The American Ruse Chords
by MC5
The American Ruse by MC5 is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of C. It uses the chords C5, F5, G5, A5 and B5. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
The American Ruse
From the album Back in the U.S.A.
Intro
DRUMS---------------------------
e|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
B|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
G|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
D|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|--8---------|
A|----------|----------|----------|-----10---|--(10)----|----10-8----|
E|----------|----------|----------|-8-11-----|----------|---------11-|
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------| (x2)
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
verse 1
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
They told you in school about freedom
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
But when you try to be free they never let ya
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
They said "it's easy, nothing to it"
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
And now the army's out to get ya
Chorus
F5
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-10----------10--------10--------10-|
A|-8-----------8---------8---------8--|
E|------------------------------------|
Sixty-nine America in terminal stasis
F5
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------|
D|-10--------10--------------10---------10-|
A|-8---------8---------------8----------8--|
E|-----------------------------------------|
The air's so thick it's like drowning in molasses
C5
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|-10-----------10-------10-----------10/|
E|-8------------8--------8-------------8/|
I'm sick and tired of paying these dues
G5 G5 A5 B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
And I'm finally getting hip to the American
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
ruse
Transition
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
verse 2
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
I learned to say the pledge of allegiance
C5
e|-------------|------------|------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|------------|------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|------------|------------|----------|
D|-------------|------------|------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|--10-12-10--|--10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8---|--8--8--8---|----------|
Before they beat me bloody down at the station
C5
e|-------------|-----------|-----------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-----------|-----------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-----------|-----------|----------|
D|-------------|-----------|-----------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|-10-12-10--|-10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|-8--8--8---|-8--8--8---|----------|
They haven't got a word out of me since
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
I got a billion years probation
Chorus
F5
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-10----------10--------10--------10-|
A|-8-----------8---------8---------8--|
E|------------------------------------|
Sixty-nine America in terminal stasis
F5
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------|
D|-10--------10--------------10---------10-|
A|-8---------8---------------8----------8--|
E|-----------------------------------------|
The air's so thick it's like drowning in molasses
C5
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|-10-----------10-------10-----------10/|
E|-8------------8--------8-------------8/|
I'm sick and tired of paying these dues
G5 G5 A5 B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
And I'm sick to my guts of the American
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
ruse
Transition
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Bridge
A5
e|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|-7-----7----7---7--|
E|-5-----5----5---5--|
Phony stars, oh no!
A5
e|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|-7-----7----7---7--|
E|-5-----5----5---5--|
Crummy cars, oh no!
A5
e|---------------------|
B|---------------------|
G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|-7-------7----7---7--|
E|-5-------5----5---5--|
Cheap guitars, oh no!
A5
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|------------------------|
D|------------------------|
A|-7------7--------7---7--|
E|-5------5--------5---5--|
Joe's primitive bar
G5
e|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
Nah! Rock'em back, Sonic!
G5
e|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
Solo
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------| (x4)
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
C5 G5
e|-------|
B|-------|
G|-------|
D|-------| (x4)
A|-10--5-|
E|-8---3-|
G5
e|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
G5 G5 A5 B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
verse 3
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
The way they pull you over, it's suspicious
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Yeah, for something that just ain't your fault
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
If you complain they're gonna get vicious
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Kick in your teeth and charge you with assault
Chorus
F5
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-10--------------10-------------10------10-|
A|-8---------------8--------------8-------8--|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Yeah, but I can see the chickens coming home to roost
F5
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-10-----------10-------------10---------10-|
A|-8------------8--------------8----------8--|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Young people everywhere are gonna cook their goose
C5
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|-10---------------10-------------10------------10/|
E|-8----------------8--------------8--------------8/|
Lots of kids are working to get rid of these blues
G5 G5 A5 B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
'Cause everybody's sick of the American
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
ruse
Outro
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!
C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!
Coda
e|------------|------------|------------|------------|
B|------------|------------|------------|------------|
G|------------|------------|------------|------------|
D|------------|------------|------------|------------|
A|-------10---|-------10---|-------10---|------------|
E|-8-11-------|-8-11-------|-8-11-------|-8----------|