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Ruel - Painkiller Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, E, Am, F, Dm, Bb
Strumming↓-↑-↓-↑

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

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram

[Opening]
You’re my [C] [E]painkiller, when my [Am]brain gets [F]bitter
You keep me [Dm]close, you keep me [F] [E]close

[verse 2]
I got [C]front row seats for the park side living
[Bb]Feel like the one but I’m one in a billion
[F]Teenage cynical and [Bb]I don’t really know
[C]What’s the point of living if my heart gets broken?
[Bb]Driving on the road, waiting for head-on collision
[F]Springtime funeral, I miss you but I’d [Bb]rather be alone

[verse 3]
To keep me from, [C]heartbreaks, headaches
The doctor says I’ m diagnosed with, [C]shit days, mistakes
But I’ll be [F]fine, but I’ ll be [Bb]fine

[chorus]
‘Cause you’re my [C]painkiller, when my [Bb]brain gets bitter
You keep me [F]close, when I’ve been [Bb]miserable
And it [Am]takes forever, to let my [C]brain get better
You keep me [F]close, you keep me [Bb]close

[verse 4]
[C]Window seats as the plane starts leaving
[Bb]Miss those streets where my knees were bleeding
[F]Homesick veteran, I [Bb]left my bed again. Oh, looking for

[verse 5]
[C]Heartbreaks, headaches, the doctor says I’ m diagnosed with
[Bb]Shit days, mistakes, but I’ll be [F]fine, but I’ ll be [Bb]fine

[chorus]
‘Cause you’re my [C]painkiller, when my [Bb]brain gets bitter
You keep me [F]close, when I’ve been [Bb]miserable
And it [Am]takes forever, to let my [C]brain get better
You keep me [F]close, you keep me [Bb]close

[verse 6]
[C]Please, never [Bb]leave me, ’cause I’ m [F]barely holding on
You give me a [Dm]reason to keep on [F]breathing

[chorus]
‘Cause you’re my [C]painkiller, when my [Bb]brain gets bitter
You keep me [F]close, when I’ve been [Bb]miserable
And it [Am]takes forever, to let my [C]brain get better
You keep me [F]close, you keep me [Bb]close

[Closing]
I know you [C]hear me (Close), [Bb]Yeah (Close), [F]Close [Bb] [C]

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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.
ArtistRuel
AlbumFree Time
GenresPop
Year2018
KeyC

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

Ruel - Painkiller on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.

Painkiller uses these transitions most often: F → Bb (12), Bb → C (9), and Bb → F (9). 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 - E chord transition.

1. C → E chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

To move from C to E;

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

2. E → Am chord transition

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

To move from E to Am;

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

3. Am → F chord transition

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

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.
Am to F

4. F → Dm chord transition

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

To move from F to Dm;

  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 E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  4. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
F to Dm

5. F → E chord transition

To move from F to E;

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

6. C → Bb chord transition

To move from C to Bb;

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

7. Bb → F chord transition

To move from Bb to F;

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

8. C → F chord transition

To move from C 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. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

9. Bb → Am chord transition

To move from Bb to Am;

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

10. Am → C chord transition

To move from Am to C;

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

Painkiller chord transition analysis

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

  • Painkiller includes 59 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Painkiller contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Painkiller connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Bb, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).
    • Bb → F: 34%
    • Bb → C: 20%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → F: 16%
    • C → Bb: 2%
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.