COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Musical Futures

Year 9
Viva La Vida

Resource Pack
Viva La Vida Resource Pack

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Viva La Vida Lyrics

INTRO:
C - D - G - Em

x2

(Em)
C
D
I used to rule the world
G
Em
Seas would rise when I gave the word
C
D
Now in the morning I sweep alone
G
Em
Sweep the streets I used to own
C - D - G Em

x2

(Em)
C
D
I used to roll the dice
G
Em
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
C
D
Listen as the crowd would sing:
G
Em
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
(Em)
C
D
One minute I held the key
G
Em
Next the walls were closed on me
C
D
And I discovered that my castles stand
G
Em
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
C
D
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
G
Em
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
C
D
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
G
Em
My missionaries in a foreign field
C
D
For some reason I can't explain
G
Em
C
D
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
G
Em
That was when I ruled the world
Viva La Vida Resource Pack

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

C - D - G - Em

x2

C
D
It was the wicked and wild wind
G
Em
Blew down the doors to let me in.
C
D
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
G
Em
People couldn't believe what I'd become
C
D
Revolutionaries wait
G
Em
For my head on a silver plate
C
D
Just a puppet on a lonely string
G
Em
Oh who would ever want to be king?
C
D
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
G
Em
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
C
D
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
G
Em
My missionaries in a foreign field
C
D
For some reason I can't explain
G
Em
I know Saint Peter will call my name ,
C
D
never an honest word
G
Em
But that was when I ruled the world
BRIDGE:
C - Em x3
D x2
C - D - G - Em x2
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)

Chorus

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Viva La Vida
Drum Pattern Sheet
Pattern 1
count

hi hat

&

&

snare
drum
bass
drum

&

&

Pattern 2
count

&

&

&

&

hi hat

snare
drum
bass
drum

X
X

Start with drum pattern 1 and if you feel you have mastered this then go
onto drum pattern 2. Or why not try and use both during your rehearsals.
Viva La Vida Resource Pack

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Viva La Vida
Guitar Tablature
This song is structured in 4 bar phrases for both the verse and
chorus. When playing the verse it is important that you only play
the notes on the 2 strings at a time. If you play all the strings at
once some of the notes will sound out of tune!

VERSE CHORDS
C Major

Bar 1

D Major

Bar 2

G Major

E Minor

Bar 3

Bar 4

Guitar strings (from the thickest = E, then A, then D, then G, then B, to the thinnest = E)

CHORUS CHORDS
C Major

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

D Major

G Major

E Minor

0
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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Bar 1

Bar 2

Bar 3

Bar 4

At the end of this resource document there are examples of how

to play the chords in full when using a guitar

Bridge Section
There is an 8 bar bridge section towards the end of the song.
This section uses chords we already know, but in a slightly
different order.

BRIDGE CHORDS
C Major

Bar 1

C Major

Bar 5

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

E Minor

C Major

Bar 2

Bar 3

E Minor

D Major

Bar 6

E Minor

Bar 4

D Major

Bar 7

Bar 8

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Viva La Vida
Bass Tablature
The verses and chorus to Apologize are used the same notes and
chords.
Please play these bass parts if you dont feel comfortable to play
the guitar parts. Use an acoustic guitar for this part. (or bring in
your own bass guitar if you own one).

VERSE NOTES
C Major

D Major

0
3

G Major

E Minor

3
3

Bar 1

Bar 2

Bar 3

Bar 4

Bass Strings (from thickest = E, then A, then D, to the thinnest = G)

CHORUS NOTES
C Major

D Major

0
3

G Major

E Minor

3
3

Bar 1

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

Bar 2

Bar 3

Bar 4

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Bridge Section
There is an 8 bar bridge section towards the end of the song.
This section uses notes we already know, but in a slightly
different order.

BRIDGE NOTES
C Major

E Minor

C Major

3
0

Bar 1

C Major

E Minor

Bar 3

Bar 4

D Major

0
3

Bar 2

E Minor

D Major

3
0

Bar 5

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

Bar 6

Bar 7

Bar 8

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Viva La Vida
Keyboard Chords
Verse / Chord Structure (repeated throughout)

Em

1+2+3+4+

1+2+3+4+

1+2+3+4+

1+2+3+4+

Below is a diagram of a keyboard. Use this and the other

breakdown of the chords, to help you with your performance.

In this piece of music the chord progression for the verse

and chorus remain the same. Below is the chord
progression for both the verse and the chorus.

Chord 1 = C Major

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

Chord 2 = D Major

Chord 3 = |G Major

Chord 4 = E Minor

Bridge Chord Structure

C Em C Em C Em D
4 beats
Bar 1

4 beats
Bar 2

4 beats
Bar 3

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

4 beats
Bar 4

4 beats
Bar 5

4 beats
Bar 6

4 beats
Bar 7

D
4 beats
Bar 8

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY

The chords for this section are the same as the chords used in the
Verse / Chorus but in the above Bridge Chord Structure.

Diagram of Guitar Chords

C Major

D Major
2

3
2
2
3

G Major

E Minor

2
2

2
3

Viva La Vida Resource Pack

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