Skip to song content

James Arthur - Roses Chords

ChordsC, G, Em, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CIcould’veGchoseanybodybutIEmchoseyou,oohDooh
CHelpmegetbetter,youGpullmerightoutoftheEmblue,ohDoh
AndCDaddydon’tlikeyoubutGDaddyandIneverEmspeak,eeDee
EveryCnightwhenIwakeupIGneedyoutogetbacktoEmsleep,eeDee
SmellslikeCrosestoGme,twoyoungEmloversatDsea
TastessoCbitterandsoGsweet
You’reEmmybang,togetherwegoDbangbangbangC
GBangbangbang,EmbangDbangbang,CohGoh,EmohohD
CYoucould’veGchoseanybodybutyouEmchoseme,eeDee
CHidinginbedsinceG‘causenoonearoundEmdisagrees,eeDee
AndCIfeelromanticandsinceGmorningI’vebeenEmactingwild,I,DI
ShallweCeatallthepoisonandGleaveallthequestionsEmbehind?I,DI
SmellslikeCrosestoGme,twoyoungEmloversatDsea
TastessoCbitterandsoGsweet
You’reEmmybaby,togetherwegoDbangbangbangC
GBangbangbang,EmbangDbangbang,CohGoh,EmohohD
AndalltheCchemicalsandalcoholwillGmakeforavolatileEmlove
EmButstaywithme,Djuststaywithme
AndICneverwannaloseyoubutIGfeelthatthisclosenesswillEmtearusapart
EmButstaywithme,Dstaywithme,Cbang,bang,GbangEm
CBang,bang,GbangEmbang,Cbang,GbangEmD
SmellslikeCrosestoGme,twoyoungEmloversatDsea
TastessoCbitterandsoGsweet
You’reEmmybaby,togetherwegoDbangbangbangC
GBangbangbang,EmbangDbangbangC
GOhoh,EmohohDG
AlbumJames Arthur
GenresPop
Year2013
KeyC
DifficultyEasy

How to play Roses on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Arthur - Roses 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.

Roses uses these transitions most often: C → G (25), G → Em (25), and Em → D (23). 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 - G chord transition.

1. 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 verse, played 25 times.

C to G

2. G → Em chord transition

Switching 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 verse, played 25 times.

G to Em

3. Em → D chord transition

Switching from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 23 times.

Em to D

4. D → C chord transition

Switching from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 22 times.

D to C

5. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. D → G chord transition

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Roses.

  • Roses includes 98 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Roses contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Roses 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 (18%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → D: 18%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Em: 9%