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Shawn Mendes - Cold In California Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, Am, G, C, Em7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓-↓↑-↓↑↓↑

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

  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0Guitar Em7 chord diagram

[Opening]
Oh, [F]you were [Am]crying, when I told you [G]that
[F]I was [Am]leaving and might never come [G]back
Hmm,[F]I was [Am]dreaming of a warmer [G]place
[F]And if I made [Am]it, it’d be [G]okay

[chorus]
The sun is [F]out, the sky is [C]bright
People [G]come and go with [Am]smiles [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
And waves of [F]heat from the [C]concrete
The sand is [G]burning on my [Am]feet [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
Without you I’m free[F]zing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]

[verse 2]
[F]All those dreams [Am]that, one by one came [G]true
[F]Felt like [Am]nothing, cause I wasn’t with [G]you
And tell me what that [F]means [G] [Am]
And tell me why am I [F] [G]dying [Am]
Thought this was what I [F] [G]needed [Am]
But that was a [G]mistake [Em7]

[chorus]
The sun is [F]out, the sky is [C]bright
People [G]come and go with [Am]smiles [Em7]
Yet, And I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
And waves of [F]heat from the [C]concrete
The sand is [G]burning on my [Am]feet [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
Without you I’m [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]

[Closing]
[F] [C] [G] [Am] [Em7]
[F]You were [Am]crying, when I told you [G]that
[F]I was [Am]leaving, now I wanna come [G]back

[chorus]
The sun is [F]out, the sky is [C]bright
People [G]come and go with [Am]smiles [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
And waves of [F]heat from the [C]concrete
The sand is [G]burning on my [Am]feet [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
Without you I’m free[F]zing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]

[chorus]
The sun is [F]out, the sky is [C]bright
People [G]come and go with [Am]smiles [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
And waves of [F]heat from the [C]concrete
The sand is [G]burning on my [Am]feet [Em7]
Yet, I’m still [F]freezing cold [C]in [G]California [Em7]
Without you I’m free[F]zing cold [C]in [G]California

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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.
ArtistShawn Mendes
AlbumSingle
GenresPop
Year2019
KeyF

How to play Cold In California on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - Cold In California 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.

Cold In California uses these transitions most often: C → G (21), Em7 → F (21), and F → C (21). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. F → Am chord transition

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

To move from F to Am;

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

2. Am → G chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
Am to G

3. G → F chord transition

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

To move from G to F;

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

4. F → C chord transition

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

To move from F to C;

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
F to C

5. C → G chord transition

To move 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.

6. Am → Em7 chord transition

To move from Am to Em7;

  1. While playing Am, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.

7. Em7 → F chord transition

To move from Em7 to F;

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

8. G → Em7 chord transition

To move from G to Em7;

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

Cold In California chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Cold In California.

  • Cold In California includes 126 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Cold In California contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Cold In California 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 → Am: 13%
    • G → F: 9%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
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.