True Colors chords
by Cyndi LauperSong Key: A Minor (Relative to C Major)
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 85 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Beginner (easy chords)
Guitar Chords: Am, G, C, CaddG, Dm, Dsus4, F
Strumming Pattern: Down – Down – Up – Up – Down – Up (D – D – U – U – D – U)
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
True Colors
The Relative Major Key of Am is highlighted (C) - Transpose to any other key.
Am G C F Am G C F
Intro: 4/4 ‖ - | - | - | - ‖
Am G C F
1. You with the sad eyes Don't be dis-cour-aged
C F Am G
Oh I rea - lize Its hard to take cour-age
C Dm C F
In a world full of peo-ple You can lose sight of it all
Am G F C
And the dark-ness in-side you Can make you feel so small
F C G
Chorus: But I see your true col-ors shin-ing through
F C F G
I see your true col-ors And that's why I love you
F C F Am
So don't be a-fraid to let them show
F C F C
Your true col-ors True col-ors
G Am G C F Am G C F
Are beau-ti-ful Like a |rain-bow | - | - | - |
Am G C F Am G C F
‖ - | - | - | - ‖
Am G C F
2. Show me a smile then Don't be un-happy
C F Am G
Can't re - mem - ber when I last saw you laugh-ing
C Dm C F
If this world makes you cra-zy And you've tak-en all you can bear
Am G F C
You call me up Be-cause you know I'll be there
F C G
Chorus: And I’ll see your true col-ors shin-ing through
F C F G
I see your true col-ors And that's why I love you
F C F Am
So don't be a-fraid to let them show
F C F C
Your true col-ors True col-ors
G Am G C F Am G C F
Are beau-ti-ful Like a |rain-bow | - | - | - |
Am C Am C Dsus4 Dm Am G
‖ - | - | - | - ‖
(I can’t re-mem-ber when I last saw you laugh-ing...)
C Dm C F
3. If this world makes you cra-zy You've ta-ken all you can bear
Am G F C
You call me up Be-cause you know I'll be there
F C G
Chorus: And I’ll see your true col-ors shi-ning through
F C F G
I see your true col-ors And that's why I love you
F C F Am
So don't be a-fraid to let it show
F C F C
Your true col-ors True col-ors
F C G
True col-ors are shin-ing through
F C F G
I see your true col-ors And that's why I love you
F C F Am
So don't be a-fraid to let them show
F C F C
Your true col-ors True col-ors
G Am G C F
Are beau-ti-ful Like a rain-bow ‖ - | - 𝄑 ‖... Drums
🎼 Arrangement Details:
- Key Signature: A Minor - shares the same key signature of C Major - no sharps or flats
- Chord Set: Am, G, G/B, Gadd9, C, CaddG, Dm, Dsus4, F
- Time Signature: 4/4 - Four quarter-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Synth-rock, New Wave, Pop Rock
- Metronome: q = 85
- Voice Range: G3 - E5
- Level Of Ease: Simple version catering to all levels of experience.
- On the 2nd line of verses 1 and 2, you can replace C with CaddG which is simply a C chord with an added 5th or G (1st string, 3rd fret).
- On all the instrumental parts; after the choruses and during the Intro, you can replace G Major with G/B. The easiest way to play this is to strum a normal G major chord without playing the 6th string.
- The chord charts display a version of G/B with altered fingering to cater for an easier transition from Am to G/B.
- Dsus4 is usually played with fingers 1, 3 and 4. In this song try playing the chord with fingers 2, 3 and 4 because the Dm follows the Dsus4 closely - simply take your pinkie off the 1st string (3rd fret) and add your index finger to the 1st string (1st fret) to play the Dm... very easy.
- The strumming pattern of (D – D – U – U – D – U) can be used throughout the verses and chorus for a soft, flowing rhythm.
- The hyphen between two chords simply means that the 2 chords share the bar equally. In this case the bar has 4 beats, so each chord will be played for 2 beats of the bar, e.g., | Am - G | means you play the Am for 2 beats and the G for 2 beats.
- The fermata or pause symbol over the last chord of this song means the note is held for a duration that is left up to the discretion of the performer. You may want to stop abruptly or keep the chord hanging and let it fade naturally like the video, or you may want to play the chord for a few bars... the choice is yours.
- You can replace the Am with an Am7 if you want... both sound fine.
- On the first line of each chorus, you can replace G with Gadd9 (G add A):
F C Gadd9 Chorus: And I’ll see your true col-ors shi-ning through
Song Details:
- Songwriters: Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg
- Date: 1986
- Lyrics Begin: You with the sad eyes, don't be discouraged, though I realize it's hard to take courage.
- Genre: Synth-rock, New Wave, Pop Rock
- Featured Artist: Cyndi Lauper
- Single:
Released: August 15, 1986
B-side: Heading for the Moon - Album: True Colors
Recorded: November 22, 1985 – May 31, 1986
Released: September 15, 1986
Label: Portrait
- Time After Time
- True Colors
