Shawn Mendes - Why Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to G key to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]I know a girl, she’s like a curse
[F]We want each other, no one will break first
[Am]So many nights, trying to find someone new
[Dm]They don’t mean nothing compared to her, and I know
[verse 2]
[C]When people ask about us, now, we just brush it off
[F]I don’t know why we act like it means nothing at all
[Am]I wish that I could tell you that you’re all that I want, yeah
[chorus]
[Dm]
[C]I pretend that, [F]I’m not ready
Why do we [Am]put each other through hell?
Why can’t we [Dm]just get over ourselves?
And [C]you say “hi” like, [F]you just met me
Why do we [Am]put each other through hell?
Why can’t we [Dm]just get over ourselves?
Why can’t we [C]just get over ourselves?
[verse 3]
[F] [Am] [Dm]
[C]When I hear you sing, it gets hard to breathe
[F]Can’t help but think every song’s about me
And [Am]every line, every word that I write
[Dm]You are the muse in the back of my mind, oh
[verse 4]
[C]Don’t wanna ask about it ’cause you might brush it off
[F]I’m afraid you think that it means nothing at all
[Am]I don’t know why I won’t admit that you’re all I want
[chorus]
[Dm]
[C]I pretend that, [F]I’m not ready
Why do we [Am]put each other through hell?
Why can’t we [Dm]just get over ourselves?
And [C]you say “hi” like, [F]you just met me
Why do we [Am]put each other through hell?
Why can’t we [Dm]just get over ourselves?
[chorus]
[C] [F] [Am] [Dm] [C] [F] [Am] [Dm]
[C]I pretend that, [F]I’m not ready
Why do we [Am]put each other through hell?
Why can’t we [Dm]just get over ourselves?
And [C]you say “hi” like, [F]you just met me
Why do we [Am]put each other through hell?
Why can’t we [Dm]just get over ourselves?
[Closing]
[C]I know a girl, she’s like a curse
[F]We want each other, no one will break first
[Am]So many nights, trying to find someone new
[Dm]They don’t mean nothing compared to you
How to play Why on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Shawn Mendes - Why 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.
Why uses these transitions most often: Am → Dm (14), C → F (14), and F → Am (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 C - F chord transition.
1. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
2. F → Am chord transition
To move from F to Am;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
3. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
4. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G 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.
Why chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Why.
- Why includes 55 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Why contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Why connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → F: 16%
After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → Am: 11%