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The Killers - The Way It Was Chords

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ChordsE, C#m, G#m, A, B, F#m
Strumming↓-↓

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

  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar G#m | A♭m chord diagram Fingering: 4-6-6-4-4-4 Barre at fret 4. Base fret 4.Guitar G#m | A♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram

[Opening]
[E] [C#m] [G#m] [A] [B] [E] [C#m] [G#m] [A] [B]
[E]I drove through the [C#m]desert last [G#m]night [A] [B]
[E]I carried the [C#m]weight of our last [G#m]fight [A] [B]
[E]Elvis singing “Don’t be [C#m]Cruel” and I wonder [G#m]if you feel it too
It’s [A]like we’re going [B]under. [C#m]Somewhere outside the [F#m]lonely Esmeralda County [G#m]line,
The question of my [A]heart came to my [B]mind.

[verse 2]
If I go [A]on with [E]you by my side, can it [A]be [E]the way [B]it was when we [A]met?
Did you for[E]get all about those [B]golden nights?

[verse 3]
[E]Maybe a [C#m]thief stole your [G#m]heart [A] [B]
[E]Or maybe we [C#m]just drifted [G#m]apart.
I [A]remember [B]driving, [E]in my daddy’s [C#m]car to the airfield, [G#m]blanket on the hood,
[A]Backs against the [B]windshield. [C#m]Back then this thing was [F#m]running on momentum,
Love and [G#m]trust. That paradise is [A]buried in the [B]dust.

[verse 4]
If I go [A]on with [E]you by my side, can it [A]be [E]the way [B]it was when we [A]met?
Did you for[E]get all about those [B]golden nights? (The way it was, it was)
[F#m]All of our plans are falling [C#m]through. [F#m]Sometimes a dream, it don’t come [B]true. [A]

[verse 5]
[A] [E] [B] [A] [E] [B]
[A]Darling. [E]Darling, (if we go on can it [A]be)
Can it [A]be [E]the way [B]it was when we [A]met? Did you [E]forget all about them [B]golden nights?

[verse 6]
If I go [A]on with [E]you by my side, can it [A]be [E]the way [B]it was?
My heart is [A]true, girl, it’s [E]just you, I’m thinking [B]of, can it [A]be the way it [E]was?

[Closing]
[C#m] [G#m] [A] [B]
[E](Maybe a [C#m]thief stole your [G#m]heart.) [A] [B]
[E] [C#m] [G#m] [A] [B] [E] [C#m] [G#m] [A] [B]

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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.
ArtistThe Killers
AlbumBattle Born
GenresAlternative, Indie, Rock
Year2012
KeyE

How to play The Way It Was on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Killers - The Way It Was on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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 Way It Was uses these transitions most often: A → E (15), A → B (14), and G#m → A (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 E - C#m chord transition.

1. E → C#m chord transition

Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram

To move from E to C#m;

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

2. C#m → G#m chord transition

Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
Guitar G#m | A♭m chord diagram Fingering: 4-6-6-4-4-4 Barre at fret 4. Base fret 4.Guitar G#m | A♭m chord diagram

To move from C#m to G#m;

  1. While playing C#m, lift your middle finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 4.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 6.
  4. Lift your pinky from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 6.
C#m to G#m

3. G#m → A chord transition

Guitar G#m | A♭m chord diagram Fingering: 4-6-6-4-4-4 Barre at fret 4. Base fret 4.Guitar G#m | A♭m chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

To move from G#m to A;

  1. While playing G#m, lift your pinky from D string fret 6.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 6 to B string fret 2.
  4. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
G#m to A

4. A → B chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

To move from A to B;

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

5. B → E chord transition

To move from B to E;

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

6. B → C#m chord transition

To move from B to C#m;

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

7. C#m → F#m chord transition

To move from C#m to F#m;

  1. While playing C#m, lift your middle finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
  4. Lift your pinky from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 4.

8. F#m → G#m chord transition

To move from F#m to G#m;

  1. Slide your index finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 4.
  2. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 4 to fret 6.
  3. Slide your pinky on D string from fret 4 to fret 6.

9. A → E chord transition

To move from A to E;

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

10. B → F#m chord transition

To move from B to F#m;

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

The Way It Was chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Way It Was.

  • The Way It Was includes 112 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Way It Was contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Way It Was 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 E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    • E → B: 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.