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Plateau

Chords

4.8393 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
[Verse 1]
F#mMany a Ahand have F#mscaled the grAand old fF#mace of tAhe platEeau
F#mSome bAelong to stF#mrangerAs and F#msome to fAolks you Eknow
F#mHoly ghoAsts and tF#malk show Ahosts are F#mplanted iAn the Esand
To F#mbeautifAy the F#mfoothilAls, F#mshake the mAany Ehands
[Link]
Gmaj7
[Chorus]
F#mNothing on top but a Abucket and a Emop and an F#millustrated book about Abirds
See a F#mlot up there but Adon't be Escared. F#mWho needs action when Ayou got Ewords
[Instrumental]
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
[Verse 2]
F#mFinished with the Amop then F#myou can Astop and F#mlook at Awhat you've Edone
F#mPlateau's Aclean, no F#mdirt to be Aseen and the F#mwork, Ait was Efun
[Link]
Gmaj7
[Chorus]
F#mNothing on top but a Abucket and a Emop and an F#millustrated book about Abirds
See a F#mlot up there but Adon't be Escared. F#mWho needs action when Ayou got Ewords
[Instrumental]
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
F#m A F#m A F#m A E
[Verse 3]
F#mMany a Ahand beF#mgan to sAcan arF#mound for the nAext platEeau
F#mSome Asay it was F#mGreenlAand F#msome say AMexiEco
F#mOthers decAided F#mit was Anowhere, excF#mept for where Athey Estood
F#mThose were Aall just F#mguesAses, wouldn't F#mhelp you Aif they coF#muld
[Link]
Gmaj7 A
[Outro]
G#      C# B
G#      E  B
G#      C# B
G#      E  B
G#      C# B
G#      E  B
G#      C# B
G#      E  B
G#

All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

This song paints a picture of the afterlife as a grand plateau, where one might expect profound encounters, but the narrator finds only mundane objects awaiting. It explores the idea that even after striving towards such a destination, the ultimate reward might be surprisingly ordinary. Originally by the Meat Puppets, Nirvana popularized this song during their MTV Unplugged performance. Playing it can evoke a sense of calm acceptance toward life's, and perhaps death's, simple realities.

AI-written from these sources:Plateau (song) — Wikipedia ↗Nirvana (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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Plateau

by Nirvana

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Gmaj7

[Intro]

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

[Verse 1]

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Many a hand have scaled the grand old face of the plateau

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Some belong to strangers and some to folks you know

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

To beautify the foothills, shake the many hands

[Link]

Gmaj7

[Chorus]

F#m A E F#m A

Nothing on top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about birds

F#m A E F#m A E

See a lot up there but don't be scared. Who needs action when you got words

[Instrumental]

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

[Verse 2]

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Finished with the mop then you can stop and look at what you've done

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen and the work, it was fun

[Link]

Gmaj7

[Chorus]

F#m A E F#m A

Nothing on top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about birds

F#m A E F#m A E

See a lot up there but don't be scared. Who needs action when you got words

[Instrumental]

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

[Verse 3]

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Many a hand began to scan around for the next plateau

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Some say it was Greenland some say Mexico

F#m A F#m A F#m A E

Others decided it was nowhere, except for where they stood

F#m A F#m A F#m A F#m

Those were all just guesses, wouldn't help you if they could

[Link]

Gmaj7 A

[Outro]

G# C# B

G# E B

G# C# B

G# E B

G# C# B

G# E B

G# C# B

G# E B

About Plateau Chords by Nirvana

Learn how to play Plateau by Nirvana with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Plateau chords”, “Plateau guitar chords”, or “Nirvana Plateau 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 Plateau chords and for experienced players who want accurate Plateau lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F#m, A, E, Gmaj7, G#, C#.

FAQ — Plateau by Nirvana

How do I play "Plateau" by Nirvana on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Plateau" by Nirvana 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 "Plateau" by Nirvana free?

Yes. The chords for "Plateau" by Nirvana are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Plateau" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Plateau"?

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

Is "Plateau" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Plateau" in?

The chords for "Plateau" show the original chord names (including F#m, A, E, Gmaj7, G#, C#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.