Hello! Below you'll find my "Californication" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Red Hot Chili Peppers is guitar-based on the recording, but it translates well to piano. I even include the notes to play the very melodic guitar solo with your right hand.
Enjoy!
Californication Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Californication:
Californication Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| Am | F | x4
| Am | F | x4
[Verse 1]
Am F
Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation
Am
And little girls from Sweden dream of
F
Silver screen quotations
C G F Dm
And if you want these kind of dreams it's Californication
C G F Dm
And if you want these kind of dreams it's Californication
[Interlude]
| Am | F | X2
[Verse 2]
Am F
It's the edge of the world and all of western civilization
Am
The sun may rise in the East at least it's
F
Settled in a final location
C G F Dm
It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication
C G F Dm
It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication
[Pre-Chorus 1]
| Am | Fmaj7 | X2
Am Fmaj7
Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Am
Celebrity skin, is this your chin?
Fmaj7
Or is that war you're waging?
Am Fmaj7 Am Fmaj7
First born unicorn hardcore soft porn
Am Fmaj7 Am Fmaj7
First born unicorn hardcore soft porn
[Chorus]
C G Dm Am
Dream of Californication
C G Dm
Dream of Californication
C G Dm Am
Dream of Californication
C G Dm
Dream of Californication
[Interlude]
| Am | F | X2
| Am | F | X2
[Verse 3]
Am
Marry me girl, be my fairy to the world
F
Be my very own constellation
Am
A teenage bride with a baby inside
Am
A teenage bride with a baby inside
F
Getting high on information
C G F Dm
And buy me a star on the boulevard it's Californication
C G F Dm
And buy me a star on the boulevard it's Californication
[Interlude]
| Am | F | X2
[Verse 4]
Am
Space may be the final frontier
F
But it's made in a Hollywood basement
Am
And Cobain can you hear the
Am
And Cobain can you hear the
F
Spheres singing songs off station to station?
C G F Dm
And Alderaan's not far away it's Californication
C G F Dm
And Alderaan's not far away it's Californication
[Pre-Chorus 2]
| Am | Fmaj7 | X2
Ooooooooooh
Am Fmaj7
Born and raised by those who praise control of population
Am Fmaj7
Everybody's been there and I don't mean on vacation
Am Fmaj7 Am Fmaj7
First born unicorn hardcore soft porn
[Chorus]
C G Dm Am
Dream of Californication
C G Dm
Dream of Californication
C G Dm Am
Dream of Californication
C G Dm
Dream of Californication
[Solo]
| F#m | Dmaj7 | F#m | Dmaj7 | Bm D | A E |
| F#m | Dmaj7 | F#m | Dmaj7 | Bm D | A E |
| Bm D | A E | Bm D | A E |'
| F#m | Dmaj7 | F#m | Dmaj7 | Bm D | A E |
| F#m | Dmaj7 | F#m | Dmaj7 | Bm D | A E |
| Bm D | A E | Bm D | A E |'
A C# G# F# A C# G# F# (F#F#F#) F# E C# C#
F#m D F#m D Bm
B C# E G# F# EC#
D A E
D A E
A C# E F# A C# E G# F# A G# F# E F# E C# E C#
F#m D F#m D Bm D A E
C# C# C# E C# G# F# E C# E C# B A E D C# A
Bm D A E Bm D A E
[Interlude]
| Am | F | X2
[Verse 5]
Am
Destruction leads to a very rough road
F
But it also breeds creation
Am
And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar
Am
And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar
F
They're just another good vibration
C G F Dm
And tidal waves couldn't save the world from Californication
C G F Dm
And tidal waves couldn't save the world from Californication
[Pre-Chorus 3]
| Am | Fmaj7 | X2
Ooooooooooh
Am Fmaj7
Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Am
Sicker than the rest
Fmaj7
There is no test but this is what you're craving
Am Fmaj7 Am Fmaj7
First born unicorn hardcore soft porn
Am Fmaj7 Am Fmaj7
First born unicorn hardcore soft porn
[Chorus]
C G Dm Am
Dream of Californication
C G Dm
Dream of Californication
C G Dm Am
Dream of Californication
C G Dm
Dream of Californication
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Californication Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Californication" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Californication" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
