Roses Are Red chords

by Bobby Vinton

Song Key: F Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 104 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner (all easy chords - see charts)

Guitar Chords in C Major: C, C7, C7/E, D7, D7/A, F, G7, G7/D, Am7

Capo: 5th fret (to play along with the video in F Major)

Arrangement Song Details
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
C Major C7 C7/E D7 D7/A F Major F Major Barre Chord G7 G7/D Am7
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
C Major-LH C7-LH C7/E-LH D7-LH D7/A-LH F Major-LH F Major Barre Chord-LH G7-LH G7/D-LH Am7-LH
Speed: x0.1

Roses Are Red (My Love)

Capo on 5 if playing with the video.
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
       C7        F                        C
Intro: Roses are red, my love... Du-du-du-du

                G7
1. A long, long time a-go,
             C
   On grad-u-a-tion day,
               F
   You hand-ed me your book,
 G7              C
   I signed this way 

        G7/D  C7/E  F
CH: Ros-es    are   red, my love, 
                 C
    Vio-lets are blue.
 Am7          F
    Su-gar is sweet, my love,
        G7              C
    But not as sweet as you.  

             G7
2. We da-ted through high school,
                C
   And when the big day came.
              F
   I wrote in-to your book,
G7            C
   Next to my name... 

        G7/D  C7/E  F
CH: Ros-es    are   red, my love, 
                 C
    Vio-lets are blue.
 Am7          F
    Sug-ar is sweet, my love,
        G7              C        F        C         G7/D  C7/E
    But not as sweet as you. (As sweet as you - Oo  oo    oo...) 

      F             G7
Bridge: Then I went far a-way,
            C                             G7/D  C7/E
        And you found some-one | new  2+   3+    4+  |
      F             G7
        I read your let-ter dear,
            C        D7/A   G7   C
        And I wrote  back   to   you...
 
        G7/D  C7/E  F
CH: Ros-es    are   red, my love, 
                 C
    Vio-lets are blue.
 Am7          F
    Sug-ar is sweet, my love,
         G7                  C         F         C
    Good luck, may God bless you. (may God bless you) 

                G7
4. Is that your lit-tle girl?
               C
   She looks a lot like you.
                 F
   Some-day some boy will write,
 G7             C
   In her book, too.  

        G7/D  C7/E  F
CH: Ros-es    are   red, my love,
                 C
    Vio-lets are blue.
 Am7          F
    Sug-ar is sweet, my love,
        G7              C       F  G7  F   C
    But not as sweet as you... (ro-ses are red...)

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: F Major – 1 flat (Bb)
  • Piano chords set: F, F7, F7/A, G7, G7/D, Bb, C7, C7/G, Dm7
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately
  • Metronome: ♩ = 104
  • Voice Range: E4 - F5
  • Guitar Chord Types in This Arrangement:
    • Major chords: C, F
    • Dominant 7th chords: C7, D7, G7
    • Minor 7th chords: Am7
    • Slash chords: C7/E, D7/A, G7/D
  • Beginners: Slash chords, i.e., C7/E, D7/A, G7/D, can all be played as straight chords: C7, D7, and G7. These chords sound great, so give them a try, as they are all very easy to play. 💪🥳

Song Details:

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriters: Paul Evans, Al Byron
  • Lyrics Begin: A long, long time ago on graduation day, you handed me your book.
  • Featured Artist: Bobby Vinton - He recorded the song in New York City with Robert Mersey and his Orchestra, and it became Vinton's first major hit.
  • Single:
    Recorded: February 16, 1962
    Released: April 6, 1962
    B-side: You and I
  • Genre: Traditional pop
  • Album: Roses Are Red
    Released: July 1962
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