Chords + Lyrics | I Predict A Riot
Intro
| N.C E | Db G |
||: Cm | Eb D5 | Cm | Eb D5 |
| Ab | Gm | Fm | Eb D5 :||
Verse 1
||: Cm | Cm | Eb | F :||
Ah, watching the people get lairy, it’s not very pretty I tell thee.
Walking through town is quite scary, not very sensible either.
A friend of a friend he got beaten, he looked the wrong way at a Policeman.
Would never have happened to Smeaton, an Old Leodensian.
Bridge 1
| Cm | G/B | Bb | F |
La, ah-ah. La, la, la, la, la, la.
| Cm | G/B | Bb | F | F |
Ah-ah, ah, ah, ah. Oh-la, la, la, la, la, la.
Chorus 1
||: Ab | Ab Db | Ab | Ab :||
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
Verse 2
Oh, I tried to get to my taxi. A man in a tracksuit attacks me.
He said that he saw it before me and wants to get things a bit gory.
Girls scrabble ’round with no clothes on, to borrow a pound for a condom.
If it wasn’t for chip fat they’d be frozen, they’re not very sensible.
Bridge 2
La, ah-ah. Oh-la, la, la, la, la, la.
Ah-ah, ah, ah, ah. Oh-la, la, la, la, la, la.
Chorus 2
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
Chorus tag 1
| D | C |
And if there’s anybody left in here.
| Bb | Ab | Ab | Ab | Ab |
Who that doesn’t want to be out there, oh.
Instrumental
| Cm | Eb D5 | Cm | Eb D5 |
| Ab | Gm | Fm | Eb D5 |
| Cm | Eb D5 | Cm | Eb D5 |
Ah, ah, ah, ah…
| Ab | Gm | Fm | Eb D5 |
Ah, ah, ah, ah…
Verse 3
Ah, watching the people get lairy, it’s not very pretty I tell thee.
Walking through town is quite scary, not very sensible.
Bridge 3
| Cm | G/B | Bb | F |
La, ah-ah. Oh-la, la, la, la, la, la.
| Cm | G/B | Bb | F |
Ah-ah, ah, ah, ah. Oh-la, la, la, la, la, la.
||: F :|| x7
Oh, yeah.
Chorus 3
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
Chorus tag 2
| D | C |
And if there’s anybody left in here.
| Bb | Ab |
Who that doesn’t want to be out there.
Chorus 4
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
I predict a riot, I predict a riot.
I Predict A Riot Chords: Unpack the Indie Rock Progressions
When Kaiser Chiefs‘ I Predict A Riot was released in 2007, it quickly became a staple for indie rock cover bands—and many still play it more than a decade later.
The chords are quite interesting and are best played as power chords (5-chords), though I’ve also written some as triads above. You could experiment with a capo or tuning down a half step, but in my experience, these songs are best bashed out in their original tuning on a typical gig.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the song’s chords—there are plenty of key changes in this one!
Intro (solo)
The intro starts with a few single notes before the main riff kicks in. I’ve rarely heard bands play these, so let’s move straight to the riff as chords:
||: Cm | Eb D5 | Cm | Eb D5 |
| Ab | Gm | Fm | Eb D5 :||
If that D5 were a triad, it would be Dm, making the Roman numerals II – IV – III in the key of Bb.
The second line follows IV – III – II in Eb, with the last bar pulling us back to Bb. This riff returns later as an instrumental/solo section.
Here are the chord progressions for all other sections, indicating what the Roman numeral are in the different keys:
- Verse: Cm – Eb – F (II – IV – V in Bb)
- Bridge: Cm – G/B – Bb – F (II – chromatic passing chord – I – V in Bb)
- Chorus: Ab – Db – Ab (I – IV – I in Ab)
After listening to the original recording, discovering that there is mainly synths and production tricks, the real question is how do you actually play this as the sole guitarist in a band?
To answer that, I need to show you TAB, here’s a link: I Predict A Riot – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
To practise I Predict A Riot, use the chords and lyrics above and/or follow the chord chart below while playing along with the original recording.
I Predict A Riot Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my I Predict A Riot chord chart as a PDF—it’s unlikely you’ll need to play it in a different key.
Alternatively, you can get it in iReal Pro format, which allows you to adjust the layout to suit your preference.
I Predict A Riot TAB | Course Preview
I’ve designed TAB for all sections that will work as you take to the stage with your indie rock party band.
As a preview, here’s the intro.
I Predict A Riot Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: I Predict A Riot (Kaiser Chiefs) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
