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Shawn Mendes - Because I Had You Chords

ChordsEm, C, G, Bm, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmIthinkit’sCtimethatIbeGhonest
EmShould’vetoldCyounottoGgo
EmThoughtICknewjustwhatIGwanted
EmIdidn’tknowCmyselfatGall
BmYou’rewithsomebodyICcan’tbe,yeah
BmButIcantellthatyou’reChappy
It’stimeforEmmetofinallymeetCsomebodyGnew
TakehertoEmalltheplacesCthatItookusGto
AndshemightEmhelpmeforgetC
thatlovingGherissomethingDIcouldneverEmdo
CBecauseIGhad,becauseIEmhadCyouG
EmHey,rememberCwhenIGtoldyou
ThatyouandEmIwillgodowninChistoryGtogether,yeah
EmAnddoesyourCsisteraskGaboutme?
YouandEmI,whatwehad,isitCgoneGforever?
BmYou’rewithsomebodyICcan’tbe
BmButIcantellthatyou’reChappy
It’stimeforEmmetofinallymeetCsomebodyGnew
TakehertoEmalltheplacesCthatItookusGto
AndshemightEmhelpmeforgetCthat
LovingGherissomethingIDcouldneverdo
CBecauseIGhad,becauseIEmhadyou
There’sCnothin’,Goh,there’snothin’lefttoEmlose
CBecauseIhadGyou,babe,Emthere’sCnothin’G
Nothin’thatIcouldEmdo,ICwishIhadGyou
ButIthinkit’sEmtimeIfinallyCfoundsomebodyGnew
AndtellEmmyselfthatshe’stheonethatCgetmeGthrough
AndshemightEmhelpmeforgetCbut
LovingGherissomethingDIjustcouldn’tEmdo
CBecauseIhadyou
AlbumShawn Mendes
GenresPop
Year2018
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Because I Had You on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - Because I Had You on guitar requires 5 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.

Because I Had You uses these transitions most often: C → G (24), Em → C (24), and G → Em (19). 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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 24 times.

Em to C

2. C → G chord transition

Switching from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 24 times.

C to G

3. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 19 times.

G to Em

4. G → Bm chord transition

To move from G to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

G to Bm

5. Bm → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

6. G → D chord transition

Here's how to move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

7. D → Em chord transition

To move from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

8. D → C chord transition

Switching from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Because I Had You.

  • Because I Had You includes 83 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Because I Had You contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Because I Had You connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Em: 8%
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → C: 26%