands
AShinyDhappyGpeopleholdinghands
AShinyDhappyGpeoplelaughing
FDmAmBbFDmAmBb
AShinyDhappyGpeopleholdinghands
AShinyDhappyGpeopleholdinghands
AShinyDhappyGpeoplelaughing
FDmAmBbFDmAmBbADG
APeopleDhappyGpeople
APeopleDhappyGpeopleADG
ArtistR.E.M.
AlbumSesame Street: Songs from the Street, Vol. 6
GenresChildren, Rock
Year2003
KeyF
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Shiny Happy People on Guitar (Step-by-step)

R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People on guitar requires 9 chords and 14 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.

Shiny Happy People uses these transitions most often: D → G (20), A → D (15), and D → Em (11). 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 F - Dm chord transition.

1. F → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

F to Dm

2. Dm → Am chord transition

To move from Dm to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Dm to Am

3. Am → Bb chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Am to Bb

4. Bb → F chord transition

Switching from Bb to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Bb to F

5. Bb → A chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

7. D → G chord transition

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

8. G → A chord transition

Here's how to move from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

9. G → Em chord transition

Switching 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 2 times.

10. Em → D chord transition

Switching from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

11. D → F chord transition

Switching from D to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

12. D → D7 chord transition

To move from D to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

13. D7 → A chord transition

To move from D7 to A:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

14. G → F chord transition

Switching from G to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Shiny Happy People.

  • Shiny Happy People includes 113 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Shiny Happy People contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Shiny Happy People connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → F: 9%