Song · The Police

Spirits In The Material World by The Police

New Wave1982IntermediateBarre chords7th chords🎸 Interactive

Spirits In The Material World by The Police runs at 141 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of A minor. It is built on 6 chords — G, D, Am, Em, C, Dm7. Released in 1982.

✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →

Spirits In The Material World — The Police
Tempo 141 or 70 half-time
Key A minor verified
Time 4/4 signature
Length 2:59 runtime
Released 1982 New Wave
Chords 6 shapes below
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🎚 Tuning: This recording sits about 10 cents sharp of concert pitch (A=442.5Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.
🎸 Tap a chord to hear it Every shape in this song, on a real fretboard.

What to watch for

At least one shape here is a full barre — one finger pressing all six strings, no open strings to lean on. Fret it unplugged first; if a string buzzes, it's the barre, not the chord. Listen for the 7th in these chords — it's the note doing most of the harmonic pull, and it's the first thing that disappears if you fret only the plain triad underneath it.

Practice at the right tempo

This song sits at 141 BPM. Start at 60% until the changes are clean — speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a goal.

🥁 Metronome 141 BPM · 100%

Learn the theory

Music TheoryThe Minor Scale Music TheoryMajor 7, Minor 7 & Dominant 7

Play it on a live fretboard

Every shape, every voicing, and the scale that fits over them — on a board you can hear. Then just talk to it: Melody Monkey's personal music teacher controls the fretboard, so ask for a chord, a scale, a progression, or why any of it works, and watch it land under your fingers. Free to start.

Open the free app →

Keep playing

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Peter GabrielShock the MonkeyD minor · 151 BPM Rolling StonesWaiting On A FriendC major · 118 BPM Juice NewtonBreak It To Me GentlyE major · 178 BPM Joni Mitchell(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't CareG major · 172 BPM John DenverSeasons Of The HeartC major · 136 BPM Rolling StonesGoing To A Go-GoE major · 129 BPM

Frequently asked questions

What key is Spirits In The Material World in?

Spirits In The Material World is in A minor, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.

What tempo is Spirits In The Material World?

Spirits In The Material World runs at 141 BPM (or 70 half-time).

What chords does Spirits In The Material World use?

Spirits In The Material World is built on 6 chords: G, D, Am, Em, C, Dm7.

Does Spirits In The Material World need barre chords?

Yes — at least one shape is a full barre (one finger across all six strings). Everything else on the page is a standard open shape.

What tuning is Spirits In The Material World in?

This recording sits about 10 cents sharp of concert pitch (A=442.5Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.