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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Shawn Mendes - Why Chords

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

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to G key to play this song with easier chords.

CIknowagirl,she’slikeacurse
FWewanteachother,noonewillbreakfirst
AmSomanynights,tryingtofindsomeonenew
DmTheydon’tmeannothingcomparedtoher,andIknow
CWhenpeopleaskaboutus,now,wejustbrushitoff
FIdon’tknowwhyweactlikeitmeansnothingatall
AmIwishthatIcouldtellyouthatyou’reallthatIwant,yeah
Dm
CIpretendthat,FI’mnotready
WhydoweAmputeachotherthroughhell?
Whycan’tweDmjustgetoverourselves?
AndCyousay“hi”like,Fyoujustmetme
WhydoweAmputeachotherthroughhell?
Whycan’tweDmjustgetoverourselves?
Whycan’tweCjustgetoverourselves?
FAmDm
CWhenIhearyousing,itgetshardtobreathe
FCan’thelpbutthinkeverysong’saboutme
AndAmeveryline,everywordthatIwrite
DmYouarethemuseinthebackofmymind,oh
CDon’twannaaskaboutit’causeyoumightbrushitoff
FI’mafraidyouthinkthatitmeansnothingatall
AmIdon’tknowwhyIwon’tadmitthatyou’reallIwant
Dm
CIpretendthat,FI’mnotready
WhydoweAmputeachotherthroughhell?
Whycan’tweDmjustgetoverourselves?
AndCyousay“hi”like,Fyoujustmetme
WhydoweAmputeachotherthroughhell?
Whycan’tweDmjustgetoverourselves?
CFAmDmCFAmDm
CIpretendthat,FI’mnotready
WhydoweAmputeachotherthroughhell?
Whycan’tweDmjustgetoverourselves?
AndCyousay“hi”like,Fyoujustmetme
WhydoweAmputeachotherthroughhell?
Whycan’tweDmjustgetoverourselves?
CIknowagirl,she’slikeacurse
FWewanteachother,noonewillbreakfirst
AmSomanynights,tryingtofindsomeonenew
DmTheydon’tmeannothingcomparedtoyou
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.
ArtistShawn Mendes
AlbumShawn Mendes
GenresPop
Year2018
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Shawn Mendes - Why on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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.

Why uses these transitions most often: Am → Dm (14), C → F (14), and F → Am (14). 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 - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

C to F

2. F → Am chord transition

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

Switching from F to Am:

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

F to Am

3. Am → Dm chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

To move from Am to Dm:

  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 B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

Am to Dm

4. Dm → C chord transition

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

Switching from Dm to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

Dm to C

Why chord transition analysis

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

  • Why includes 55 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Why contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Why 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 → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Am: 11%
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.