Skip to song content

Shawn Mendes - Cold In California Chords

ChordsF, Am, G, C, Em7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓-↓↑-↓↑↓↑

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

Oh,FyouwereAmcrying,whenItoldyouGthat
FIwasAmleavingandmightnevercomeGback
FHmm,IwasAmdreamingofawarmerGplace
FAndifImadeAmit,it’dbeGokay
ThesunisFout,theskyisCbright
PeopleGcomeandgowithAmsmilesEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
AndwavesofFheatfromtheCconcrete
ThesandisGburningonmyAmfeetEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
WithoutyouI’m FfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
FAllthosedreamsAmthat,onebyonecameGtrue
FFeltlikeAmnothing,causeIwasn’twithGyou
AndtellmewhatthatFmeansGAm
AndtellmewhyamIFdyingGAm
ThoughtthiswaswhatIFneededGAm
ButthatwasaGmistakeEm7
ThesunisFout,theskyisCbright
PeopleGcomeandgowithAmsmilesEm7
Yet,AndI’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
AndwavesofFheatfromtheCconcrete
ThesandisGburningonmyAmfeetEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
WithoutyouI’mFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
FCGAmEm7
FYouwereAmcrying,whenItoldyouGthat
FIwasAmleaving,nowIwannacomeGback
ThesunisFout,theskyisCbright
PeopleGcomeandgowithAmsmilesEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
AndwavesofFheatfromtheCconcrete
ThesandisGburningonmyAmfeetEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
WithoutyouI’m FfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
ThesunisFout,theskyisCbright
PeopleGcomeandgowithAmsmilesEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
AndwavesofFheatfromtheCconcrete
ThesandisGburningonmyAmfeetEm7
Yet,I’mstillFfreezingcoldCinGCaliforniaEm7
WithoutyouI’m FfreezingcoldCinGCalifornia
AlbumSingle
GenresPop
Year2019
KeyF
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

F to Am

2. Am → G chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

Am to G

3. G → F chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

G to F

4. F → C chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 21 times.

F to C

5. 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 chorus, played 21 times.

6. Am → Em7 chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 9 times.

7. Em7 → F chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 21 times.

8. G → Em7 chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

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%