Skip to song content

Green Day - 21 Guns Chords

ChordsDm, Bb, F, C, A
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 E key to play this song with easier chords.

DmDoyouBbknowwhat’sworthFfightingCfor.
DmWhenit’sBbnotworthFdyingCfor?
DmDoesitBbtakeyouFbreathCaway.
AndyouBbfeelyourselfCsuffocating?
DmDoestheBbpainweightFouttheCpride?
DmAndyouBblookforaFplacetoChide?
DmDoesBbsomeonebreakyourFheartCinside?
You’reinBbruins…
FOne,C21Dmguns,ClaydownyourBbarms.
FGiveuptheCfight,Fone,C21Dmguns.
CThrowupyourBbarmsFintotheCsky.
YouandBbI…FC
DmWhenyou’reBbattheFendoftheCroad.
DmAndyouBblostallFsenseofCcontrol.
DmAndyourBbthoughtshaveFtakentheirCtoll.
WhenyourBbmindbreaksthespiritofyourCsoul.
DmYourBbfaithwalksonFbrokenCglass.
DmAndtheBbhangoverFdoesn’tCpass.
DmNothing’sBbeverFbuilttoClast.
You’reinBbruins…
FOne,C21Dmguns,ClaydownyourBbarms.
FGiveuptheCfight,Fone,C21Dmguns.
CThrowupyourBbarmsFintotheCsky.
YouandBbI…FC
DmDidyouBbtrytoFliveonyourCown.
DmWhenyouBbburneddowntheFhouseandAhome?
DmDidyouBbstandtooFclosetotheAfire?
LikeaBbliarlookingforCforgivenessfromastone.
DmWhenit’sBbtimetoFliveandletCdie.
DmAndyouBbcan’tgetFanotherCtry.
DmSomethingBbinsidethisFhearthasCdied.
You’reinBbruins…
FOne,C21Dmguns,ClaydownyourBbarms
FGiveuptheCfight,Fone,C21Dmguns
CThrowupyourBbarmsFintotheCsky
FOne,C21Dmguns,ClaydownyourBbarms
FGiveuptheCfight,Fone,C21Dmguns
CThrowupyourBbarmsFintotheCsky
YouandBbI…FC
ArtistGreen Day
Album21st Century Breakdown
Year2009
KeyDm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play 21 Guns on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Green Day - 21 Guns on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 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.

21 Guns uses these transitions most often: F → C (35), Bb → F (30), and C → Dm (24). 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 Dm - Bb chord transition.

1. Dm → Bb chord transition

To move from Dm to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

Dm to Bb

2. Bb → F chord transition

To move from Bb to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 30 times.

Bb to F

3. F → C chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 35 times.

F to C

4. C → Dm chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 24 times.

C to Dm

5. C → Bb chord transition

To move from C to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

6. F → A chord transition

To move from F to A:

  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 D string fret 2.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  4. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. A → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from A to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

8. A → Bb chord transition

Switching from A to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in 21 Guns.

  • 21 Guns includes 147 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • 21 Guns contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how 21 Guns 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%
    • C → Dm: 5%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → A: 1%