ChordGitar.in
+ Submit Chord
cloud_off Offline mode. Songs saved in Pocket remain accessible.

The River

David Byrne verified
Key: EB
110 BPM
Standard (E A D G B E)
↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑
verified Studio
🎸 Original Version Easy Chords
Transpose ?
0
Notation
Capo ?
Instrument
speed
screen_lock_portrait
Easy Chord Tip: Use capo on fret 1 — use D chord shapes. Pelajari Smart Capo →
lock_clock

Batas Kuota Harian Tercapai

Alat Workstation Panggung

CHORD DIAGRAMS
volume_up Click chord to hear sound
tune Transposed: semitones
Found an error in chord or lyrics for this song?

info About This Song

Song Fundamentals
Key Eb (Eb Major)
Tempo / BPM 110 BPM (Approx.)
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Time Signature 4/4
Difficulty Level Medium
Capo Position Capo Fret 1
Chord Count 3 Unique Chords
Genre Art
graphic_eq
Strumming Pattern ↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑
Time Signature 4/4
auto_awesome
The River by David Byrne is played in the key of Eb. Originally recorded in the sounding key of Eb, 'The River' by David Byrne is best approached with a Capo placed on Fret 1, enabling guitarists to execute friendly D shapes while fully preserving the studio pitch. For the Bb barre chord, guitarists can adopt a compact Bbmaj7 shape or apply a capo to convert shapes into familiar cowboy chord fingerings that feel natural. The primary progression challenge lies in switching between Ab and Eb: keep your fingers hovering close to the fretboard rather than flying off between changes. Set your metronome at an initial practice tempo of 79 BPM in 4/4 time to master the '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' strumming groove, emphasizing steady downstrokes on beats one and three before accelerating toward the studio speed of 110 BPM.
analytics Analisis harmoni & progresi dihitung secara komputasional berdasarkan dataset transkripsi chord ChordGitar.in.

account_tree Chord Progression Analysis

Harmonic Progression
Progression Pattern (Roman Numerals)
IV – I – IV – I – IV – I
Song chords:
star Primary Chords (Song Foundation)
Ab Eb Bb

Chords that repeat most frequently throughout the verse and chorus.

more_horiz Auxiliary / Transition Chords
This song focuses on a minimalist 3-chord foundation.

Used as harmonic transition variations in intro, bridge, or outro.

tune Why Use a Capo?

Capo & Sounding Key
Sounding Key EB Acoustic pitch of original recording
Capo Fret 1 sync_alt Raises the pitch of open strings
Fingering Shape Key D Open chord finger positions

Placing a Capo on Fret 1 allows playing simpler D chord shapes while sounding in Eb.

lightbulb Alternative Capo Positions for This Song:

piano Chord Family EB

Diatonic Matrix

This song is built on the key of EB. Here are the 7 diatonic chords (Chord Family) that harmonize according to music theory:

I Eb Tonic
ii Fm Supertonic
iii Gm Mediant
IV Ab Subdominant
V Bb Dominant
vi Cm Submediant
vii° Ddim Leading

speed Difficulty Level: Medium

Difficulty Determinants for This Song:
check_circle Uses 3 unique chords throughout the song
check_circle Requires 3 barre chord shapes (Ab, Eb, Bb)
check_circle Capo on fret 1 is recommended for optimal finger comfort
dna MUSICAL DNA:
KEY: EB • TEMPO: 110 BPM (Approx.) • PROG: IV – I – IV – I – IV – I • DIFF: 3/5 • CAPO: 1

help Easy Chord Guide & FAQ The River

FAQ & Tips

quiz How to play the easy chords for The River (David Byrne)?

To play the Easy Chords for The River, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords with Capo on Fret 1 to make transitions easier without barre chords.

quiz What are the basic guitar chords and original key for The River?

The original recording key for The River by David Byrne is EB. You can use the Transpose (+ / -) feature anytime to adjust the pitch to match male or female vocal ranges automatically.

quiz Is audio sync and auto-scroll available for practice?

Yes, ChordGitar.in features touch-free Auto-Scroll with speed control, as well as an integrated player so your tempo and rhythm practice stays precise.

info Video playback is restricted by the content owner outside YouTube.
Open on YouTube →

The River - David Byrne

Official Audio

0:00 0:00

Listen to official audio for The River by David Byrne on streaming platforms:

play_circle YouTube Spotify
The River expand_less

More Songs by David Byrne verified

Guitar chords collection and other chords from David Byrne.

View All (21 Songs)

Lazy

KEY D

David Byrne

Beginner
Play arrow_forward

Everybody's Coming to My House

KEY AM

David Byrne

Easy
Play arrow_forward

I Know Sometimes a Man Is Wrong / Don't Worry About the Government

KEY A

David Byrne

Easy
• Capo 2
Play arrow_forward

Outside of Space and Time

KEY C

David Byrne

Medium
Play arrow_forward

Miss America

KEY A

David Byrne

Intermediate
• Capo 4
Play arrow_forward

Who

KEY D

David Byrne

Intermediate
• Capo 2
Play arrow_forward

Recommended Chords in Art Genre music_note

Collection of guitar chords from other musicians Art that are frequently played.

Explore Art

Tetap Dalam Jiwa

KEY A#M

Isyana Sarasvati

Advanced
• Capo 4
Play arrow_forward

Creep

KEY G

Radiohead feat. Radiohead

Medium
Play arrow_forward

Owner of a Lonely Heart

KEY D

Yes

Advanced
• Capo 4
Play arrow_forward

You and Whose Army?

KEY G#M

Radiohead

Advanced
• Capo 2
Play arrow_forward

You

KEY E

Radiohead

Easy
• Capo 2
Play arrow_forward

You Better You Bet

KEY A

Who

Advanced
• Capo 3
Play arrow_forward

Song DNA & Harmonic Similarity dna

Multi-Vector Match

Songs with the most identical harmonic structure, chord progression, root key, and tempo to this song.

Sad Sad Sad

62% Match

The Rolling Stones

insights Identical Harmonic Progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I)
Key C Capo 5
Play arrow_forward

Perbedaan

54% Match

TIC Band

insights Identical Harmonic Progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I)
Key C Capo 5
Play arrow_forward

Kosong

52% Match

Ruang Senja

insights Identical Harmonic Progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I)
Key C Capo 5
Play arrow_forward

Lihat Langkahku

50% Match

Peterpan

insights Identical Harmonic Progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I)
Key G
Play arrow_forward

Grace

50% Match

Nerina Pallot

insights Identical Harmonic Progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I)
Key G
Play arrow_forward

Give Me One Reason

49% Match

Tyrone Wells

insights Identical Harmonic Progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I)
Key C Capo 5
Play arrow_forward

tune More Theory & Harmonic Matches

Explore songs matching this progression (IV – I – IV – I – IV – I), key (EB), and fingerings.