Skip to song content

Shawn Mendes - The Weight Chords

ChordsEm, Bm, C, G, D
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmBmCG
EmIwanttoBmgoback,Cforgetthatit’sGover
EmPaintedinBmblack,CwhenyouleftmeGalone
EmIneverBmknew,shewasCsleepingnextdoor
WiththekidIGgrewupwith,EmandIcan’tBmgobackto Cher
GAnymore,Dnomore
EmYoutellmeCyouwereGhappierwithhim,butyouwantDmetostay
EmAndyoutellmeCthatyouneededtimeGbutyoupushmeDaway
EmButthenyoutryCtotakemeGback,myheavyheartjustDbreaks
No,Ican’tlifttheweightEmBmCG
EmPutyouBminthepast,CtrytoforgetyouGcauseit’sover
EmAndeveryBmtimeyouaskCI’llpretendI’mGokay
EmYou’reinsideBmmyhead,
CInthemiddleofthenightwhenIdon’tfeelright
GIdreamIcanholdyou,EmandIcan’tBmgobacktoCyouanymore,Gyeah,Dyeah
EmYoutellmeCyouwereGhappierwithhim,butyouwantDmetostay
EmAndyoutellmeCthatyouneededtimeGbutyoupushmeDaway
EmButthenyoutryCtotakemeGback,myheavyheartjustDbreaks
But,Ican’tliftEmtheCweight,andGIcan’tlifttheDweight
EmAndIcan’tlifttheweigh,noDIcan’tlifetheweight
CYeah,youstandonmyshouldersGandmyheartjustbreaks
EmAndIcan’tlifttheweigh,noDIcan’tlifetheweight
CYeah,youstandonmyshouldersandGmyheartjustbreaks
EmAndIcan’tlifttheweigh,noDIcan’tlifetheweight
CYeah,youloweryourstandardsandGIraisethestakes
AndIEmcan’tlifttheweigh,noIDcan’tlifttheCweightG
EmYoutellmeCyouwereGhappierwithhim,butyouwantDmetostay
EmAndyoutellmeCthatyouneededtimeGbutyoupushmeDaway
EmButthenyoutryCtotakemeGback,myheavyheartjustDbreaks
But,Ican’tliftEmtheCweight,andGIcan’tlifttheDweight
EmYoutellmeCyouwereGhappierwithhim,butyouwantDmetostay
EmAndyoutellmeCthatyouneededtimeGbutyoupushmeDaway
EmButthenyoutryCtotakemeback
SayGsomedayyouDwillchange,butIdon’twannawaitEmBmCG
AlbumHandwritten
GenresPop
Year2015
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play The Weight on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - The Weight on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 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 Weight uses these transitions most often: C → G (29), D → Em (16), and G → D (16). 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 Em - Bm chord transition.

1. Em → Bm chord transition

Switching from Em to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

Em to Bm

2. Bm → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

Bm to C

3. C → G chord transition

Switching from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 29 times.

C to G

4. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

G to Em

5. G → D chord transition

Here's how to move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

6. D → Em chord transition

To move from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 16 times.

7. Em → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 14 times.

8. D → C chord transition

Switching 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 verse, played 4 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Weight.

  • The Weight includes 117 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Weight contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Weight connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → D: 18%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%