U2 - Bad Chords

ChordsG, C, F

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 A,E,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

GIfyoutwistandCturnaway,GifyoutearyourselfinCtwoagain

GIfIcould,yesIwould,ifCIcould,Iwould

LetitGgo,CsurrenderCdislocateG

GIfIcouldthrowthislifeless,ClifelinetothewindLeavethis

GHeartofclay,seeyouwalk,Cwalkaway

IntotheGnightCandthroughtherain

IntotheGhalflightCandthroughtheflame

GIfIcouldthroughmyself,Csetyourspiritfree

I’dleadyourGheartaway,seeyoubreak,Cbreakaway

IntotheGlight,andtotheCday

Ghoohoo,hooChoo,hoohoo

ToletitGgoandsotoCfadeaway

I’mwideGawake,I’mwideCawake

WideFawake,CI’mGnotsleepingGoh,no,no,no

GIfyoushouldaskthenmaybe,Cthey’dtellyouwhatIwouldsay

TrueGcolorsflyinblueandblack,bruisedCsilkenskyandburningflag

GColourscrash,collideCinbloodshoteyes,Ghoohoo,hooChoo,hoohoo

GIfIcouldyouknowIwould,ifCIcouldIwouldletitGgo

ThisCdesperation,Gdislocation,Cseparation

GCondemnation,revelation,intemptation,Cisolation,desolation

LetitGgoandsoCfadeaway

ToletitGgo,Cohyeah,andsofadeaway

ToletitGgo,ohClord,andsotofadeaway

I’mwideGawake,I’mwideCawake

WideFawaake,CI’mGnotsleeping,oh,no,no,no

ArtistU2

AlbumThe Unforgettable Fire

GenresRock

Year1984

KeyG

DifficultyIntermediate

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

U2 - Bad on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 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.

Bad uses these transitions most often: G → C (32), C → G (31), and C → F (2). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C:

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 A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 32 times.

2. C → F chord transition

Here's how to move from C 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.
Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

Bad chord transition analysis

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

Bad includes 67 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
Bad contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
These transition patterns show how Bad 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%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%