Shawn Mendes - This Is What It Takes Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
[Opening]
You [C]keep on [G]telling me I’m waisting [Am]time
But to [F]call it wasting [G]time, oh thats a [C]crime
And you [C]think it’s [G]crazy what I’m trying to [Am]do
Well [F]baby I’m a [G]fool for [C]you.
Cause [F]underneath the [G]darkness, theres a [C]lights thats
Trying so [G]hard that trying to be [Am]seen
‘Cause I [F]know this cause I [G]noticed
You’re [C]trying so [G]hard to [Am]see
[chorus]
[C]And If [Dm]This is what [Am]it takes
Then [G]let me be the [C]one to [Dm]bear the [Am]pain [G]
Oh if [C]this is [Dm]what it [Am]takes
I’ll break [C]down theses [Dm]wall that are [Em]in our [F]way
If [G]this is what it [C]takes [G] [Am] [F] [G] [C]
[Closing]
You [C]keep on telling [G]me I’m waisting [Am]time
But to [F]call it wasting [G]time, oh that’s a [C]crime
and you [C]think its [G]crazy what I’m trying to [Am]do
Well [F]baby I’m a [G]fool for [C]you.
‘Cause [F]underneath the [G]darkness, theres a [C]lights thats
Trying so [G]hard that trying to be [Am]seen
And I [F]know this because I’ve [G]noticed
A [C]little bit [G]shining through the [Am]schemes
[chorus]
[C]And If [Dm]This is what [Am]it takes
Then l[G]et me be the [C]one to [Dm]bear the [Am]pain [G]
Oh if [C]this is [Dm]what it [Am]takes
I’ll break [C]down theses [Dm]wall that are [Em]in our [F]way
If [G]this is what it [C]takes [G] [Am] [F] [G] [C]
How to play This Is What It Takes on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Shawn Mendes - This Is What It Takes on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.
This Is What It Takes uses these transitions most often: G → C (16), F → G (12), and C → G (10). 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 - G chord transition.
1. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
2. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- 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 G string fret 2.
3. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am 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.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
4. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. 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.
6. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. C → Dm chord transition
To move from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
8. Dm → Am chord transition
To move from Dm to Am;
- 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 G string fret 2.
9. Dm → Em chord transition
To move from Dm to Em;
- While playing Dm, lift your index finger from E string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from G 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.
10. Em → F chord transition
To move from Em to F;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
This Is What It Takes chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in This Is What It Takes.
- This Is What It Takes includes 84 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- This Is What It Takes contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how This Is What It Takes connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → Am: 13%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%