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Taylor Swift - August Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD, G, Em, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

DSaltair,andtheGrustonyourEmdoor.
IneverneededanythingAmore.
DWhispersGof“AreyouEmsure?”
NeverhaveIever Abefore.
ButDIcanseeuslostinthememory.
GAugustslippedawayintoamomentinEmtime.
‘CauseitwasneverAmine.
AndDIcanseeustwistinginbedsheets.
GAugustsippedawaylikeabottleofEmwine.
‘CauseyouwereneverAmine.
DYourback GbeneaththeEmsun.
WishingIcouldwritemynameAonit.
DWillyoucallGwhenyou’rebackatEmschool?
IrememberthinkingIAhadyou.
ButDIcanseeuslostinthememory.
GAugustslippedawayintoamomentinEmtime.
‘CauseitwasneverAmine.
AndDIcanseeustwistinginbedsheets.
GAugustsippedawaylikeabottleofEmwine.
‘CauseyouwereneverAmine.
DGEmA
DBackwhenwewerestillchangingforthe Gbetter.
WantingwasEmenough,forme,itwasAenough.
TolivefortheDhopeofitall.
CanceledplansjustinGcaseyou’dcall.
Andsay“MeetmebehindtheEmmall”
SomuchforsummerAloveandsaying“Us”
‘Causeyouweren’tDminetoGlose.
Youweren’tminetoEmlose,Aoh.
ButDIcanseeuslostinthememory.
GAugustslippedawayintoamomentinEmtime.
‘CauseitwasneverAmine.
AndDIcanseeustwistinginbedsheets.
GAugustsippedawaylikeabottleofEmwine.
‘CauseyouwereneverAmine.
D’CauseyouwereneverGmine,neverEmmine.
Butdoyou Aremember?
DRememberwhenIpulledupandsaid“Getinthecar”
Andthen Gcanceledmyplansjustincaseyou’dcall.
EmBackwhenIwaslivingforthehopeofitall,fortheAhopeofitall.
“MeetmebehindtheDmall”
DRememberwhenIpulledupandsaid“Getinthecar”
AndthenGcanceledmyplansjustincaseyou’dcall.
EmBackwhenIwaslivingforthehopeofitall,fortheAhopeofitall.
“MeetmebehindtheDmall”
DRememberwhenIpulledupandsaid“Getinthecar”
AndthenGcanceledmyplansjustincaseyou’dcall
EmBackwhenIwaslivin’fortheAhopeofitall(Forthehopeofitall)
FortheDhopeofitall,fortheGhopeofitall
(FortheEmhopeofitall,forthehopeAofitall)
DGEmA
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.
ArtistTaylor Swift
AlbumFolklore
GenresAlternative, Indie
Year2020
KeyD
DifficultyEasy

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

Taylor Swift - August on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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.

August uses these transitions most often: D → G (20), Em → A (20), and G → Em (20). 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 - G chord transition.

1. D → G chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

D to G

2. G → Em chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

To move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

G to Em

3. Em → A chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

To move from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

Em to A

4. A → D chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

To move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 19 times.

A to D

August chord transition analysis

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

  • August includes 79 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • August contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how August 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%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Em: 9%
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.