Taylor Swift - Better Man Chords
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,D,A keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
[Opening]
[E]I know I’m probably better off [B]on my own, than [A]loving a man who didn’t know
What he [A]had when he had it, and [E]I see the permanent damage you [B]did to me
Never again, I just [A]wish I could forget when it was magic
[E]I wish it wasn’t 4am, standing in the mirror
[B]Saying to myself, you know you had to do it
[A]I know the bravest thing I ever did was [B]run
[chorus]
[E]Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I can [B]feel you again
But I just [C#m]miss you, and I just wish you were a [A]better man
And I [E]know why we had to say goodbye, like the [B]back of my hand
And I just [C#m]miss you, and I just wish you were a [A]better man
[A]A better man
[verse 2]
[E]I know I’m probably better off [B]all alone,
Than needing a man who could [A]change his mind
At [A]any given minute, and it’s always on your [E]terms
I’m hanging on every [B]careless word, hoping it might turn [A]sweet again
[A]Like it was in the beginning, but your [E]jealousy, I can hear it now
You’re talking [B]down to me like I’ll always be around
You push my [A]love away like it’s some kind of loaded gun
Boy, you [B]never thought I’d run
[chorus]
[E]Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I can [B]feel you again
But I just [C#m]miss you, and I just wish you were a [A]better man
And I [E]know why we had to say goodbye, like the [B]back of my hand
And I just [C#m]miss you, and I just wish you were a [A]better man
[A]A better man [E] [B] [E] [B] [A]
[verse 3]
I [A]hold onto this pride because these [B]days it’s all I have
And I [C#m]gave you my best and we both know you [B]can’t say [C#m]that
[C#m]You can’t say that, no, [A]you can’t say that, I wish you were a [E]better man
I wonder [B]what we would’ve become, if you were a [C#m]better man
We [A]might still be in love, if you were a [E]better man
You [B]would’ve been the one, if you were a [C#m]better man. [A]Yeah, yeah
[chorus]
[E]Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I can [B]feel you again
But I just [C#m]miss you, and I just wish you were a [A]better man
And I [E]know why we had to say goodbye, like the [B]back of my hand
And I just [C#m]miss you, and I just wish you were a [A]better man
[Closing]
If you were a [E]better man, we [B]might still be in love
If you were a [C#m]better man, you [A]would’ve been the [B]one
If you were a [E]better man
How to play Better Man on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Taylor Swift - Better Man on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 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.
Better Man uses these transitions most often: E → B (17), A → E (13), and B → C#m (11). 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 - B chord transition.
1. E → B chord transition
To move from E to B;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 4.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 4.
- Place pinky on B string fret 4.
2. B → A chord transition
To move from B to A;
- While playing B, lift your pinky from B 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 D string fret 4 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 2.
3. A → E chord transition
To move from A to E;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
4. B → C#m chord transition
To move from B to C#m;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 2.
- Slide your pinky from B string fret 4 to A string fret 4.
5. C#m → A chord transition
To move from C#m to A;
- While playing C#m, lift your pinky from A string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on B string fret 2.
Better Man chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Better Man.
- Better Man includes 67 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Better Man contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Better Man 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 → B: 4%
After B, the most likely next chords across Chordier are E (21%), Em (16%), and A (16%).- B → E: 21%
- B → A: 16%