Angel Eyes | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
|3/4 Am | Am/G | Am/F# | Am/F |
| Am | Am | Am | Am |
Verse 1
| Am | Am/G | Am/F# | Am/F | Am/E | Am/E | Am/Eb | Am/Eb |
Try to think that love’s not around,
| Am | Am/G | Am/F# | Am/F# | Bm7 | Bm7 | E7 | E7 |
but it’s uncomfortably near.
| Am | Am/G | Am/F# | Am/F | Am/E | Am/E | Am/Eb | Am/Eb |
My old heart ain’t gaining no ground,
| Dm | C | B7 | E | Am | Am | Am | Am |
because my angel eyes ain’t here.
Verse 2
Angel eyes, that old devil sent,
they glow unbearably bright.
Need I say that my love’s misspent,
misspent with angel eyes tonight
Bridge 1
| Gm | Gm | C7b9 | C7b9 | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 | F#dim7 | F#dim7 |
So drink up all you people,
| Gm | Gm | C7b9 | C7b9 | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 |
order anything you see.
| F#m | F#m | B7b9 | B7b9 | E6 | E6 | E6 | E6 |
Have fun, you happy people,
| Ebsus4 | Ebsus4 | Ebsus4 | Ebsus4 | Bm7 | Bm7 | Bb7 | Bb7 |
the drinks and the laughs are on me.
Verse 3
Pardon me, but I got to run,
the fact’s uncommonly clear.
Got to find who’s now number one,
and why my angel eyes ain’t here.
Bridge 2
So drink up all you people,
order anything you see.
Have fun, you happy people,
the drinks and the laughs, on me.
Verse 4
Pardon me, but I got to run,
the fact’s uncommonly clear.
Got to find who’s now number one,
and why my angel eyes ain’t here.
| Dm7 | C | B7 | E7 | E7 | E7 |
Excuse me while I disappear.
End
| Am | Am | Am | Am | Am | Ammaj7 |
Angel Eyes Chords: Learn the progressions
The verse chords of Angel Eyes feature a chromatic descending bass line, creating a deeply emotional and melancholic atmosphere. This progression moves as follows:
Am – Am/G – Am/F# – Am/F – Am/E – Am/Eb.
This descending pattern evokes a sense of sorrow, subtly varied by what initially seems like a II – V progression but is a VII – IIIx movement:
| Am (VI) | Am/G | Am/F# | Am/F# |
| Bm7 (VII) | Bm7 | E7 (IIIx) | E7 |
For a detailed breakdown, I’ve written TAB for this verse, showing exactly how I play it in the video—check out this part of the lesson here: Angel Eyes Guitar Lesson with TAB.
After repeating the Am chords, the song transitions to another descending movement starting on chord II:
| Dm (II) | C (I) | B7 (VIIx) | E (IIIx) | Am (VI) |
This continuation of descending movements maintains the song’s emotional depth. However, when the bridge introduces a II – V – I progression in the new key of F, we finally experience a powerful harmonic release:
| Gm (II) | Gm | C7b9 (V) | C7b9 |
| Fmaj7 (I) | Fmaj7 | F#dim7 (#Idim7) | F#dim7 |
These shifts from sombre chromatic descents to the uplifting II – V – I progression provide a rich dynamic contrast that makes Angel Eyes a compelling piece to play and hear.
After repeating the previous movement, the key shifts to E, introducing a II – V – I progression:
| F#m (II) B7b9 (V) | E6 (I) |
The final two bars modulate back to Am with an Ebsus4 (creating lots of tension!), followed by Bm7 and a tritone substitution in Bb7:
| Ebsus4 | Bm7 Bb7 |
While the song mainly stays in the key of Am, it’s tempting to stick with open-position chords, as shown early in the video. This approach allows the bass line to really shine. However, playing in the open position for the entire song may feel monotonous if you’re aiming for a jazzier interpretation.
For added variation, I play the verse a second time around fret five, using an Am chord in an Em shape, while still applying the bass line. This technique creates a contrasting dynamic, making the return to the open-position Am sound even bigger.
Switching between different positions of the same chord progression is an effective way to introduce natural dynamics into any song.
On the topic of chord progressions, compare the descending bass line of chord VI in Angel Eyes to the #9 spot on my list of top 10 chord progressions (VI – V – IV – IIIx).
Once you’ve played along with me, checked out Frank’s “version,” and perhaps explored a few others linked further down this page, you only need this chord chart to make Angel Eyes your own.
Angel Eyes Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Angel Eyes Chord Chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Angel Eyes iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Angel Eyes is a Jazz standard!
Originally composed by Matt Dennis and Earl Brent for the 1953 motion picture Jennifer, Angel Eyes has since become a beloved jazz standard, recorded by an impressive array of artists over the decades.
Here’s a (partial) list of iconic singers and instrumentalists who’ve put their unique spin on this timeless tune:
- Chet Baker
- Sherley Bassey
- Kenny Burrell
- Ray Charles
- Nat King Cole
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Roberta Flack
- Barry Manilow
- Willie Nelson
- Oscar Peterson
- Frank Sinatra
- Kandace Springs featuring Norah Jones
- Bruce Springsteen
- Sting
- Nancy Wilson
This collective interpretation across genres and generations has solidified Angel Eyes as a true jazz standard.
Angel Eyes Chords | Related Pages
Angel Eyes | Guitar Lesson + TAB
With this guitar lesson, you can learn to play Angel Eyes by Frank Sinatra using TAB and chord analysis.
| Am Am/G Am/F# Am/F | Am/E Am/Eb |
Try to think that love’s not around…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
Matt Dennis tunes
Born into a family of professional musicians, Matt Dennis naturally gravitated to the piano, singing, and arranging.
Performing in the Vaudeville tradition from a young age, he experienced American showbiz before he could even read or write.
Matt Dennis on the web
Frank Sinatra tunes
Stephen Holden perfectly captures Frank Sinatra’s legacy in the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide:
“Frank Sinatra’s voice is pop music history. Like Presley and Dylan – Sinatra will last indefinitely. He virtually invented modern pop song phrasing.”
Frank Sinatra on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Angel Eyes chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not by practising scales or studying theory in isolation.
