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Shawn Mendes - Why Chords

ChordsC, F, Am, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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 Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram


[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


[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


[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?


[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


[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


[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?


[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?


[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

AlbumShawn Mendes
GenresPop
Year2018
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

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;

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

2. F → Am chord transition

To move from F to Am;

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

3. Am → Dm chord transition

To move from Am to Dm;

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

4. Dm → C chord transition

To move from Dm to C;

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

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%