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Bonnie Tyler - It’s A Heartache Chords

ChordsC, Em, F, G, Am, G7, Em7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

It’saCheartachenothingbutaEmheartache
Hitsyouwhenit’sFtoolatehitsyouwhenyou’reCdownG
It’saCfool’sgamenothingbutaEmfool’sgame
StandingintheFcoldrainfeelinglikeaCclownG
It’saCheartachenothingbutaEmheartache
LovehimtillyourFarmsbreakthenheletsyouCdownG
Itain’tFrightwithlovetoGshare
WhenyouEmfindhedoesn’tAmcareforGyouG7Em7G7
Itain’tFwisetoneed Gsomeone
AsmuchasEmIdependedAmonGyouG7Em7G7
It’saCheartachenothingbutaEmheartache
Hitsyouwhenit’sFtoolatehitsyouwhenyou’reCdownG
It’saCfool’sgamenothingbutaEmfool’sgame
StandingintheFcoldrainfeelinglikeaCclownG
It’saCheartachenothingbutaEmheartache
LovehimtillyourFarmsbreakthenheletsyouCdownG
Itain’tFrightwithlovetoGshare
WhenyouEmfindhedoesn’tAmcareforGyouG7Em7G7
Itain’tFwisetoneed Gsomeone
AsmuchasEmIdependedAmonGyouG7Em7G7
Ohit’saCheartachenothingbutaEmheartache
LovehimtillyourFarmsbreakthenheletsyouCdownG
It’saCfool’sgamenothingbutaEmfool’sgame
StandingintheFcoldrainfeelinglikeaCclownGC
AlbumNatural Force
GenresCountry, Pop
Year1978
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play It's A Heartache on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bonnie Tyler - It's A Heartache on guitar requires 7 chords and 12 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.

It's A Heartache uses these transitions most often: C → Em (8), C → G (8), and Em → F (8). 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 C - Em chord transition.

1. C → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Em:

  1. While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

C to Em

2. Em → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to F:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Em to F

3. F → C chord transition

Here's how 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 verse, played 8 times.

F to C

4. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

C to G

5. G → F chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

6. 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 chorus, played 4 times.

7. Em → Am chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

8. Am → G chord transition

Here's how 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 chorus, played 4 times.

9. G → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G to G7:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

10. G7 → Em7 chord transition

To move from G7 to Em7:

  1. While playing G7, 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 4 times.

11. G7 → F chord transition

Switching from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

12. G7 → C chord transition

Switching from G7 to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in It's A Heartache.

  • It's A Heartache includes 72 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • It's A Heartache contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how It's A Heartache connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Em: 8%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → F: 9%