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Shiny Happy People

Chords

4.8438 votes

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KeyOriginal

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
|  G|  Em|  Bm|  C|  G|  Em|  Bm|  C|
(Then riff, or chords)
B  E  A
B  E  A
BShiny Ehappy Apeople laughingB…E  A  
[Verse 1]
F#mMeet me in Ethe crF#mowd.   Asus2People, Epeople
F#mThrow your love EarF#mound. Asus2Love me, Elove me
F#mTake it Einto F#mtown.  Asus2Happy, Ehappy
F#mPut it Ein the F#mground Ewhere the Asus2flowers Egrow
GGold and silver EshineE7  
[Chorus]
Riff, or chords
B  E  A
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople laughing
[Verse 2]
F#mEveryone EarF#mound    Asus2Love them, Elove them
F#mPut it in Eyour F#mhands. Asus2Take it, Etake it
F#mThere's no time Eto F#mcry. Asus2Happy, Ehappy
F#mPut it in Eyour F#mheart Ewhere Asus2tomorrow Eshines
GGold and silver EshineE7  
[Chorus]
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople laughing
[Instrumental]
|  G|  Em|  Bm|  C|  G|  Em|  Bm|  C|
[Bridge]
BDe, EdeA, de, etc
BDe, EdeA, de, etc
BDe, EdeA, de, etc
[Chorus]
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople laughingB  E  A  
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople laughingB  E  A  
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople holding hands
BShiny Ehappy Apeople laughingB  E  A  
BPeople, Ehappy Apeople
BPeople, Ehappy ApeopleB  E  A  

All chords in this song (10)

The story behind the song

This song from R.E.M.'s 1991 album Out of Time is an accessible and optimistic pop song, featuring guest vocals from Kate Pierson of the B-52s. It's characterized by waltz-time strings, "rippling" guitars, and "hippy" lyrics, creating a bright and joyful atmosphere. The music video was inspired by the 1948 movie Letter From an Unknown Woman. Playing this song feels like stepping into a moment of pure, unadulterated cheerfulness.

AI-written from these sources:Shiny Happy People — Wikipedia ↗R.E.M. — Wikipedia ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Shiny Happy People

by R.E.M.

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Asus2

[Intro]

G Em Bm C G Em Bm C

| | | | | | | | |

(Then riff, or chords)

B E A

B E A B E A

Shiny happy people laughing…

[Verse 1]

F#m E F#m Asus2 E

Meet me in the crowd. People, people

F#m E F#m Asus2 E

Throw your love around. Love me, love me

F#m E F#m Asus2 E

Take it into town. Happy, happy

F#m E F#m E Asus2 E

Put it in the ground where the flowers grow

G E E7

Gold and silver shine

[Chorus]

Riff, or chords

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people laughing

[Verse 2]

F#m E F#m Asus2 E

Everyone around Love them, love them

F#m E F#m Asus2 E

Put it in your hands. Take it, take it

F#m E F#m Asus2 E

There's no time to cry. Happy, happy

F#m E F#m E Asus2 E

Put it in your heart where tomorrow shines

G E E7

Gold and silver shine

[Chorus]

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people laughing

[Instrumental]

G Em Bm C G Em Bm C

| | | | | | | | |

[Bridge]

B E A

De, de, de, etc

B E A

De, de, de, etc

B E A

De, de, de, etc

[Chorus]

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A B E A

Shiny happy people laughing

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A B E A

Shiny happy people laughing

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A

Shiny happy people holding hands

B E A B E A

Shiny happy people laughing

B E A

People, happy people

B E A B E A

People, happy people

About Shiny Happy People Chords by R.E.M.

Learn how to play Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Shiny Happy People chords”, “Shiny Happy People guitar chords”, or “R.E.M. Shiny Happy People 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 Shiny Happy People chords and for experienced players who want accurate Shiny Happy People lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Em, Bm, C, B, E.

FAQ — Shiny Happy People by R.E.M.

How do I play "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. 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 "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. free?

Yes. The chords for "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Shiny Happy People" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Shiny Happy People"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Shiny Happy People" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Shiny Happy People" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by R.E.M. below.

What key is "Shiny Happy People" in?

The chords for "Shiny Happy People" show the original chord names (including G, Em, Bm, C, B, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.