Kodachrome

by Paul Simon
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Lyrics

(B7)When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school,

it’s a won der (B)I can think at (E)all.

(B)And my lack of e du ca tion has n’t hurt me none.

I can read the writ ing on the wall.

Ko da (A)chrome™,

it gives us those nice

bright col ors, it gives us the greens

of sum mers, makes you think all

the world’s a (E7)sun ny (A)day, (C#)oh yeah.

I got a Ni

kon cam era, I love to take a (A)pho to graph.

So ma ma don’t take

my (E7)Ko da chrome™ a way.

If you took all the girls I (E7)knew when I was sin gle

and brought ’em all to geth er for one night

(B)I know they’d nev er match my (E7)sweet i ma gi na tion.

And ev ’ry thing looks worse in black and (E)white.

Ko da (A)chrome™,

it gives us those nice

bright col ors, it gives us the greens

of sum mers, makes you think all

the world’s a (E7)sun ny (A)day, (C#)oh yeah.

I got a Ni

kon cam era, I love to take a (A)pho to graph.

So ma ma don’t take

my (E7)Ko da chrome™ a way.

Ma ma don’t (A)take

my (C#m)Ko da chrome™ a way.

Ma ma don’t (A)take

my (C#m)Ko da chrome™ a way.

Ma ma don’t

(A)Ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™ (C#m)ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™, (F#m)ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™ a way.

(A)Ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™.

(C#m)Leave your boy so far from home.

(F#m)Ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™ a way.

(A)Ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™.

(C#m)Leave your boy so far from home.

(F#m)Ma ma don’t take my Ko da chrome™ a way.

Kodachrome — Classic Piano Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

Read "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of E. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 136 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Kodachrome

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Kodachrome"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature E. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon played in?
Kodachrome is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Kodachrome"?
The arrangement plays at 136 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Kodachrome" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Kodachrome"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Kodachrome"?
"Kodachrome" was originally performed by Paul Simon. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Kodachrome"?
This arrangement uses 14 chords: A, A7, B, B7, Bm, C#, C#m, D, +6 more.
What other songs by Paul Simon can I play here?
Try "Still Crazy After All These Years", "ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD", "Gone at Last". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Kodachrome" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature E, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 136 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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