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What A Shame

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Title: What A Shame
Artist: Shinedown
Album: The Sound Of Madness
Wasn't happy with the other versions out there, so I decided to give it a shot myself. 
This might (or might not) be the way it is played, but it sounds good when played 
along to the record version. 
Feel free to comment if you see (or hear) any mistakes.
Oh, and thanks to 365_days_gone for his (her?) Guitar Pro version that made my work much easier.
Tuned a half-step down
[Intro] F#m-F#m-A-  Ex2
[Verse 1]
F#mTwo packs of cigarettes a day
The Astrongest whiskey
KenEtucky can makeF#m  
That's a recipe to put a Avagabond
On his Ehands and kneesF#m  
I watched it all up close,
I knew him more than Amost
I saw a side of Ehim he never showedF#m  
Full of sympathy for a Aworld that
Wouldn't Elet him be
[Pre-Chorus]
    BmThat's the man he was,
    DHave you hC#eard enough?
[Chorus]
F#mWhat a shAame, what a shEame,
To judge a life that you can't chaF#mnge
The choir sAings, the church bells rEing
So, won't you give this man his wF#mings?
What a shAame to have to bEeg you to
See we're not all the DsameC#  
What a F#mshame
F#m-A-E  
F#m-F#m-A-E  
[Verse 2]
There's a F#mhard life for every silver spoon
There's a Atouch of grey for every Eshade of blue
F#mThat's the way that I see life
If there was Anothing wrong,
Then there'd be Enothing right
F#mAnd for this working man they say could
Barely Astand
There's gotta be a beEtter place to F#mland
Some kind of remedy for a Aworld that
Wouldn't Elet him be
[Pre-Chorus]
   BmThat's the man he was,
   DHave you hC#eard enough?
[Chorus]
F#mWhat a shAame, what a shEame,
To judge a life that you can't chaF#mnge
The choir sAings, the church bells rEing
So, won't you give this man his wF#mings?
What a shAame to have to bEeg you to
See we're not all the DsameC#  
        Bm- A<----- The two chords alternate rapidly; 
What a shame         I prefer playing power   chords
[Bridge]
Bbm-Cm-C#-Fm- Ebx2 <-- I also play this riff using power chords. 
BbmGod forgCmive the C#hands that lFmaid you Ebdown,
They never knew how, 
BbmBut your Cmbroken hC#eart can brFmeak the sEbound,
And change the season
C#Now the leaves are falling faster, Ebhappily ever after
C#You gave me hope through your endeavors
      Eb    Fm    F#m     Ab    Bb   Cm    C#<--- You can go above the 12th fret to make 
And now you will live for-e--ver      it sound exactly like the original     
                                      song, but since I play it on an 
                                      acoustic, I go down for the last 3 
                                      chords.
[Chorus]
F#mWhat a shaAme, what a Eshame,
To judge a life that you can't chF#mange
The choir sAings, the church bells Ering
So, won't you give this man his wF#mings?
What a shAame to have to bEeg you to
See we're not all the F#msame
[Outro]
What a shAame, what a shEame
'Cause we're not all the F#msame
What a shAame, what a shEame
'Cause we're not all the F#msame
F#m-A-E  
F#m-F#m-A-E  

All chords in this song (12)

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What A Shame

by Shinedown

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Bbm

Title: What A Shame

Artist: Shinedown

Album: The Sound Of Madness

Wasn't happy with the other versions out there, so I decided to give it a shot myself.

This might (or might not) be the way it is played, but it sounds good when played

along to the record version.

Feel free to comment if you see (or hear) any mistakes.

Oh, and thanks to 365_days_gone for his (her?) Guitar Pro version that made my work much easier.

Tuned a half-step down

F#m F#m A E

[Intro] --- x2

[Verse 1]

F#m

Two packs of cigarettes a day

The strongest whiskey

E F#m

Kentucky can make

That's a recipe to put a vagabond

E F#m

On his hands and knees

I watched it all up close,

I knew him more than most

E F#m

I saw a side of him he never showed

Full of sympathy for a world that

Wouldn't let him be

[Pre-Chorus]

That's the man he was,

D C#

Have you heard enough?

[Chorus]

F#m A E

What a shame, what a shame,

F#m

To judge a life that you can't change

A E

The choir sings, the church bells ring

F#m

So, won't you give this man his wings?

A E

What a shame to have to beg you to

D C#

See we're not all the same

F#m

What a shame

F#m A E

F#m F#m A E

---

[Verse 2]

F#m

There's a hard life for every silver spoon

A E

There's a touch of grey for every shade of blue

F#m

That's the way that I see life

If there was nothing wrong,

Then there'd be nothing right

F#m

And for this working man they say could

Barely stand

E F#m

There's gotta be a better place to land

Some kind of remedy for a world that

Wouldn't let him be

[Pre-Chorus]

That's the man he was,

D C#

Have you heard enough?

[Chorus]

F#m A E

What a shame, what a shame,

F#m

To judge a life that you can't change

A E

The choir sings, the church bells ring

F#m

So, won't you give this man his wings?

A E

What a shame to have to beg you to

D C#

See we're not all the same

Bm A

- <----- The two chords alternate rapidly;

What a shame I prefer playing power chords

[Bridge]

Bbm Cm C# Fm Eb

---- x2 <-- I also play this riff using power chords.

Bbm Cm C# Fm Eb

God forgive the hands that laid you down,

They never knew how,

Bbm Cm C# Fm Eb

But your broken heart can break the sound,

And change the season

C# Eb

Now the leaves are falling faster, happily ever after

You gave me hope through your endeavors

Eb Fm F#m Ab Bb Cm C#

<--- You can go above the 12th fret to make

And now you will live for-e--ver it sound exactly like the original

song, but since I play it on an

acoustic, I go down for the last 3

chords.

[Chorus]

F#m A E

What a shame, what a shame,

F#m

To judge a life that you can't change

A E

The choir sings, the church bells ring

F#m

So, won't you give this man his wings?

A E

What a shame to have to beg you to

F#m

See we're not all the same

[Outro]

A E

What a shame, what a shame

F#m

'Cause we're not all the same

A E

What a shame, what a shame

F#m

'Cause we're not all the same

F#m A E

F#m F#m A E

---

About What A Shame Chords by Shinedown

Learn how to play What A Shame by Shinedown with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “What A Shame chords”, “What A Shame guitar chords”, or “Shinedown What A Shame chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy What A Shame chords and for experienced players who want accurate What A Shame lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, F#m, E, Bm, D, C#.

FAQ — What A Shame by Shinedown

How do I play "What A Shame" by Shinedown on guitar?

Open the free chords for "What A Shame" by Shinedown on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "What A Shame" by Shinedown free?

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Can I transpose "What A Shame" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "What A Shame" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "What A Shame"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "What A Shame" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "What A Shame" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "What A Shame" by Shinedown with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Shinedown below.

What key is "What A Shame" in?

The chords for "What A Shame" show the original chord names (including A, F#m, E, Bm, D, C#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.