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The Killers - A Dustland Fairytale Chords

ChordsD, A, G, Bm, E, B
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

D
AdustlandDfairytalebeginning,justanotherAwhitetrashcountyGkiss.
In D‘Sixty-One,longbrownhairandfoolisheyes.
DHelookedjustlikeyou’dwanthimto-somekindofAslickchromeAmericanGprince.
AAbluejeanBmserenade,MoonRiver,whatyouGdotome.ButEIdon’tbelieveyou.
DSawCinderellainapartyGdressBbutshewasGlookingBforanightgown.
AIsawthedevilwrappinguphisDhands,he’sgettingreadyfortheshowdown.
GIsawtheDminutethatIturnedaway,BmIgotmyAmoneyonapalmDtonight.
TheDchangecameindisguiseof ArevelationsethisGsoulonfire.
SheDsaysshealwaysGknewBhe’dcomeDaround.
AndtheDdecadesdisappearlikesinkingBmshipsthatwepersevere.
GodgivesusGhope,butwestillfear,wedon’tDknow,themindispoison.
BmCastlesintheskysitstranded,Gvandalised.TheEdrawbridgeisclosing.
DSawCinderellainapartyGdressBbutshewasGlookingBforanightgown.
AIsawthedevilwrappinguphisDhands,he’sgettingreadyfortheshowdown.
GIsawtheDendingwhentheyturnedtheBmpage,IthrewmyAmoneyandIranDaway.
StraighttotheDvalleyofthegreatAdivide.
AOutwherethedreamsallDhide,outwheretheAwinddon’tGblow.
GOutheretheAgoodgirlsBmdie,andtheAskywon’tDsnow.
DOutheretheAbirddon’tGsing,outheretheAfielddon’tGgrow.
GOutheretheAbelldon’tBmring,Boutherethebelldon’tEring.
GOutherethegoodgirlsDdie.
NowDCinderelladon’tyougotoGsleep,Bit’ssuchaGbitterBformofrefuge.
AOhdon’tyouknowthekingdom’sunderDsiege?Andeverybodyneedsyou.
GIstherestillDmagicinthemidnightBmsun?OrdidyouAleaveitbackin D‘Sixty-One?
IntheDcadenceofayoungman’sGeyes,andwheretheAdreamsrollDhigh.
AlbumDay & Age
GenresRock
Year2008
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play A Dustland Fairytale on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Killers - A Dustland Fairytale on guitar requires 6 chords and 13 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.

A Dustland Fairytale uses these transitions most often: A → D (9), D → G (8), and G → B (7). 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

D to A

2. A → G chord transition

To move from A 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 G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

A to G

3. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

G to D

4. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

A to Bm

5. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. G → E chord transition

Switching from G to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. E → D chord transition

Switching from E to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

8. G → B chord transition

Switching from G to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

9. B → A chord transition

Switching from B to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

10. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

11. B → D chord transition

Switching from B to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

12. Bm → B chord transition

Switching from Bm to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

13. B → E chord transition

Here's how to move from B to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

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

  • A Dustland Fairytale includes 77 chord transitions, 13 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • A Dustland Fairytale contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how A Dustland Fairytale 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%