Skip to song content

Maroon 5 - The Air That I Breathe Chords

ChordsC, Em, F, G, Am, D, Dm, G#
Strumming↓-↓↓↑

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

CPeopleneverchange,Emtheyseemtostaythesame.
FTheyweardifferentclothes,Gbutplaythesamegames.
CManydifferentways,Emtosaythesamething.
FSearchingfortherightwords,Gtheonesthatwouldmakeyoustay.
AmExchangingtheCwaythingswere,fortheFwaythattheyshouldDbe,yeah.
AndAmchoosingthesewords,isCsayingtoher,
TheGthingsthatsheneverheard,butGalwaysdeserved.
ICfiguredwhatitisallabout,it’sEmyouthatIcouldneverlivewithout.
You’reFeverything,theDairthatIbreathe.
CStupidnottoknowitallalong,andEmeverythingIeverdidwaswrong.
FSadlyit’stoolateforDsorry.
COhI’mnotevenreallysure,Emwhomadethismess,
AndFwhothrewwhatpunch,butIGcouldnotcareless.
CAllIknowisthatI’mhere,Emandyouarenot,Ohhh.
FOnceIputthiswastedprideaside,Gnothin’sallIgot,Ohhh.
AmExchangingtheCwaythingswere,fortheFwaythattheyshouldDbe,yeah.
AndAmchoosingthesewords,isCsayingtoher,
TheGthingsthatsheneverheard,butGalwaysdeserved.
ICfiguredwhatitisallabout,it’sEmyouthatIcouldneverlivewithout.
You’reFeverything,theDairthatIbreathe.
CStupidnottoknowitallalong,andEmeverythingIeverdidwaswrong.
FSadlyit’stoolateforDsorry.
DmOhh,somebodyAmmakeitstop,yeah,
DmAndpickmeup,andjustAmdustmeoff,Ohh.
TheDmrainydayflood,Amdrownedallthislove.
G#Trappedatthebottomnow,Gpleasedigmeup.
ICfiguredwhatitisallabout,it’sEmyouthatIcouldneverlivewithout.
You’reFeverything,theDairthatIbreathe.
CStupidnottoknowitallalong,andEmeverythingIeverdidwaswrong.
FSadlyit’stoolateforDsorry.
ArtistMaroon 5
AlbumHands All Over
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2010
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Air That I Breathe on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Maroon 5 - The Air That I Breathe on guitar requires 8 chords and 14 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.

The Air That I Breathe uses these transitions most often: C → Em (10), Em → F (10), and F → D (8). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. C → Em chord transition

Switching from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

C to Em

2. Em → F chord transition

Switching from Em to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

Em to F

3. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

F to G

4. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

G to C

5. G → Am chord transition

Switching from G to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

6. 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. C → F chord transition

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 chorus, played 2 times.

8. F → D chord transition

To move from F to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

9. D → Am chord transition

Switching from D to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E 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 chorus, played 4 times.

11. D → Dm chord transition

Switching from D to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

12. Dm → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

13. Am → G# chord transition

To move from Am to G#:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

14. G# → G chord transition

Here's how to move from G# to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Air That I Breathe.

  • The Air That I Breathe includes 61 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Air That I Breathe contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Air That I Breathe 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 → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → G: 21%
    • F → D: 1%