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James Bay - Best Fake Smile Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, Dm, C, Bb
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 G key to play this song with easier chords.

FNoyoudon’thavetowearyourbestfakesmile,Don’thavetostandthereandburninside
DmOhCohoh,ifyoudon’tFlikeit
FShe’sworkinglateandmakingeyesatthedoor,She’ssickofeverybodyuponherfloor,
DmShewantsthesuninherCeyes,butallshegetsisFignored
FSheusedtoputitoutandgetitallback,Butnowshe’ssippingtryingtocarrytheact,
DmShe’ssweatingundertheClights,nowshe’sbeginningFtopack
FNoyoudon’thavetowearyourbestfakesmile,Don’thavetostandthereandburninside
DmOhohCoh,ifyoudon’tFlikeit
FAndyoudon’thavetocare,sodon’tpretendNobodyneedsabestfakefriend
DmOhohCoh,Fdon’thideit
FNohesitationnow,shegetsupandwalks,Shethinksofallthepainandpridediditcost
DmSheemptiesallthetipCjars,andwon’tgetbackwhatFshelost
FOutsidethewindowwe’retwofingerstoshowSheliftsherheadI’mlikesomebluroutofsmoke
DmShedoesn’thavetoClookbacktoknowwhereshe’sFgottago
FNoyoudon’thavetowearyourbestfakesmile,Don’thavetostandthereandburninside
DmOhCohoh,ifyouFdon’tlikeit
FAndyoudon’thavetocare,sodon’tpretend,Nobodyneedsabestfakefriend
DmOhCohoh,Fdon’thideit
Ifyoudon’tBbbleedit,youdon’tDmneedit Canymore
Ifyoudon’tBbneedit,getupandDmleaveitontheCfloor
NomoreBbbelievinglikeit’saDmvoiceyoucan’tCignore
Ifyoudon’tBbneedit,youdon’tneeditno
FNoyoudon’thavetowearyourbestfakesmile,Don’thavetostandthereandburninside
DmOhCohoh,ifyouFdon’tlikeit
FAndyoudon’thavetocare,sodon’tpretend,Nobodyneedsabestfakefriend
DmOhCohoh,Fdon’thideit
FNoyoudon’thavetowearyourbestfakesmile,Don’thavetostandthereandburninside
DmOhCohoh,ifyouFdon’tlikeit
FAndyoudon’thavetocare,sodon’tpretend,Nobodyneedsabestfakefriend
DmOhCohoh,Fdon’thideit
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 Bay
AlbumChaos and the Calm
GenresAlternative, Blues, Rock, Blues Rock
Year2014
KeyF
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Best Fake Smile on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Bay - Best Fake Smile on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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.

Best Fake Smile uses these transitions most often: Dm → C (16), C → F (13), and F → Dm (13). 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 F - Dm chord transition.

1. F → Dm chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

Here's how to move from F to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

F to Dm

2. Dm → C chord transition

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

Here's how to move from Dm to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G 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 verse, played 16 times.

Dm to C

3. C → F chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from C to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

C to F

4. F → Bb chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram

Switching from F to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

F to Bb

5. Bb → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. C → Bb chord transition

Switching from C to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Best Fake Smile chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Best Fake Smile.

  • Best Fake Smile includes 50 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Best Fake Smile contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Best Fake Smile connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Dm: 5%
    • F → Bb: 5%
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → C: 18%
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.