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ABBA - The Winner Takes It All Chords

ChordsD, Bm, Em, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram


[D] [Bm] [Em] [A] [D] [Bm] [Em] [A]


[A]I don’t wanna [D]talk about the things we’ve [A]gone through
Though it’s hurting [Em]me, now it’s histo[A]ry
I played all my [D]cards, and that’s what you’ve [A]done too
Nothing more to [Em]say, no more ace to [A]play


The winner takes it [D]all, the loser standing [Bm]small
Beside the victo[Em]ry that’s her desti[A]ny


I was in your [D]arms, thinking I be[A]longed there
I figured it made [Em]sense, building me a [A]fence
Building me a [D]home, thinking I’d be [A]strong there
But I was a [Em]fool, playing by the [A]rules


The gods may throw a [D]dice, their minds as cold as [Bm]ice
And someone way down [Em]here loses someone [A]dear


The winner takes it [D]all, the loser has to [Bm]fall
It’s simple and it’s [Em]plain why should I [A]complain?


But tell me does she [D]kiss like I used to [A]kiss you?
Does it feel the [Em]same, when she calls your [A]name?
Somewhere deep in[D]side, you must know I [A]miss you
But what can I [Em]say? Rules must be o[A]beyed.


The judges will de[D]cide, the likes of me a[Bm]bide
Spectators of the [Em]show, always staying [A]low


The game is on a[D]gain a lover or a [Bm]friend
A big thing or a [Em]small the winner takes it [A]all


I don’t wanna [D]talk, if it makes you [A]feel sad
And I under[Em]stand you’ve come to shake my [A]hand
I apolo[D]gize if it makes you [A]feel bad
Seeing me so [Em]tense no selfconfi[A]dence
But you see, the winner takes it [D]all [Bm]
The winner takes it [Em]all… [A]

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ArtistABBA
AlbumSuper Trouper
GenresEuropop, Pop
Year1980
KeyD

How to play The Winner Takes It All on Guitar (Step-by-step)

ABBA - The Winner Takes It All on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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 Winner Takes It All uses these transitions most often: Em → A (16), A → D (15), and A → Em (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 D - Bm chord transition.

1. D → Bm chord transition

To move from D to Bm;

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

2. Bm → Em chord transition

To move from Bm to Em;

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

3. Em → A chord transition

To move from Em to A;

  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 B string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on D string fret 2.
Em to A

4. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Winner Takes It All.

  • The Winner Takes It All includes 63 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Winner Takes It All contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Winner Takes It All 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 → D: 29%
    • A → Em: 7%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → Bm: 5%