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The Lumineers - Cleopatra Chords

ChordsG, D, C, Em
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 D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram


[G]I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my [D]hand
But I was [G]sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no [D]plans


[G]And I left the footprints, the mud [C]stained on the [G]carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left [D]town
But I [G]must admit it, that I would [C]marry you in an [G]instant
Damn your wife, I’d be your mistress just to have you [D]around


But I was [G]late for [D]this, [C]late for [G]that,
[C]Late for the [G]love of my [D]life
And when I [G]die [D]alone, when I [C]die [G]alone,
When I [C]die I’ll [G]be on [D]time


While the [G]church discouraged, any [C]lust that burned within [G]me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held [D]true
So I [G]drive a taxi, and the [C]traffic [G]distracts me
From the [C]strangers in my [G]backseat, they remind me [D]of you


But I was [G]late for [D]this, [C]late for [G]that,
[C]Late for the [G]love of my [D]life
And when I [G]die [D]alone, when I [C]die [G]alone,
When I [C]die I’ll [G]be on [D]time


And the [Em]only gifts from my [G]Lord were a [C]birth [D]and a [Em]divorce
But I’ve [G]read this script and the [Em]costume fits, [C]so I’ll [D]play my [G]part


I was [G]Cleopatra, I was [C]taller than the [G]rafters
But that’s all in the past now, gone with the [D]wind
Now a [G]nurse in white shoes [C]leads me back to my [G]guest room
It’s a [C]bed and a [G]bathroom
And a place for the [D]end


But I was [G]late for [D]this, [C]late for [G]that,
[C]Late for the [G]love of my [D]life
And when I [G]die [D]alone, when I [C]die [G]alone,
When I [C]die I’ll [G]be on [D]time
[D] [G]

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AlbumCleopatra
Year2016
KeyG

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

The Lumineers - Cleopatra 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.

Cleopatra uses these transitions most often: C → G (20), G → D (20), and G → C (15). 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 - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

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.
G to D

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. D → C chord transition

To move 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.
D to C

4. 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.
D to Em

5. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

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

6. Em → C chord transition

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.

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

  • Cleopatra includes 83 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Cleopatra contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Cleopatra 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 → D: 24%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%