The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [Am] [Em]
[G]Save some face, [Am]you [Em]know you’ve only got one, [G]change your ways [Am]while you’re [Em]young
[G]Boy, [Am]one day you’ll [Em]be a man, [G]oh girl, [Am]he’ll help you [Em]understand
[chorus]
[G]Smile like you [C]mean it. [G] [D] [G]Smile like you [C]mean it [G] [D]
[verse 2]
[G]Looking back [Am]at sun[Em]sets on the Eastside, [G]we lost track [Am]of the time [Em]
[G]Dreams [Am]aren’t what they [Em]used to be, [G]some things [Am]sat by so [Em]carelessly
[chorus]
[G]Smile like you [C]mean it. [G] [D] [G]Smile like you [C]mean it [G] [D]
[verse 3]
[D] [Em] [C] [D] [Em] [C]
And [Am]someone is calling my name, from the back [Em]of the restaurant
And [Am]someone is playing a game, in the house [Em]that I grew up in
And [Am]someone will drive her around, down the same [Bm]streets that I did
On the same [C]streets that I did [D]
[Closing]
[G]Smile like you [C]mean it. [G] [D] [G]Smile like you [C]mean it [G] [D]
[G]Smile like you [C]mean it. [G] [D] [G]Smile like you [C]mean it [G] [D]
Oh No no [G] [Am] [Em]
How to play Smile Like You Mean It on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It 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.
Smile Like You Mean It uses these transitions most often: Am → Em (12), G → Am (10), and Em → 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 G - Am chord transition.
1. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
2. Am → Em chord transition
To move from Am to Em;
- While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G 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 → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
5. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 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 → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
8. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
9. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
10. Am → Bm chord transition
To move from Am to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
11. Bm → C chord transition
To move from Bm to C;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
Smile Like You Mean It chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Smile Like You Mean It.
- Smile Like You Mean It includes 74 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Smile Like You Mean It contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Smile Like You Mean It connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).- Em → C: 26%
- Em → G: 18%