Skip to song content

James Bay - Clocks Go Forward Chords

ChordsBm, A, G, Em, D
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 E key to play this song with easier chords.

BmDarknessbleedingAin,thesunisgettingGlow
BmNodiamondsintheAtrees,onlyleavesGofgold
AndourEmlongdaysintheBmheathazeAstarttoBmfade
WecanGhideundersheets,underBmheavycovers,soDdeepasthenightdrawsBmin
Andwe’llGbeslowBmheartedlovers’tilthe Aclocksgoforward Gagain
GAgain,Bmagain,Aagainyeah
BmWhenthere’snoblueAabove,gonnakeepmysummerGclothes
Bm’Causethere’sstillafieldofAgreenunderneaththefallingGsnow
WhenourEmhandsgrowBmsocoldandAhardtoBmhold
WecanGhideundersheets,underBmheavycovers,soDdeepasthenightdrawsBmin
AndGwe’llbeBmslowheartedlovers’tiltheAclocksgoforwardGagain
GAgain,Bmagain,Aagainyeah
GStayAwarm,closeyourBmeyes,letAtimefly
GStayAclose,stayrightBmhere,nothingtoAfear
GBmAGGBmAG
Andwe’llGhideunderBmsheets,underAheavycovers,soDdeepasthenightdrawsBmin
Andwe’llGbeslowBmheartedlovers’tiltheAclocksgoforwardGagain
GAgain,Bmagain,Aagainyeah,AndGagain
GBmA
ArtistJames Bay
AlbumClocks Go Forward
Year2015
KeyBm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Clocks Go Forward on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Bay - Clocks Go Forward 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.

Clocks Go Forward uses these transitions most often: Bm → A (18), G → Bm (14), and A → G (12). 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 Bm - A chord transition.

1. Bm → A chord transition

To move from Bm to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

Bm to A

2. A → G chord transition

To move from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

A to G

3. 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 verse, played 14 times.

G to Bm

4. 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 2 times.

G to Em

5. Em → Bm chord transition

Switching from Em to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. Bm → D chord transition

To move from Bm to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

8. 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Clocks Go Forward.

  • Clocks Go Forward includes 68 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Clocks Go Forward contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Clocks Go Forward connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Bm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (25%), A (19%), and Em (13%).
    • Bm → G: 25%
    • Bm → A: 19%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Em: 9%
    • G → A: 6%