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The Killers - The Way It Was Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
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.

EC#mG#mABEC#mG#mAB
EIdrovethroughtheC#mdesertlastG#mnightAB
EIcarriedtheC#mweightofourlastG#mfightAB
EElvissinging“Don’tbeC#mCruel”andIwonderG#mifyoufeelittoo
It’sAlikewe’regoingBunder.C#mSomewhereoutsidetheF#mlonelyEsmeraldaCountyG#mline,
ThequestionofmyAheartcametomyBmind.
IfIgoAonwithEyoubymyside,canitAbeEthewayBitwaswhenweAmet?
Didyou EforgetallaboutthoseBgoldennights?
EMaybeaC#mthiefstoleyourG#mheartAB
EOrmaybeweC#mjustdriftedG#mapart.
IArememberBdriving,Einmydaddy’sC#mcartotheairfield,G#mblanketonthehood,
ABacksagainsttheBwindshield.C#mBackthenthisthingwasF#mrunningonmomentum,
LoveandG#mtrust.ThatparadiseisAburiedintheBdust.
IfIgoAonwithEyoubymyside,canitAbeEthewayBitwaswhenweAmet?
Didyou EforgetallaboutthoseBgoldennights?(Thewayitwas,itwas)
F#mAllofourplansarefallingC#mthrough.F#mSometimesadream,itdon’tcomeBtrue.A
AEBAEB
ADarling.EDarling,(ifwegooncanitAbe)
CanitAbeEthewayBitwaswhenweAmet?DidyouEforgetallaboutthemBgoldennights?
IfIgoAonwithEyoubymyside,canitAbeEthewayBitwas?
MyheartisAtrue,girl,it’sEjustyou,I’mthinkingBof,canitAbethewayitEwas?
C#mG#mAB
E(MaybeaC#mthiefstoleyourG#mheart.)AB
EC#mG#mABEC#mG#mAB
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
DifficultyAdvanced

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

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

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

A to B

5. B → E chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. C#m → F#m chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. F#m → G#m chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

9. A → E chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse.

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.