True Colors chords
by Cyndi Lauper- True Colors was written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg.
- Recorded: March 3rd, 1986
- Released: July 25th, 1986 from the album of the same name.
- Producers: Cyndi Lauper, Lennie Petze
- Music: Key of A Minor in 4/4 time at 85 bpm (♩)
- Chords: Am, G, C, CaddG, Dm, Dsus4, F
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
True Colors
The Relative Major Key of Am is highlighted - 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
Notes:
- Level Of Ease: Fairly - I have kept this version as simple as possible so that beginners can play as well.
- Song Key: A Minor... no sharps or flats (relative minor of C Major)
- The standard chord progression for A minor: Am - Bdim - C - Dm - Em - F - G . It's always interesting to look at the chords used in any song. All the chords in this song follow the standard chord progression for A minor, with some added 'usable' chords, i.e., CaddG and Dsus4.
- 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).
- 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 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.
Songs by Cyndi Lauper on this site:
- Time After Time
- True Colors
