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Foster The People - Pumped up Kicks Chords

ChordsEm, G, D, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram


[Em]Robert’s got a quick [G]hand
He’ll [D]look around the room
He won’t [A]tell you his plan
He’s [Em]got a rolled ciga[G]rette, hanging [D]out his mouth.


He’s a [A]cowboy kid. Yeah, he [Em]found a six-shooter [G]gun.
In his [D]dad’s closet, with a [A]box of fun things.
And [Em]I don’t even know [G]what.
But he’s [D]coming for you, yeah, he’s [A]coming for you.


[Em]All the other kids with the [G]pumped up kicks.
You’d better [D]run, better run, [A]outrun my gun.
[Em]All the other kids with the [G]pumped up kicks.
You’d better [D]run, better run, [A]faster than my bullet.


[Em]Daddy works a long [G]day.
He be [D]coming home late, yeah, he’s [A]coming home late.
And he’s [Em]bringing me a surp[G]rise.
Because [D]dinner’s in the kitchen and it’s [A]packed in ice.


I’ve [Em]waited for a long [G]time.
Yeah, the [D]slight of my hand is now a [A]quick pull trigger.
I [Em]reason with my ciga[G]rette, and say your [D]hair’s on fire.
You must have [A]lost your wits, yeah…


[Em]All the other kids with the [G]pumped up kicks.
You’d better [D]run, better run, [A]outrun my gun.
[Em]All the other kids with the [G]pumped up kicks.
You’d better [D]run, better run, [A]faster than my bullet.


[Em]All the other kids with the [G]pumped up kicks.
You’d better [D]run, better run, [A]outrun my gun.
[Em]All the other kids with the [G]pumped up kicks.
You’d better [D]run, better run, [A]faster than my bullet.

AlbumPumped Up Kicks
Year2010
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Pumped up Kicks on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Foster The People - Pumped up Kicks on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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.

Pumped up Kicks uses these transitions most often: D → A (14), Em → G (14), and G → D (14). 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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.
Em to G

2. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
G to D

3. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 3 to fret 2.
D to A

4. A → Em chord transition

To move from A to Em;

  1. While playing A, lift your index finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
A to Em

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Pumped up Kicks.

  • Pumped up Kicks includes 55 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Pumped up Kicks contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Pumped up Kicks connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%