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Avril Lavigne - Don’t Tell Me Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsE, C#m, B, A, F#m
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.

  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram

[Opening]
[E] [C#m] [B] [A] [E] [C#m] [B] [A]
[E]You held my [C#m]hand and walked me [B]home, I [A]know.
[E]Why you gave me that [C#m]kiss it was something like [B]this it made me go [A]oh-oh.
[E]You wiped my [C#m]tears, got rid of all my [B]fears, why did you have to [A]go?
[E]Guess it wasn’t enough [C#m]to take up some of my [B]love, guys are so hard to [A]trust.

[chorus]
Did [A]I not tell you that [C#m]I’m not like that girl?
The [A]one who gives it all [B]away.

[chorus]
[C#m]Did you think that I was [A]gonna give it up to [E]you, [B]this time?
[C#m]Did you think that it was [A]something I was gonna [E]do [B]and cry?
[C#m]Don’t try to [A]tell me what to [E]do, don’t try to [B]tell me what to [A]say,
You’re better off that [B]way.

[verse 2]
[E]Don’t think that your [C#m]charm and the fact that your [B]arm is now around my [A]neck.
[E]Will get you in [C#m]my pants I’ll have to kick [B]your ass and make you [A]never forget.
[E]I’m gonna ask you to [C#m]stop, thought I liked you a [B]lot, but I’m really [A]upset.
[E]Get out of my [C#m]head, get off of my [B]bed yeah thats what I [A]said.

[chorus]
Did [A]I not tell you that [C#m]I’m not like that girl
The [A]one who throws it all [B]away.

[chorus]
[C#m]Did you think that I was [A]gonna give it up to [E]you, [B]this time?
[C#m]Did you think that I was [A]something I was gonna [E]do [B]and cry?
[C#m]Don’t try to [A]tell me what to [E]do, don’t try to [B]tell me what to [A]say,
You’re better off that [B]way.

[Closing]
[A]This guilt trip that you put me on won’t, [E]mess me up I’ve done no wrong.
[F#m]Any thoughts of you and me have gone [A] [B]away.

[chorus]
Did you think that I was gonna give it up to you, this time?
[C#m]Did you think that I was [A]something I was gonna [E]do [B]and cry?
[C#m]Don’t try to [A]tell me what to [E]do, don’t try to [B]tell me what to [A]say,
You’re better off that [B]way, better off that [A]way.
I’m better off alone [B]anyway.

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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.
ArtistAvril Lavigne
AlbumBravo: The Hits 2004
GenresAlternative, Pop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2004
KeyE

How to play Don't Tell Me on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me 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.

Don't Tell Me uses these transitions most often: A → E (17), B → A (15), and C#m → A (10). 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 E - C#m chord transition.

1. E → C#m chord transition

Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram

To move from E to C#m;

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

2. C#m → B chord transition

Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

To move from C#m to B;

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

3. B → A chord transition

Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

To move from B to A;

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

4. A → E chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

To move from A to E;

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

5. A → C#m chord transition

To move from A to C#m;

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

6. E → B chord transition

To move from E to B;

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

7. E → F#m chord transition

To move from E to F#m;

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

8. F#m → A chord transition

To move from F#m to A;

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

Don't Tell Me chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Don't Tell Me.

  • Don't Tell Me includes 90 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Don't Tell Me contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Don't Tell Me connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → E: 12%
    • A → B: 4%
    After B, the most likely next chords across Chordier are E (21%), Em (16%), and A (16%).
    • B → E: 21%
    • B → A: 16%
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.