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Shawn Mendes - If I Can’t Have You Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, Em, Dm, Am
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 Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

[Opening]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

[verse 2]
[F]I’m in Toronto and I [Em]got this [Am]view
But I [Dm]might as well be in a [Em]hotel room, yeah
[F]It doesn’t matter ’cause I’m [Em]so [Am]consumed
Spending [Dm]all my nights reading [Em]texts from you

[chorus]
[F]Oh, I’m good at [Em]keeping my [Am]distance
I [Dm]know that you’re the [Em]feeling I’m missing
You [F]know that I [Em]hate to admit [Am]it
But [F]everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

[verse 3]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

[verse 4]
[F]I’m so sorry that my [Em]timing’s [Am]off
But I [Dm]can’t move on if we’re still [Em]gonna talk
[F]Is it wrong for me to [Em]not want [Am]half?
I want [Dm]all of you, all the [Em]strings attached

[chorus]
[F]Oh, I’m good at [Em]keeping my [Am]distance
I [Dm]know that you’re the [Em]feeling I’m missing
You [F]know that I [Em]hate to admit [Am]it
But [F]everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

[verse 5]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

[verse 6]
[F]I’m trying to move [Em]on, forget [Am]you, but I hold on
[Dm]Everything means nothing, [Em]everything means nothing, babe
[F]I’m trying to move [Em]on, forget [Am]you, but I hold on
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

[Closing]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you

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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
AlbumShawn Mendes
GenresPop
Year2018
KeyF

How to play If I Can't Have You on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You 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.

If I Can't Have You uses these transitions most often: F → Em (41), Em → Dm (31), and Dm → Em (28). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. F → Em chord transition

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

To move from F to Em;

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

2. Em → Dm chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

To move from Em to Dm;

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

3. Dm → F chord transition

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

To move from Dm to F;

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

4. Em → Am chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

To move from Em to Am;

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.
Em to Am

5. Am → Dm chord transition

To move from Am to Dm;

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

6. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F;

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

If I Can't Have You chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If I Can't Have You.

  • If I Can't Have You includes 157 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • If I Can't Have You contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how If I Can't Have You connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → Am: 12%
    • Em → F: 8%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Em: 3%
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.