The Fray - How To Save a Life Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [D] [G] [Bm]
[G]Step one you say we [D]need to talk.
He [Em]walks you say sit [D]down it’s just a [G]talk.
He smiles [D]politely back at [Em]you.
You stare [D]politely right on [G]through.
[verse 2]
Some sort of [D]window to your [Em]right.
As he goes [D]left and you stay [G]right.
Between the [D]lines of fear and [Em]blame.
And you begin to [D]wonder why you came.
[chorus]
[C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend.
Somewhere [G]along in the [D]bitterness.
And [C]I would have stayed [D]up with you all [Em]night.
Had I known [G]how to [D]save a [G]life.
[verse 3]
[D] [Em] [D]
[G]Let him know that [D]you know best
Cause [Em]after all you [D]do know best
[G]Try to slip past [D]his defense
[Em]Without granting [D]innocence
[verse 4]
[G]Lay down a [D]list of what is [Em]wrong
The things [D]you’ve told him all along
[G]And pray to God he [D]hears you
And [Em]pray to God he [D]hears you
[chorus]
[C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend.
Somewhere [G]along in the [D]bitterness.
And [C]I would have stayed [D]up with you all [Em]night.
Had I known [G]how to [D]save a [G]life.
[verse 5]
[D] [Em] [D]
As [G]he begins to [D]raise his voice
You [Em]lower yours and [D]grant him one last [G]choice
Drive until you [D]lose the road
Or [Em]break with the [D]ones you’ve followed
[Closing]
[G]He will do [D]one of two things
[Em]He will admit [D]to everything
[G]Or he’ll say he’s just [D]not the same
And [Em]you’ll begin to [D]wonder why you came
[chorus]
[C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend.
Somewhere [G]along in the [D]bitterness.
And [C]I would have stayed [D]up with you all [Em]night.
Had I known [G]how to [D]save a [G]life.
[chorus]
[C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend.
Somewhere [G]along in the [D]bitterness.
And [C]I would have stayed [D]up with you all [Em]night.
Had I known [G]how to [D]save a [G]life.
[chorus]
[D] [G] [D]How to save a [G]life
[D] [G] [D]How to save a [G]life
[chorus]
[C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend.
Somewhere [G]along in the [D]bitterness.
And [C]I would have stayed [D]up with you all [Em]night.
Had I known [G]how to [D]save a [G]life.
[chorus]
[C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend.
Somewhere [G]along in the [D]bitterness.
And [C]I would have stayed [D]up with you all [Em]night.
Had I known [G]how to [D]save a [G]life.
[chorus]
[D] [G] [D]How to save a [G]life.
[D] [G] [D]How to save a [G]life. [D] [G] [Bm] [G]
How to play How to Save a Life on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Fray - How to Save a Life on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
How to Save a Life uses these transitions most often: G → D (36), D → G (27), and D → Em (26). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - D chord transition.
1. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
2. G → Bm chord transition
To move from G to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
3. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
4. D → C chord transition
To move from D to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
5. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
6. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
How to Save a Life chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in How to Save a Life.
- How to Save a Life includes 143 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- How to Save a Life contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how How to Save a Life connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%