Happy Idiot

Q: How to play the easy chords for Happy Idiot (TV On The Radio)?

To play the Easy Chords for Happy Idiot, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords (C, G, Am, F) to make transitions easier without barre chords.

Q: 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.

TV On The Radio verified

Key: EM

110 BPM

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Strum: ↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑

Transpose

Notation

Capo

Instrument

speed

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Easy Chord Tip: Place Capo on Fret to play open chord shapes ().

CHORD DIAGRAMS

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tune Transposed: semitones

[Intro]
[Em] [D] [G] [Bm]

[Em]Stuck in [D]the shade
[G]Where there's [Bm]no sunshine
[Em]I don't [D]wanna play
[G]With them other [Bm]kids in the sun
[Em]Since you [D]left me, babe
[G]It's been a [Bm]long way down
[Em]Yeah, you [D]left me, babe
[G]It's been a [Bm]long way down
[Em]What you don't know [D]won't hurt you, yeah
[G]Ignorance is bliss
[Bm]I'm a [Em]happy idiot
[D]Waving at cars
[G]I'm gonna bang my [Bm]head to the wall
[Em]'Til I feel [D]like nothing at all
[G]I'm a [Bm]happy idiot
[Em]To keep my [D]mind off you
[G]Stuck in a daze [Bm]and I've lost my mind
[Em]I don't [D]wanna stay
[G]Where the [Bm]blame's all mine
[Em]Since you [D]left me, babe
[G]It's been a [Bm]long way down
[Em]Yeah, you [D]left me, babe
[G]It's been a [Bm]long way down
[Em]So, I [D]shut it off
[G]So, I shut [Bm]it all off
[Em]So, I [D]shut it off
[G]So, I shut [Bm]it all off
[Em]♪
[D](Oh, oh, oh) It's been a [G]long way down (Oh, oh, oh)
[Bm]It's been a [Em]long way down
[D]What you don't know [G]won't hurt you, yeah
[Bm]Ignorance is bliss
[Em]I'm a [D]happy idiot
[G]Waving at cars
[Bm]I'm gonna bang my [Em]head to the wall
[D]'Til I feel [G]like nothing at all
[Bm]I'm a [Em]happy idiot
[D]To keep my [G]mind off you

[Em]To keep my [D]mind off you
[G]♪
[Bm]To keep my [Em]mind off you

Found an error in chord or lyrics for this song?

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Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album Happy Idiot

Released 2014

Genre

Alternative Alternative Dance

Songwriter TV On The Radio

Chord Version Options

2 Versions

Versi Studio Alternative By Contributor

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info About This Song

Song Fundamentals

Original Key Em (E Minor)

Tempo / BPM 110 BPM

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Time Signature 4/4

Difficulty Level Easy

Capo Position No Capo

Chord Count 4 Unique Chords

Genre Alternative

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Strumming Pattern ↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑

Time Signature 4/4

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Happy Idiot by TV On The Radio is played in the key of Em with a tempo of around 110 BPM. Progresi ini menciptakan pergerakan harmoni alami: Em (i) sebagai Tonic Minor (Pusat Nada/Gelap), diikuti D (VII) sebagai Subtonic Mayor (Tensi Menuju Minor), diikuti G (III) sebagai Mediant (Relatif Mayor/Terang), diikuti Bm (v) sebagai Dominant Minor (Pelepas Tensi Lembut).

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Guitarist Playing Guide & Pedagogical Tips

Theory Guide

Guitar playing guide for Happy Idiot by TV On The Radio: sounding in Em without capo at 110 BPM (4/4) featuring beginner-friendly strumming ('↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑').

check_circle Key & Tempo: Sounding in Em (Standard tuning without capo) at 110 BPM in 4/4 time signature.
check_circle Voicing & Barre Bypass: Contains barre shapes (Bm) with open cowboy substitutions (e.g. Fmaj7, Bm7, B7) to eliminate finger fatigue.
check_circle Critical Transition: Transition from G to Bm requires anchoring index or ring finger as a stable pivot.
check_circle Strumming Pattern: Master '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' by starting at 79 BPM before accelerating to studio 110 BPM.

account_tree Chord Progression Analysis

Harmonic Progression

Progression Pattern (Roman Numerals)

i – VII – III – v

Song chords:

star Primary Chords (Song Foundation)

Em D G Bm

Chords that repeat most frequently throughout the verse and chorus.

more_horiz Auxiliary / Transition Chords

This song uses a minimalist 4-chord structure.

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

tune Why Use a Capo?

Capo & Sounding Key

Sounding Key EM Acoustic pitch of original recording

No Capo sync_alt Raises the pitch of open strings

Fingering Shape Key EM Open chord finger positions

The song is played in its original key of Em without a capo.

lightbulb Alternative Capo Positions for This Song:

piano Chord Family EM

Diatonic Matrix

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

i Em Tonic

ii° F#dim Supertonic

III G Mediant

iv Am Subdominant

v Bm Dominant

VI C Submediant

VII D Subtonic

speed Difficulty Level: Easy

Difficulty Determinants for This Song:

check_circle 4 chord unik digunakan

check_circle Terdapat 1 chord palang/gantung (Bm)

dna MUSICAL DNA:

KEY: EM • TEMPO: 110 BPM • PROG: i – VII – III – v • DIFF: 2/5 • CAPO: 0

help Easy Chord Guide & FAQ Happy Idiot

FAQ & Tips

quiz How to play the easy chords for Happy Idiot (TV On The Radio)?

To play the Easy Chords for Happy Idiot, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords (C, G, Am, F) to make transitions easier without barre chords.

quiz What are the basic guitar chords and original key for Happy Idiot?

The original recording key for Happy Idiot by TV On The Radio is EM. 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.

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Happy Idiot - TV On The Radio

Official Audio

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Listen to official audio for Happy Idiot by TV On The Radio on streaming platforms:

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Happy Idiot expand_less

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YouTube Spotify

Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album Happy Idiot

Released 2014

Genre

Alternative Alternative Dance

Songwriter TV On The Radio

Chord Version Options

2 Versions

Versi Studio Alternative By Contributor

View →

More Songs by TV On The Radio verified

Guitar chords collection and other chords from TV On The Radio.

View All (13 Songs)

Blues from Down Here

KEY G

TV On The Radio

Happy Idiot

Playing with Capo on 4th Fret?

Want step-by-step video tutorials for Happy Idiot?

info About This Song

Guitarist Playing Guide & Pedagogical Tips

account_tree Chord Progression Analysis

tune Why Use a Capo?

piano Chord Family EM

speed Difficulty Level: Easy

help Easy Chord Guide & FAQ Happy Idiot

quiz How to play the easy chords for Happy Idiot (TV On The Radio)?

quiz What are the basic guitar chords and original key for Happy Idiot?

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

Happy Idiot

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