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Shawn Mendes - Three Empty Words Chords

ChordsG, D, Em, Bm, C, B
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram


[G] [D] [Em] [Bm] [C]
[G]I’ll pick you [D]up at the same [Em]time
In the same [Bm]places, the same old [C]drive
[G]We’ll just [D]talk about our [Em]day
To try to [Bm]fill the awkward [C]space tonight
[G]We’ll play the [D]songs we used to [Em]love
While we [Bm]try to fall in [C]love again
[G]We don’t [D]know who’s wrong or [Em]right
We don’t [Bm]even care [C]enough to fight


We’re going through the [G]motions [D] [Em]
‘Cause [Em]we can’t [D]fix what’s [G]broken [D] [Em] [G]
And I [D]know it’s gonna [Em]hurt, but [C]darling I’ll go [G]first
‘Cause [Em]I won’t keep on [B]saying those [C]three empty [G]words
No I [Em]won’t keep on [B]saying those [C]three empty [G]words


[G] [D] [Em] [Bm] [C]
[G]We’re still [D]talking [Em]everyday
I’m running [Bm]out of things to [C]say to [C]ya
[G]What’s really [D]gonna break my [Em]heart
To have to [Bm]tell your little [C]brother
[G]It might be [D]easier to [Em]stay
But it’ll [C]never be the [C]same, [C]no ohh [C]no
[G]And if [D]something doesn’t [Em]change
Then we’ll [Bm]keep on sinking [C]further


We’re going through the [G]motions [D] [Em]
‘Cause [Em]we can’t [D]fix what’s [G]broken [D] [Em] [G]
And I [D]know it’s gonna [Em]hurt, but [C]darling I’ll go [G]first
‘Cause [Em]I won’t keep on [B]saying those [C]three empty [G]words


Those [G]three empty [B]words, will [Em]only make it [G]worse
I’m [C]tired, I can’t [G]take [D]anymore, those [G]three empty [B]words
Will [Em]only make it [G]worse, I’m [C]tired, I can’t [G]take [D]anymore


We’re going through the [G]motions [D] [Em]
‘Cause [Em]we can’t [D]fix what’s [G]broken [D] [Em] [G]
And I [D]know it’s gonna [Em]hurt, but [C]darling I’ll go [G]first
‘Cause [Em]I won’t keep on [B]saying those [C]three empty [G]words
We don’t h[Em]ave to keep on [B]saying those [C]three empty [G]words
No I [Em]won’t keep on [B]saying those [C]three empty [G]words

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AlbumIlluminate
GenresPop
Year2016
KeyG

How to play Three Empty Words on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - Three Empty Words 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.

Three Empty Words uses these transitions most often: C → G (21), G → D (21), and D → Em (19). 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 G - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

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.
G to D

2. 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.
D to Em

3. Em → Bm chord transition

To move 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.
Em to Bm

4. Bm → C chord transition

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.
Bm to C

5. C → G chord transition

To move 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.

6. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

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

7. Em → C chord transition

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.

8. Em → B chord transition

To move from Em to B;

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

9. B → C chord transition

To move from B to C;

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

10. G → B chord transition

To move from G to B;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Three Empty Words.

  • Three Empty Words includes 120 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Three Empty Words contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Three Empty Words connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → G: 18%