The Weeknd - Real Life Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
[Opening]
[Bm] [A] [Em] [G]
Tell ’em [Bm]this boy wasn’t made [G]for loving, [Bm]tell ’em this heart doesn’t [G]stay to one
[Bm]I’ll be the same, never [G]changed for nothing, [Bm]it’s all I know, never [G]learned much more
[chorus]
[Bm]Mama called me [D]destructive, oh yeah, [Em]said it’d ruin me one day, yeah
[Bm]Cause every woman that [D]loved me, oh yeah, [Em]I seemed to push them [G]away
That’s [Bm]real life [D] [G]real life, [A]mama talking that [Bm]real life, [D]
That [G]real life, real [A]life, real life, real life
[verse 2]
[Bm]I know you don’t really [G]understand it, [Bm]I’m not allowed to [G]regret my choice
[Bm]I heard that love is a [G]risk worth taking, [Bm]I’ve learned to know never [G]been that boy
[chorus]
[Bm]Mama called me [D]destructive, oh yeah, [Em]said it’d ruin me one day, yeah
[Bm]Cause every woman that [D]loved me, oh yeah, [Em]I seemed to push them [G]away
That’s [Bm]real life [D] [G]real life, [A]mama talking that [Bm]real life, [D]
That [G]real life, real [A]life, real life, real life
[verse 3]
[F#m]Heaven only lets a [Bm]few in, [F#m]it’s too late for me to [Bm]choose it
[D]Don’t waste precious tears on me, I’m not [G]worth the misery, I’m better [D]off when I’m alone
[Closing]
That’s [Bm]real life [D] [G]real life, [A]mama talking that [Bm]real life, [D]
That [G]real life, real [A]life, real life, real life
That’s [Bm]real life [D] [G]real life, [A]mama talking that [Bm]real life, [D]
That [G]real life, real [A]life, real life, real life
How to play Real Life on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Weeknd - Real Life on guitar requires 6 chords and 11 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.
Real Life uses these transitions most often: Bm → D (13), G → Bm (11), and D → G (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 Bm - A chord transition.
1. Bm → A chord transition
To move from Bm to A;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 2.
2. A → Em chord transition
To move from A to Em;
- While playing A, lift your index finger from D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
3. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
4. G → Bm chord transition
To move from G to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
5. Bm → D chord transition
To move from Bm to D;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 3.
6. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
7. Em → Bm chord transition
To move from Em to Bm;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 4.
- Place index finger on E string fret 2.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
8. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
9. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.
10. A → F#m chord transition
To move from A to F#m;
- While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
- Place pinky on D string fret 4.
11. F#m → Bm chord transition
To move from F#m to Bm;
- Keep index finger on E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Slide your pinky from D string fret 4 to G string fret 4.
- Place middle finger on B string fret 3.
Real Life chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Real Life.
- Real Life includes 72 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Real Life contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Real Life connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Bm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (25%), A (19%), and Em (13%).
- Bm → G: 25%
- Bm → A: 19%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → D: 24%
- G → A: 6%