Chords + Lyrics | California Gurls
Intro
||: Am Bb | C Dm7 :||
Greetings loved ones, let’s take a journey.
Verse 1
||: Am Bb | C Dm7 :||
I know a place where the grass is really greener.
Warm, wet n’ wild, there must be something in the water.
Sippin’ gin and juice, laying underneath the palm trees (undone).
The boys break their necks, try’na creep a little sneak peek (at us).
Bridge 1
||: C | Dm | Bb | Bb :||
You could travel the world, but nothing comes close to the golden coast.
Once you party with us, you’ll be falling in love, ooh oh ooh oh oh ooh.
Chorus 1
||: Am7 Bbmaj7 | C Dm7 :||
California girls, we’re unforgettable.
Daisy dukes, bikinis on top.
Sun-kissed skin so hot, we’ll melt your popsicle.
Ooh oh ooh oh oh. Oh, ooh oh oh oh oh ooh.
Chorus 2
California girls, we’re undeniable.
Fine, fresh, fierce we got it on lock.
West Coast represent, now put your hands up.
Ooh oh ooh oh oh. Oh, ooh oh oh oh oh ooh.
Verse 2
Sex on the beach, we don’t mind sand in our stilettos.
We freak, in my Jeep, Snoop Doggy-Dog on the stereo, oh oh.
Bridge 2
You could travel the world, but nothing comes close to the golden coast.
Once you party with us, you’ll be falling in love. Ooh oh ooh ooh oh ooh.
Chorus 3
California girls, we’re unforgettable (California).
Daisy dukes, bikinis on top.
Sun-kissed skin so hot, we’ll melt your popsicle.
Ooh oh ooh oh oh. Oh, ooh oh oh oh oh ooh.
Chorus 4
California girls, we’re undeniable (California).
Fine, fresh, fierce we got it on lock.
West Coast represent, now put your hands up (West Coast).
Ooh oh ooh oh oh. Oh, ooh oh oh oh oh ooh.
Breakdown (Rap)
| (Am Bb) | (C Dm7) |
Toned, tan, fit and ready, turn it up ’cause its gettin’ heavy.
| (Am Bb) | N.C |
Wild, wild West Coast, these are the girls I love the most.
Rap
||: Am Bb | C Dm7 :||
I mean the ones, I mean like she’s the one. Kiss her, touch her, squeeze her buns.
The girl’s a freak, she drive a jeep and live on the beach.
I’m okay, I won’t play, I love the bay, just like I love L.A.
Venice Beach and Palm Springs, summertime is everything.
Home boys, bangin’ out. All that ass, hanging out.
Bikinis, zucchinis, martinis, no weenies, just a king and a queenie.
Katy my lady (yeah) and looky here baby (Uh huh).
I’m all up on ya, ’cause you representing California (oh yeah).
Chorus 5
California girls, we’re unforgettable.
Daisy dukes, bikinis on top.
Sun-kissed skin so hot, we’ll melt your popsicle.
Ooh oh ooh oh oh. Oh, ooh oh oh oh oh ooh (come on, come on).
Chorus 6
California girls, we’re undeniable.
Fine, fresh, fierce, we got it on lock.
West Coast represent (West Coast, West Coast). Now put your hands up (hey, ho).
Ooh oh ooh oh oh. Oh, ooh oh oh oh oh ooh.
Outro
||: Am7 Bbmaj7 | C Dm7 :|| x4
||: (California) (California girls) :|| (California girls, man, ha ha).
California Gurls Chords: Breaking Down the Catchy Progressions
At first glance, California Gurls may seem simple, but its chord progression is deceptively clever.
The sequence Am – Bb occurs in one particular area of the diatonic key, the III – IV movement—unique in its structure. Nowhere else do we find a minor chord followed by a major chord just a semitone above.
This is followed by C – Dm7, functioning as V – VI, creating an upward motion that feels like it could loop endlessly.
Bridge
The bridge then repurposes three of these four chords, beginning on V:
C – Dm7 – Bb.
And that’s all there is to it. If it feels too simple, experiment with different chord shapes each time the verse or bridge comes around. I cover these variations in the TAB lesson: California Gurls – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Chorus
The chorus mirrors the intro and verse, with some extensions added—Am7 instead of Am, and Bbmaj7 instead of Bb. This is the only section with a fixed guitar part (see the TAB preview below).
For a practical application, try experimenting with new chord shapes each time the verse or bridge repeats. Once you’ve worked through the TAB ideas, the chord chart is all you need to take to the gig.
California Gurls Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
These chords are as simple as it gets. The chord chart serves as a quick reference, helping you recall both the chords and the song’s structure.
Here’s a PDF you can download: California Gurls chord chart PDF.
If you prefer the iReal Pro format, here’s that link: California Gurls iReal Pro.
California Gurls TAB | Course Preview
I’ve created some TAB as a starting point for the verse and bridge sections, offering enough challenge to keep you engaged through many gigs.
Here’s a preview of the chorus TAB—this is what’s played on the original recording and should be followed closely, at least for the first few performances.
One of four hits from Teenage Dream
Katy Perry’s third album, Teenage Dream (2010), was a major success. Other singles included Firework, Last Friday Night, and the title track, Teenage Dream.
California Gurls was reportedly a playful response to Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind (about New York), released the year before. With contributions from Snoop Dogg and Swedish pop producer Max Martin, it reached #1 in both the U.K. and U.S., and entered the top ten worldwide.
California Gurls Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: California Gurls (Katy Perry) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
