The Letter chords
by The Box TopsOriginal Published Key: A Minor → Bbm
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 138 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Intermediate 🟠
Chords in A Minor: Am, Am7, C, D7, E, E7, F, F7, G
Chords in Bb Minor - Outro: Db, Ab, Gb
Arrangement details and helpful tips for beginners
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Speed: x0.1
The Letter
The Relative Major Key of Am is highlighted - Transpose to any other key.
Intro: 4/4
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
e|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|---------2-0-----|
A|-----------------|-------2-----3-2-|
E|-----------------|---0-------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Am F
1. Give me a ticket for an ae-ro-plane
Am7 D7
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Am F7
Lone-ly days are gone, I'm a-go-in' home
E7 Am
My ba-by just wrote me a let-ter
Am F
2 I don't care how much money I got-ta spend
Am7 D7
Got to get back to my ba-by again
Am F7
Lone-ly days are gone, I'm a-go-in' home
E7 Am
My ba-by just wrote me a let-ter | % |
C G
CH: Well she wrote me a let- ter
F C G
Said she could-n't live with-out me no more | % |
C G
Lis-ten mis-ter can't you see
F C G
I got to get back to my ba-by once more
E7
Any-way yeah
Am F
3. Give me a ticket for an ae-ro-plane
Am7 D7
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Am F7
Lone-ly days are gone, I'm a-go-in' home
E7 Am
My ba-by just wrote me a let-ter | % |
C G
CH: Well she wrote me a let- ter
F C G
Said she could-n't live with-out me no more | % |
C G
Lis-ten mis-ter can't you see
F C G
I got to get back to my ba-by once more
E7
Any-way yeah
Am F
3. Give me a ticket for an ae-ro- plane
Am7 D7
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Am F7
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
E7 Am
My ba-by just wrote me a let-ter
E7 Am
My ba-by just wrote me a let-ter (key change)
Db Ab Gb Db Ab
Outro: ‖: - | - | | % :‖...
Arrangement Details:
- Key Signature: Am - relative to C Major - no sharps or flats
- The Outro of the song modulates to Bb minor (relative to Db Major) - 5 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
- Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Moderately fast with energy
- Metronome: ♩ = 138
- Voice Range: E4 - F5
- 🎸 Beginner Guitarists: If you don't play the Outro where a key change occurs, the song is very easy to play.
If you're not comfortable playing the open F7 chord, just replace it with an F chord.
If you do want to play the open voicing for F7, just think of it as a 'D7' chord shape, but starting on the 4th fret with fingers 2, 3, and 4, leaving the 1st finger to cover the 4th string, 3rd fret... very easy (xx3545). 💪🎶
To play the Outro along with the video, pause it, place a capo on the 1st fret, then restart and play the chords: C, G, F instead of Db, Ab, Gb. Since the Outro isn’t essential to the song, feel free to skip it if you prefer.
The Outro is essentially the same as the chorus, except every chord has been raised by a semitone (also known as a half step).
Song Details:
- Songwriter: Wayne Carson
- Lyrics Begin: Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane, ain't got time to take a fast train.
- Genre: Classic rock, Pop
- Featured Artists: The Box Tops
- Single:
Recorded: 1967
Released: August 1967
B-side: Happy Times - Album: The Letter/Neon Rainbow
Recorded: 1967
Released: November 1967
