I wasn't satisfied with the two existing versions of this, so I decided to give it a try.
Chords are based on Ella's quite well known 1933 version of this wonderful standard
featuring the vocal quartet "Ink Spots".
Key: [Bb]
Verse (00:09)
[Bbmaj7] [Bdim] [Cm7] [F9]
Say it's only a paper moon
[Cm7] [F9] [Bbmaj7] ([F9])
hanging over a cardboard sea
[Bb7] [Eb6] [Edim]
but it wouldn't be make-believe
[F9] [Bbmaj7] [F9]
if you believed in me
same for next Verse
Yes, its only a canvas sky
hanging over a muslin tree
but it would be make believe
if you believed in me
Chorus (00:40)
[Eb6] [Edim] [Bb]/[F]
Without your love
[Cm7] [F7] [Bbmaj7]
it's a honky-tonk parade
[Eb6] [Edim] [B]/[F] [G7]
without your love
[Cm7] [F7]
it's a melody played in the penny arcade
Verse (0:56)
same as first verse
It's a barnum and bailey world
just as phoney as it can be
but it wouldn't be make-believe
if you believed in me
(Ink Spots)
Say it's only a paper moon
hanging over a cardboard sea
but it wouldnt be make-believe
if you believed in me
Yes it's only a canvas sky
hanging over a muslin tree
but it wouldn't be make-believe
if you believed in me
Chorus (1:43)
as before,
repeat twice
Possible chord voicings:
You can always make up your own, depending on what effect you're aiming for & what
instruments you're plaing with. These are just some suggestions.
[Bbmaj7]: 6x776x or x1323x
[Bdim]: 7x776x or x2323x
[Cm7]: x3534x , x3131x or 8x888x
[F9]: 1x121x or x8788x
[Bb7]: x1313x or 6x676x
[Eb6]: x6554x or x6558x
[Edim]: x7878x
[B]/[F]: 1x333x or x8876x
[G7]: 3x343x or xx5767
For those interested:
The Melody
e|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
B|---------6--6---6---4--3-----|------------4--4--4--3----------|------------|
G|--------------------------5--|----3---3---------------5---3---|------------|
D|---3--3----------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
e|------------------3----------|--------------------------------|
B|---------6--6---7----4-------|----8---6-----------------------|
G|-----------------------5-----|--------------------------------|o
D|---3--3--------------------8-|-7-----------7--8--------(8)----|o repeat
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|
e|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
B|---------------8--6-6--------|-----------------6--6-6--6-------8--8-8--8--|
G|----5--6--7--8---------7-7---|----5--6--7--6-7------------6-7-------------|
D|-8-------------------------8-|-8------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
Hope this could help you.
