Hello! Below you'll find my "We Are The Champions" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This legendary song by Queen has an amazing chord progression and piano part. In the video, I first teach all the chord changes, which also allows for a stripped-down version. Then, I go through and teach all the arpeggios, rhythms, and passing notes.
Enjoy!
We Are The Champions Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for We Are The Champions:
We Are The Champions Chords & Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Cm Gm7/C
I've paid my dues
Cm Gm7/C
Time after time
Cm Gm7/C
I've done my sentence
Cm Gm7/C
But committed no crime
Eb Ab/Eb
And bad mistakes
Eb Ab/Eb
I've made a few
Eb Bb/D Cm
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
F Bb
But I've come through
Ab/Bb (Bbm9b5 Bb9) C
And I mean to go on, and on, and on, and on
[Chorus 1]
F Am Dm Bb C
We are the champions, my friends
F Am Bb Gbdim7
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Gm7 C7/G Bbm6 Edim7 Gdim7
We are the champions, we are the champions
F Ebadd9/G Ab6 Bb7 Gm7/C
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
(Fm)
Of the world
F Am Dm Bb C
We are the champions, my friends
F Am Bb Gbdim7
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Gm7 C7/G Bbm6 Edim7 Gdim7
We are the champions, we are the champions
F Ebadd9/G Ab6 Bb7 Gm7/C
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
(Fm)
Of the world
[Pre-Verse]
| Fm | Gm7/F | Fm | Gm7/F | Fm | Gm7/C |
| Fm | Gm7/F | Fm | Gm7/F | Fm | Gm7/C |
[Verse 2]
Cm Gm7/C
I've taken my bows
Cm Gm7/C
I've taken my bows
Cm Gm7/C
And my curtain calls
Cm
You brought me fame and fortune and
And my curtain calls
Cm
You brought me fame and fortune and
Gm7/C
Everything that goes with it
Cm Gm7/C
I thank you all
Eb Ab/Eb
But it's been no bed of roses
Eb Ab/Eb
No pleasure cruise
Eb
I consider it a challenge
Bb/D Cm
Before the whole human race
F Bb
And I ain't gonna lose
Ab/Bb (Bbm9b5 Bb9) C
And I mean to go on, and on, and on, and on
Cm Gm7/C
I thank you all
Eb Ab/Eb
But it's been no bed of roses
Eb Ab/Eb
No pleasure cruise
Eb
I consider it a challenge
Bb/D Cm
Before the whole human race
F Bb
And I ain't gonna lose
Ab/Bb (Bbm9b5 Bb9) C
And I mean to go on, and on, and on, and on
[Chorus 2]
F Am Dm Bb C7
We are the champions, my friends
F Am Bb Gbdim7
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Gm7 C7/G Bbm6 Edim7 Gdim7
We are the champions, we are the champions
F Ebadd9/G Ab6 Bb7 Gm7/C
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
(F)
Of the world
F Am Dm Bb C7
We are the champions, my friends
F Am Bb Gbdim7
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Gm7 C7/G Bbm6 Edim7 Gdim7
We are the champions, we are the champions
F Ebadd9/G Ab6 Bb7 Gm7/C
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
(F)
Of the world
[Chorus 3]
F Am Dm Bb C7
We are the champions, my friends
F Am Bb Gbdim7
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Gm7 C7/G Bbm6 Edim7 Gdim7
We are the champions, we are the champions
F Ebadd9/G Ab6 Bb7 Gm7/C
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
F Am Dm Bb C7
We are the champions, my friends
F Am Bb Gbdim7
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Gm7 C7/G Bbm6 Edim7 Gdim7
We are the champions, we are the champions
F Ebadd9/G Ab6 Bb7 Gm7/C
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
We Are The Champions Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "We Are The Champions" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "We Are The Champions" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
