And Your Bird Can Sing Chords: How to Play the Beatles Rocker on Guitar

The Beatles are widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time. Their music spans a variety of genres and styles, from pop to rock, from ballads to psychedelia. One of their songs that showcases their rock and roll side is “And Your Bird Can Sing”, from their 1966 album “Revolver”.

In this article, we will explore the chords and structure of “And Your Bird Can Sing”, and how you can play it on guitar. We will also look at some of the musical features that make this song so energetic and catchy.

The Chords

The song is in the key of D major, which is a common key for guitar songs. However, the song uses a capo on the second fret, which means that the actual key is E major. This makes the chords easier to play and also gives the song a brighter sound.

The song uses mainly major and minor chords, with some variations and embellishments. Here are the chords used in the song, with their names and fingerings:

Capo on the 2nd Fret


D  /  D  /  D  /  D  /


     D
You tell me that you've got everything you want

And your bird can sing
                  Em
But you don't get me, 
G               D
  you don't get   me


D
You say you've seen seven wonders 

and your bird is green

                  Em
But you can't see me, 

G              D
 you can't see  me


F#m                F#m(maj7)
When your prized possessions 

F#m7                B7
start to weigh you down

D              Em
Look in my direction, 

                         A
I'll be round, I'll be round


---------------------------------------------
Solo 1 & 2 Rhythm Guitar

/  D    /  D  /  D  /  D  /
/  Em  /   G  /  D  /  D  / 

---------------------------------------------
*play the rest of the song accordingly:

When your bird is broken will it bring you down
You may be awoken, I'll be round, I'll be round

You tell me that you've heard every sound there is 
And your bird can swing
But you can't hear me, you can't hear me



The ending goes a little something like this:

/  D  /  D  /  D  /  G/D  /

The Structure

The song has a simple but effective structure, consisting of an intro, three verses, two bridges, a solo, and a coda. The intro is a four-bar section that repeats the main riff of the song four times. The verses are eight-bar sections that follow the same chord progression as the intro, but with different lyrics. The bridges are four-bar sections that contrast with the verses by using different chords and a higher vocal range. The solo is an eight-bar section that follows the same chord progression as the verse, but with a guitar melody instead of vocals. The coda is a four-bar section that repeats the last line of the verse twice and ends on the tonic chord.

Here is the structure of the song, with the chords and lyrics:

[Intro] | D | D | D | D |

[Verse 1] D Tell me that you’ve got everything you want D And your bird can sing Em But you don’t get me, G D you don’t get me

[Verse 2] D You say you’ve seen seven wonders D and your bird is green Em But you can’t see me, G D you can’t see me

[Bridge 1] F#m Faug When your prized possessions A/E B/D# start to wear you down D Em Look in my direction, A I’ll be round, I’ll be round

[Solo] | D | D | D | D | | Em | G | D | D |

[Bridge 2] F#m Faug When your bird is broken A/E B/D# Will it bring you down D Em You may be awoken A I’ll be round, I’ll be round

[Verse 3] D You tell me that you’ve heard every sound there is D And your bird can swing Em But you can’t hear me, G D you can’t hear me

[Coda] | D | D | D | G/D |

The Musical Features

The song has some interesting musical features that make it stand out from other songs of its time. Here are some of them:

• The song has a very catchy and distinctive guitar riff, which is played by two guitars in harmony. The riff consists of three notes that move up and down in a syncopated rhythm. The riff also uses some bends and slides to add expression and variation.
• The song also has some vocal harmonies, which are sung by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The harmonies are often in thirds or sixths, which create a sweet and rich sound. The harmonies also vary in each section, which adds variety and interest to the song.
• The song has a lot of energy and drive, which is created by the fast tempo, the steady drum beat, and the bass line. The bass line follows the root notes of the chords, but also adds some chromatic notes and fills to create movement and tension.

Conclusion

“And Your Bird Can Sing” is a fun and lively song by the Beatles that showcases their rock and roll side. The song has a simple but effective structure, a catchy and memorable riff, and a rich and complex harmony. The song also has some unique and interesting musical features that make it stand out from other songs of its time. If you want to learn how to play this song on guitar, you can use the chords and structure provided in this article, or you can watch some video lessons online. You can also listen to the original recording of the song or some of the cover versions by other artists. Enjoy playing and rocking this song, and have fun!