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Ed Sheeran - Shirtsleeves Chords

ChordsD, A, Bm, G
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 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
  • Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram


I can taste salt [D]water, and if I blink [A]again [Bm]


You’ll be sinking in
So we’ll learn to swim in the [G]oceans you made [D]
I’ll hold ya and [A]you’ll think of him [Bm]
And pretty soon you’ll be [G]floating away


[G]And I’ll hold on to the [A]words you spoke of [D]
Anchored down [Bm]in my throat, love [G]
And I’m captain of this [A]sinking boat, [D]now
We just want all men to carry me home


[D]When salted tears won’t dry
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves
Under your [D]eyes


These hearts will be flooded tonight
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your eyes [D]
[D]Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, [A]your [Bm]eyes


I still taste salt [D]water
On my lips [A]from your kiss, [Bm]bitterness
And I drown within the [G]oceans you [D]made
And I hate to love you, these cuffs are [A]covered in your make up [Bm]


I’ll never trust you again, you can [G]just be a friend


[G]And I’ll hold on to the [A]words you spoke of [D]
Anchored down [Bm]in my throat, love [G]
And I’m captain of this [A]sinking boat, [D]now
We just want all men to carry me home


[D]When salted tears won’t dry
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your [D]eyes


These hearts will be flooded tonight
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your eyes [D]


[D]Your eyes, your lips, your mouth
Your [A]thighs, your back, [Bm]you drive me wild
[D]Tonight, the fact [G]design
[G]I’m on my way [A]home, on the way [Bm]home
[D]I lied, I tried to cry but [A]I’m [G]drowning in the oceans you made


[D]When salted tears won’t dry
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your [D]eyes


These hearts will be flooded tonight
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your eyes [D]
[D]Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, [A]your [Bm]eyes

Albumx
GenresPop
Year2014
KeyD
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Shirtsleeves on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ed Sheeran - Shirtsleeves on guitar requires 4 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.

Shirtsleeves uses these transitions most often: Bm → G (12), G → D (9), and A → Bm (8). 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 D - A chord transition.

1. 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

2. A → Bm chord transition

To move from A to Bm;

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

3. Bm → G chord transition

To move from Bm to G;

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

4. 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

5. G → A chord transition

To move from G to A;

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

6. D → Bm chord transition

To move from D to Bm;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Shirtsleeves.

  • Shirtsleeves includes 59 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Shirtsleeves contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Shirtsleeves 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 → A: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → A: 6%