Black Velvet chords

by Alannah Myles

Key: Eb minor – relative minor of Gb Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 92 bpm


Guitar Tuning: Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-eb (De-tune each string by a half-step)

Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Guitar Chords in E minor: Em, Em7, F, G, Gsus4, A, Am, Am7, Asus4, B, B7, Bsus4, C, C7, Cadd9, D, Dsus4

Extras: Guitar Tab Intro and chord charts below.

Chord Chart Legend
Em chord Em7 chord F Major F Major barre chord G chord Gsus4 chord Gsus4 barre chord Am chord Am7 chord A Major chord Asus4 chord C Major chord C7 chord D Major chord Dsus4 chord B Major chord B Major barre chord Bsus4 chord B7 chord Cadd9 chord
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Em chord - LH Em7 chord - LH F Major chord - LH F Major barre chord - LH G Major chord - LH Gsus4 chord - LH Gsus4 barre chord - LH Am chord Am7 chord - LH A Major chord - LH Asus4 chord - LH C Major chord - LH C7 chord - LH D Major chord - LH Dsus4 chord - LH B Major chord - LH B Major barre chord - LH Bsus4 chord - LH B7 chord - LH Cadd9 chord - LH

Black Velvet

Detune each string 1/2 step if playing with video

The Relative Major Key of Em is highlighted - Transpose to any other key. 
                 Em
Intro: 4/4 β€–   β€–    |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  β€–
          Guitar
 Em
1. Mis-sis-sip-pi in the mid-dle of a dry spell

   Jim-my Ro-gers on the Vic-tro-la up high

   Mam-mas dan-cin', ba-by on her shoul-der

   The sun is set-tin' like mo-las-sis in the sky

Bsus4              B                  Asus4  A
  ** The boy could sing   Knew how to move    ev'-ry-thing
Gsus4        G             Dsus4               D        
     Al-ways want-ing more      He'd leave you long-ing for

     Am7                       D       
Chorus: Black Vel-vet and that lit-tle boy smile
     Am7                      F              C    
        Black Vel-vet in that slow south-ern style
     Am7                         D     
        A new re-li-gion that'll bring you to your knees
     C7       B7              Em
        Black Vel-vet if you | please |   π„Ž  |   π„Ž  |   π„Ž  |      

 Em
2. Up in Mem-phis, the mu-sic's like a heat-wave

   White light-ning bound to drive you wild

   Ma-ma's baby's in the heart of ev'-ry school-girl

   Love Me Ten-der leaves them cry-in' in the aisles

Bsus4           B                Asus4  A
  ** The way he moved   It was a sin     So sweet and true
Gsus4        G             Dsus4               D       
     Al-ways want-ing more      He'd leave you long-ing for

     Am7                       D       
Chorus: Black Vel-vet and that lit-tle boy smile
     Am7                      F              C    
        Black Vel-vet in that slow south-ern style
     Am7                         D     
        A new re-li-gion that'll bring you to your knees
     C7       B7               Em
        Black Vel-vet if you | please |   π„Ž  |   π„Ž  |  
 
      Am                      B                         Em7
Bridge: Ev'-ry word of ev'-ry song that he sang was for you |  π„Ž  |
      Am                  F                        C       Cadd9
        In a flash he was gone   It hap-pened so | soon -         |
      B7
        What could you do - o

         Em
Instr: β€–     |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  β€–

     Am7                       D       
Chorus: Black Vel-vet and that lit-tle boy smile
     Am7                      F              C    
        Black Vel-vet in that slow south-ern style
     Am7                         D     
        A new re-li-gion that'll bring you to your knees
     C7       B7       Em  
        Black Vel-vet     If you please    

     Am7                       D       
Chorus: Black Vel-vet and that lit-tle boy smile
     Am7                      F              C    
        Black Vel-vet in that slow south-ern style
     Am7                         D     
        A new re-li-gion that'll bring you to your knees
     C7       B7                Em  
        Black Vel-vet... If you please   

        Em
     β€–     |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  β€–
     (please)           If you please 

        Em
     β€–     |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  β€–
     If you please…     If you please      Mm... Mm...

        Em    
     β€–     |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  |  π„Ž  β€–...

Guitar Tab Intro


The opening riff on the first bar sounds great and fun to play. It may look a bit scary, but take it really slow, one note at a time, then when it sounds accurate and comfortable, speed up gradually till you reach the right tempo.

Intro Tab

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: Eb Minor - 6 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
  • Time Signature: 4/4 - Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderate Rock
  • Metronome: q = 92
  • Voice Range: Eb3 - Eb5
  • Skill Level (Guitarist): Beginner/Intermediate - requires a fair knowledge of open chords, barre chords and the ability to read Guitar Tab.

Please Note: You only have to de-tune the guitar if you are playing along with the video.

The same applies to keyboard players who may prefer playing in an easier key, in which case you can simply follow the chords on the song sheet above.

If playing with the video: The reason we de-tune the guitar, and don't use a capo, is that it would need to be placed on the 11th fret. This is way too high with very little room to play barre chords etc. The song lends itself to a full fretboard, especially if you are playing the guitar riff as shown in the sheet music above.

Beginner Guitarists: If you want to play easy chords without the need for barre chords, Gsus4 and Bsus4 are the only 2 chords you may want to replace. You can play G instead of Gsus4, and in the ** sections where it goes from Bsus4 to B, you can simply play B7.

Song Details:

Album Cover
Alannah Myles
  • Songwriters: David Tyson, Christopher Ward
  • Date: 1989
  • Lyrics Begin: Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell,
  • Genre: Country rock, Blues rock
  • Featured Artist: Alannah Myles
  • Album: Alannah Myles
    Recorded: 1988
    Released: March 28, 1989
  • Single:
    Released: July 1989
    B-side: If You Want To
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