Piano Diana Blog: How To Play Royals by Lorde

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I have received a request from a reader to learn the song, Royals by Lorde. Well, it's very easy to play because there are only a few chords to play... D major, C major and G major. If you're familiar with Inversions, then you'll be playing thirds in the right hand. You might want to play the octave with the left hand for a fuller bass sound and move everything down to mid key range around middle c and below.

Chord Chart

D
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address, in the torn up town
No post code envy

D                        
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
C                              G
We don't care, we're driving cadillacs in our dreams.
                      D
But everybody's like cristal, maybach, diamonds on your time piece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
C                          G
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.
   

                   D
And we'll never be royals..
It don't run in our blood,
             C
That kind of lux just ain't for us.
            G
We crave a different kind of buzz.
                D
Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee
                C
And baby I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule.
G
Let me live that fantasy.


D
My friends and I we've cracked the code.
We count our dollars on the train to the party.
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this,
We didn't come from money.
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/l/lorde/352412.html ]
D                        
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
C                              G
We don't care, we're driving cadillacs in our dreams.
                      D
But everybody's like cristal, maybach, diamonds on your time piece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
C                          G
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.
 

                   D
And we'll never be royals..
It don't run in our blood,
             C
That kind of lux just ain't for us.
            G
We crave a different kind of buzz.
                D
Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee
                C
And baby I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule.
G
Let me live that fantasy.

D     
Oooh ooooh ohhh
C                               G
We're bigger than we ever dreamed, and I'm in love with being queen.
D                    C
Oooooh ooooh ohhhhh life is game without a care
            G
We aren't caught up in your love affair.


                    D
And we'll never be royals..
It don't run in our blood,
             C
That kind of lux just ain't for us.
            G
We crave a different kind of buzz.
                D
Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee
                C
And baby I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule.
G
Let me live that fantasy.

Chord Breakdown

Intro

DD/D / DD/D / DD/D

D                  D/AD  D/GC    D/A
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh

         D/AD     D/GC                 D/DA, G, F#
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies

            D/AD      D/GC              D/AD  D/GG D/AF#
And I'm not proud of my address, in the torn up town

D/AD     D/GG  D/AF#, D/AD
No post code envy

Prechorus

D                      D/AD        D/DF#       D/F#A          D/DF#                       
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom

D/AD           D/DF#       D/F#A           D/DF#
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
C         C/CG                G/BF#           G/GD
We don't care, we're driving cadillacs in our dreams.
                      D/AD     D/DF#     D/F#A
But everybody's like cristal, maybach, diamonds on your time piece.

D/AD         D/DF#   D/F#A             D/DF#
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
C/EG DF# C/EG            G/GB
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.






Chorus

                   D/DA D/DF# (D/ADF#, D/F#AD)
And we'll never be royals..

D/DF#               D/DF#A
It don't run in our blood,
             C/CE
That kind of lux just ain't for us.
            G/BD
We crave a different kind of buzz.
                D/DA D/DF#
Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee
              C/CEG          C/EGC     C/GCE
And baby I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule.
G                 D
Let me live that fantasy.

Verse 2

Bridge

D/ F#, E, D (single notes)     
Oooh ooooh ohhh
C/CEG                               G/AD
We're bigger than we ever dreamed, and I'm in love with being queen.
D/F#A   D/F#AD D/GCE C/GCE                C/GC
Oooooh ooooh ohhhhh life is good without a care
            G/B
We aren't caught up in your love affair.

                    D
And we'll never be royals..
It don't run in our blood,
             C
That kind of lux just ain't for us.
            G
We crave a different kind of buzz.
                D
Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee
                C
And baby I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule.
G/D     G/F            D/F#AD
Let me live that fantasy.

Have fun with the song!

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All the best,