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Green Day - Letterbomb Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsE, G#, C#m, A, F#, B, E7, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-1-1-1-x Barre at fret 1.Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar F# | G♭ chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F# | G♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
  • Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

[Opening]
[E] [G#] [C#m] [A]
[E]Where have all the [A]bastards gone?
The [F#]underbelly [A]stacks up ten high [E]
The [G#]dummy failed the [C#m]crash test
[G#]Collecting [C#m]unemployment checks
Like a [A]flunky only [F#]along for the [B]ride [A] [B]

[verse 2]
[E]Where have all the [A]riots gone
[F#]As your city’s [A]motto gets [E]pulverized?
[G#]What’s in love is [C#m]now in debt
[G#]On your birth [C#m]certificate
So [A]strike the fucking [F#]match to light this f[B]use[A] [B]
[B] [A] [B]Fuse [A] [B]

[verse 3]
[A]The town bishop is an extortionist
[A]And he don’t even know that you exist
[B]Standing still when it’s do or die
[B]You better run for your fucking life

[verse 4]
[E7]It’s not [B]over ’till you’re [A]underground
[E7]It’s not [B]over before it’s too [A]late
[E7]This city’s [B]burning, [A]it’s not my [C]burden
[E7]It’s not [B]over before it’s too [A]late
[F#]There’s nothing [A]left to analyze [E]

[verse 5]
[E]Where will all the martyrs, go when the [G#]virus cures itself?
And [C#m]where will we all go when it’s [A]too late? [E] [G#]Late!

[verse 6]
[C#m] [A] [E] [G#]
I’ll [C#m]tow ’em back [A]
[B]You’re not the Jesus of Suburbia
[B]The St. Jimmy is a figment of
[A]Your father’s rage and your mother’s love
[B]Made me the Idiot America [E7]

[verse 7]
It’s not [B]over ’till you’re [A]underground
[E7]It’s not [B]over before it’s too [A]late
[E7]This city’s [B]burning, [A]it’s not my [C]burden
[E7]It’s not [B]over before it’s too [A]late

[Closing]
[E]She said I can’t [G#]take this place
I’m [C#m]leaving it [A]behind
Well [E]she said I can’t [G#]take this town
I’m [C#m]leaving you [A]tonight

[outro]
[E7] [E7] [E7]

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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.
ArtistGreen Day
AlbumAmerican Idiot
GenresAlternative, Indie, Punk, Rock
Year2004
KeyE

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

Green Day - Letterbomb on guitar requires 8 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.

Letterbomb uses these transitions most often: B → A (14), G# → C#m (10), and A → E (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 E - G# chord transition.

1. E → G# chord transition

Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-1-1-1-x Barre at fret 1.Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram

To move from E to G#;

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

2. G# → C#m chord transition

Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-1-1-1-x Barre at fret 1.Guitar G# | A♭ 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 G# to C#m;

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

3. C#m → A chord transition

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

To move from C#m to A;

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

To move from A to F#;

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

6. F# → B chord transition

To move from F# to B;

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

7. B → A chord transition

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.

8. B → E chord transition

To move from B to E;

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

9. B → E7 chord transition

To move from B to E7;

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

10. A → E7 chord transition

To move from A to E7;

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

11. A → C chord transition

To move from A to C;

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

12. C → E7 chord transition

To move from C to E7;

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

Letterbomb chord transition analysis

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

  • Letterbomb includes 89 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Letterbomb contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Letterbomb 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 → E7: 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.