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Chris Stapleton - Barely Alive Chords

ChordsG, Em, C, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

  • 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
  • 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


[G]Everything is falling darker every day and every night, [Em]like I thought it would.
[G]Everything I ever had was part of you and I [Em]and now theres nothing good.
[G]If I [Em]survive, [G]if I [Em]survive, I’ll be barely [G]alive.


[G]Every time i take a drink a whiskey just to get me by,
[Em]I think of You, [G]and every night that I don’t lay down by your side,
[Em]Girl I think of You.


[G]If I [Em]survive, [G]if I [Em]survive, I’ll be barely [G]alive.


[C]Tell me what it is you needed me to say, [D]tell me way it is you needed me to do.
[C]Tell me what it is you needed me to be, [D]can’t you see the pain I’m going through
I’m just barely [G]alive.


[G] [Em]
[G]Everything is falling darker every day and every night, [Em]like I thought it would.
[G]Everything I ever had was part of you and I [Em]and now theres nothing good.
[G]If I [Em]survive, [G]if I [Em]survive, I’ll be barely [G]alive.


[Em]I’ll be barely alive, [G]I’ll be barely alive, [Em]girl I’m barely alive.
[G] [Em] [G] [Em]

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AlbumSingle
Year2010
KeyG

How to play Barely Alive on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Chris Stapleton - Barely Alive 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.

Barely Alive uses these transitions most often: G → Em (17), Em → G (16), and C → D (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 - Em chord transition.

1. G → Em chord transition

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

2. G → C chord transition

To move 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.
G to C

3. C → D chord transition

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

4. D → G chord transition

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

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

  • Barely Alive includes 38 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Barely Alive contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Barely Alive 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 Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → G: 18%