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Shawn Mendes - Air Chords

ChordsEm, G, C, A, Cm
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 C# key to play this song with easier chords.

EmNeverGthoughtthatwewouldCenduphere,Emshould’veGknownitfromtheCstart
EmIknowyouGmeanitwhenyouCsayyouloveme,Embutwe’reGtryingwaytooChard
EmUsedtoGthinkthatwewouldClastforever,EmhowcouldGI’vebeensoCwrong
EmNeverGthoughtI’dbetheConetosaythis,EmbutifourGtimehascomeI’mCgone
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalong
And,Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
EmAlwaysGtry’naputyourCtwocentsinEmthenGexpectingmetoCchange
EmTriedtoGfixmeupbutCI’mnotbroken,EmallGyoudoisleavemeCstained
EmToldGyounottotiemeCdowntooquickly,EmtakeitGslowit’snotaCrace
EmAndyouGkeepontrynaCreelmein,EmbutallIGreallyneedisspace
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalongand
Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
GTryingto Choldmedown GButI’m Csurfacing
GIt’shardtoCletyougo,ButGIgottaCleave
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalongand
Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalongand
Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirAAAirAirAirAirAir
AlbumHandwritten
GenresPop
Year2015
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Shawn Mendes - Air on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Air uses these transitions most often: G → C (28), Em → G (25), and C → Em (21). 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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 25 times.

Em to G

2. G → C chord transition

Switching from G to C:

  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 A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 28 times.

G to C

3. C → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 21 times.

C to Em

4. G → A chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

G to A

5. A → C chord transition

Switching from A to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 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 2 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

6. C → Cm chord transition

To move from C to Cm:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

7. Cm → G chord transition

Switching from Cm to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

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

  • Air includes 115 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Air contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Air 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 → Em: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Em: 8%