True Colors chords

by Cyndi Lauper

Song 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 🟢

Guitar Chords: Am, G, C, CaddG, Dm, Dsus4, F

Strumming Pattern:  D – D – U – U – D – U

Arrangement Song Details
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
Am Am7 G Major Gadd9 G/B F Major F Major barre chord C Major CaddG Dm Dsus4
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Am-LH Am7-LH G Major-LH Gadd9 G/B-LH F Major-LH F major barre chord-LH C major-LH CaddG-LH Dm-LH Dsus4-LH
Speed: x0.1

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 - relative to C Major - no sharps or flats
  • Time Signature: 4/4 - Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Synth-rock, New Wave, Pop Rock
  • Metronome: ♩ = 85
  • Voice Range: G3 - E5
  • Chord Types in This Arrangement:
    • Major chords: G, C, F
    • Minor chords: Am, Dm
    • Suspended 4th chords: Dsus4
    • Slash chord: G/B
    • Extended chords:Gadd9, CaddG,
  • 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).
  • All Instrumental Sections:
    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.

    Right Handed:
    F Major G Major-V2

    Left Handed:
    F Major-LH G Major-V2-LH
  • 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 Am with 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:

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • 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
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