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James Arthur - Back From The Edge Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, C, D, G, Am, B
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • 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
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

[Opening]
Back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back before [D]demons took control of my [G]head
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
[Em] [C] [D] [G]Oh, he would reach for the [Em]stars, [C] [B]yeah

[verse 2]
You can [Em]take my home, you can [C]take my clothes
You can take the [D]drugs I have that nobody [G]knows
You can take my [Em]watch, you can take my [Am]phone
You can take [B]all I’ve got ’til I’m skin and bone
I don’t want [Em]control, I can dig my own [C]hole
I can make my [D]bed and I can lie in it [G]cold
‘Cause I don’t need [Em]heat, I’ve been burnin’ in [Am]hell
But now I’m [B]back with my own story to tell

[chorus]
Back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back before [D]demons took control of my [G]head
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
Oh, back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back from the [D]tears that were too easily [G]shed
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
[Em] [C] [D] [G]Who would reach for the [Em]stars, [Am]yeah [B]

[verse 3]
They don’t like [Em]my lies, they don’t like [C]my songs
Except in [D]karaoke when they’re singing [G]along
Did you see them build me [Em]up? Well I just tear [Am]myself down
With a smile on my [B]face, I dug my grave in the ground
We all make [Em]mistakes, we’re so quick to [C]judge
It’s hard to [D]forgive when we hold onto a [G]grudge
So turn down the [Em]heat, I’ve been burnin’ in [Am]hell
But now I’m [B]back with my own story to tell

[chorus]
Back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back before [D]demons took control of my [G]head
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
Oh, back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back from the [D]tears that were too easily [G]shed
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
[Em] [C] [D] [G]Who would reach for the [Em]stars, [Am]yeah [B]

[Closing]
I don’t want [Em]control, I can dig my own [C]hole
I can make my [D]bed and I can lie in it [G]cold
‘Cause I don’t need [Em]heat, I’ve been burnin’ in [Am]hell
But now I’m [B]back with my own story to tell

[chorus]
Back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back before [D]demons took control of my [G]head
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
Oh, back from the [Em]edge, back from the [C]dead
Back from the [D]tears that were too easily [G]shed
Back to the [Em]start, back to my [Am]heart
Back to the [B]boy who would reach for the [Em]stars
[Em] [C] [D] [G]Who would reach for the [Em]stars, [Am]yeah [B]

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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 Arthur
AlbumBack From The Edge
GenresPop
Year2016
KeyEm

How to play Back From The Edge on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Arthur - Back From The Edge on guitar requires 6 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.

Back From The Edge uses these transitions most often: Em → C (17), C → D (16), and D → G (16). 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 - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from Em to C;

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

2. C → D chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

To move from C to D;

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

3. 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.
D to G

4. 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.
G to Em

5. Em → Am chord transition

To move from Em to Am;

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

6. Am → B chord transition

To move from Am to B;

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

7. B → Em chord transition

To move from B to Em;

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

8. C → B chord transition

To move from C to B;

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

Back From The Edge chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Back From The Edge.

  • Back From The Edge includes 111 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Back From The Edge contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Back From The Edge connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → Am: 12%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → D: 11%
    • C → B: 1%
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.