Capo 1st fret
[Intro]
Em Bm
[Verse 1]
Am G
I saw the sign or an omen
D Am
On the branches, in the morning
Em G
It was right after I
D Am
Lost a friend without warning
[Pre-Chorus]
C
Words unsaid
Am
Scarlet-red
[Chorus]
Em Am
Cardinal
Em Am G
Are you bringing me a message from the other side?
Am Em Am Em
Cardinal
Am Em Am G
Are you telling me I'm on somebody's mind?
Am C
Don't leave me behind
[Verse 2]
Am G
I took a walk in the city
D Am
To clear my head for a moment
Em G
Turned my collar to the wind
D Am
On the street, it was blowin'
[Pre-Chorus]
C
And there he was
Am
Above my head
[Chorus]
Em Am
Cardinal
Em Am G
Are you bringing me a message from the other side?
Am Em Am Em
Cardinal
Am Em Am G
Are you telling me I'm on somebody's mind?
Am Em
Don't leave me behind
[Guitar Solo]
Am Em Am Em Am Em Am Em Am
[Bridge]
Cmaj7
Are you just watchin' and waitin' for spring?
Am
Or do you have some kind of magic to bring? (Pretty bird)
Cmaj7
Are you just watchin' and waitin' for spring? (Why? Wait)
Am
Or do you have some kind of magic to bring? (Pretty bird)
Cmaj7
Are you just watchin' and waitin' for spring?
Am
Or do you have some kind of magic?
[Out-Chorus]
N.C.
Cardinal
N.C.
Are you bringing me a message from the other side?
Am
Cardinal
Em Am
Are you telling me I'm on somebody's mind?
Em Am
Cardinal
Em Am
Are you bringing me a message from the other side?
Em Am Em
Cardinal
Am Em Am
Are you telling me I'm on somebody's mind?
Em Am
Are you bringing me a message from the other side?
C
Cardinal
Remember to place a capo on the 1st fret to match the original song's key.
Intro and Verse Chord Progression
The song opens with a reflective mood, alternating between Em and Bm
chords for the intro.
For the intro, you play Em followed by Bm.
As you move into the verses, the chord progression starts with Am moving to G,
then from D back to Am, and fluctuates between Em and G, finally landing on D
to Am again. This progression mirrors the emotional journey from loss to reflection.
Here's how it looks for the first verse:
Am to G,
I saw the sign or an omen
D to Am,
On the branches, in the morning
Em to G,
It was right after I
D to Am,
Lost a friend without warning
Pre-Chorus and Chorus
The pre-chorus simplifies the progression to just C and Am, leading up to the
chorus with a slightly more hopeful tone.
In the pre-chorus, you switch between C and Am:
C,
Words unsaid
Am,
Scarlet-red
In the chorus, the progression includes Em, Am, and G, delving into the introspection
about messages from the beyond.
Chorus progression is as follows:
Em to Am,
Cardinal
Then from Em to Am to G,
Are you bringing me a message from the other side?
And it continues in a similar pattern, embodying the song's core questions and feelings.
Bridge and Outro
The bridge offers a change in perspective with chords Cmaj7 and Am, reflecting
on the cardinal's significance and whether it brings any messages or signs.
Bridge chords go from Cmaj7 to Am, asking poignant questions about the cardinal's
visit and the hope it might symbolize.
The song wraps up with a repetition of the chorus chords but introduces pauses to
let the lyrics' message sink in, emphasizing the emotional weight behind the questions being asked.
Playing Tips
- The song's emotional depth is key. Your playing should be sensitive to the nuances
of the lyrics, using dynamics to highlight the song's narrative journey.
- A gentle strumming pattern works best, with softer downstrokes for verses to match
the reflective mood, and a blend of down and upstrokes for the chorus to add texture.
- Smooth chord transitions are crucial for maintaining the song's flow. Practice moving
between chords fluidly to keep the reflective atmosphere intact.
- By focusing on these elements, you'll not just play "Cardinal" but also convey the rich
emotional landscape that Kacey Musgraves encapsulates in the song, making your
performance resonate more deeply with your listeners.
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