Christina Perri - Backwards Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
[Opening]
[Dm] [Am] [E] [Am]
[Dm]Take me backwards, [Am]turn me around [E]
I cannot find my [Am]balance on the ground
[F]This world is too heavy
For a [G]feather falling [Am]quickly
[verse 2]
[Dm]And I wrote you a [Am]story
But I’m [E]afraid of how it [Am]ends
And all my [F]friends are doing [G]well
And I’m still on the [Am]mend
[chorus]
[C]I’m going to lay back [G]down
Hope the wind takes me [F]around
I gotta find some [E]courage in this town
[C]’Cause nobody’s going to [G]save
Somebody who won’t [F]change, I tried to be [E]brave
[verse 3]
[Dm]And nothing’s coming [Am]easy
And all at [E]once I feel a little [Am]queasy
Oh but if your [F]love’s my remedy
Won’t you [G]please come and be with [Am]me
[verse 4]
[Dm]It’s not like there’s much [Am]better
Nobody’s [E]grass is as green as [Am]mine
I can’t say that I’m [F]satisfied
Three thousand [G]miles from your kiss [Am]goodbye
[verse 5]
[C]I’m going to lay back [G]down
Hope the wind takes me [F]around
I gotta find some [E]courage in this town
[Closing]
[Dm]And everybody’s [C]afraid
‘Cause [Am]chances come from [F]change
And everybody’s [C]afraid
‘Cause [Am]chances come from [F]breaking
And [Am]chances are you’re [F]breaking [E]open
[chorus]
[C]I’m going to lay back [G]down
Hope the wind takes me [F]around
I gotta find some [E]courage in this town
[C]’Cause nobody’s going to [G]save
Somebody who won’t [F]change
It’s time to be [E]brave
[outro]
[Dm] [Am] [E] [Am]
How to play Backwards on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Christina Perri - Backwards on guitar requires 6 chords and 12 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.
Backwards uses these transitions most often: Am → F (7), Am → E (6), and Dm → Am (6). 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 - Am chord transition.
1. Dm → Am chord transition
To move from Dm to Am;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
2. Am → E chord transition
To move from Am to E;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
3. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
4. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
6. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
8. F → E chord transition
To move from F to E;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
9. E → C chord transition
To move from E to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
10. E → Dm chord transition
To move from E to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
11. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
12. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
Backwards chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Backwards.
- Backwards includes 65 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Backwards contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Backwards connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
- Am → F: 26%
- Am → C: 16%
After E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).- E → Am: 9%
- E → C: 2%