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James Bay - When We Were On Fire Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsAm, Am7, F, G, A7, C, E7, Dm
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

[Opening]
[Am] [Am7] [Am] [Am] [Am] [Am7] [Am] [Am]
[Am]Drifting [Am7]apart, getting [Am]hard to hold you [Am7]
[Am]Days [Am7]getting dark and the [Am]nights are growing [Am7]cold
Are we [F]burning out? [G]

[verse 2]
[Am]Swept out [Am7]of sight, rolling [Am]up on an ocean [A7]
[Am]Let’s cut [Am7]all the ropes [Am]and get lost in [A7]the moment
If our [F]hearts are alive, [G]maybe then we might, [Am]send us [Am7]back to the sun [G]

[chorus]
Now I [F]know, I [C]know, that we’re [E7]losing light, our [G]love is dying
[F]Out cold on the [C]floor, like a [E7]fallen star that [Am]shines no more [G]
[F]Take, [C]take me [Dm]back to where we was [A7]before, [G]when we were on [F] [C]fire, [Dm] [Am]fire

[verse 3]
[Am]Head down, heading [Am7]underground [Am]feeling [Am7]wasted
[Am]Cold to the bone, [Am7]so alone I can [Am]taste [Am7]it, let’s [F]light it up [G]
[Am]Streets are [Am7]alive now, and [Am]everything’s [Am7]bracing
[Am]You’re on my mind, [Am7]running in my [Am]veins [Am7]fueling the flame
Let’s [F]start it again [G] [Am] [Am7] [Am]

[chorus]
Now I [F]know, I [C]know, that we’re [E7]losing light, our [G]love is dying
[F]Out cold on the [C]floor, like a [E7]fallen star that [Am]shines no more [G]
[F]Take, [C]take me [Dm]back to where we was [A7]before, [G]when we were on [F] [C]fire, [Dm] [Am]fire

[verse 4]
[Am]Oh, oh, [Am7]whoa, oh, [Am]whoa-oh-oh, now don’t tell me no [A7]
[Am]That [Am7]we’re burning down [Am] [A7]
[Am]Oh, oh, [Am7]whoa, oh, [Am]whoa-oh-oh, now don’t tell me no [A7]
[Am]That [Am7]we’re burning now [Am] [A7]

[Closing]
[F]I know, I [C]know we’re [E7]losing light and [Am]our love is dying [G]
[F]Take me, [C]take-a-me home
[Dm]Back to where we was [Am]before when [G]we were on [F] [C]fire, [Dm] [Am]fire

[chorus]
Now I [F]know, I [C]know, that we’re [E7]losing light, our [G]love is dying
[F]Out cold on the [C]floor, like a [E7]fallen star that [Am]shines no more [G]
[F]Take, [C]take me [Dm]back to where we was [A7]before, [G]when we were on [F] [C]fire, [Dm] [Am]fire

SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistJames Bay
AlbumChaos and the Calm (Deluxe)
GenresAlternative, Blues, Folk, Indie, Indie Folk, Blues Rock
Year2015
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play When We Were On Fire on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Bay - When We Were On Fire on guitar requires 8 chords and 16 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.

When We Were On Fire uses these transitions most often: Am → Am7 (22), Am7 → Am (18), and F → C (15). 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 Am - Am7 chord transition.

1. Am → Am7 chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar Am7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-1-0Guitar Am7 chord diagram

To move from Am to Am7;

  1. While playing Am, lift your ring finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
Am to Am7

2. Am7 → F chord transition

Guitar Am7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-1-0Guitar Am7 chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from Am7 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. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
Am7 to F

3. F → G chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from F to G;

  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 A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
F to G

4. G → Am chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

To move from G to Am;

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

5. Am → A7 chord transition

To move from Am to A7;

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

6. A7 → F chord transition

To move from A7 to F;

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

7. Am7 → G chord transition

To move from Am7 to G;

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

8. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C;

  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. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

9. C → E7 chord transition

To move from C to E7;

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

10. E7 → G chord transition

To move from E7 to G;

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

11. E7 → Am chord transition

To move from E7 to Am;

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

12. C → Dm chord transition

To move from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

13. Dm → A7 chord transition

To move from Dm to A7;

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

14. A7 → G chord transition

To move from A7 to G;

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

15. Dm → Am chord transition

To move from Dm to Am;

  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 G string fret 2.

16. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am 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. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

When We Were On Fire chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in When We Were On Fire.

  • When We Were On Fire includes 131 chord transitions, 16 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • When We Were On Fire contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how When We Were On Fire connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → G: 21%
    After Am7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D7 (16%), D (16%), and G (11%).
    • Am7 → G: 11%
    • Am7 → Am: 8%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.