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.

DBmEmADBmEmA

AIdon’twannaDtalkaboutthethingswe’veAgonethrough

Thoughit’shurtingEmme,nowit’s Ahistory

IplayedallmyDcards,andthat’swhatyou’veAdonetoo

NothingmoretoEmsay,nomoreacetoAplay

ThewinnertakesitDall,theloserstandingBmsmall

Besidethe Emvictorythat’sher Adestiny

IwasinyourDarms,thinkingI Abelongedthere

IfigureditmadeEmsense,buildingmeaAfence

BuildingmeaDhome,thinkingI’dbeAstrongthere

ButIwasaEmfool,playingbytheArules

ThegodsmaythrowaDdice,theirmindsascoldasBmice

AndsomeonewaydownEmherelosessomeoneAdear

ThewinnertakesitDall,theloserhastoBmfall

It’ssimpleandit’sEmplainwhyshouldIAcomplain?

ButtellmedoessheDkisslikeIusedtoAkissyou?

DoesitfeeltheEmsame,whenshecallsyourAname?

Somewheredeep Dinside,youmustknowIAmissyou

ButwhatcanIEmsay?Rulesmustbe Aobeyed.

Thejudgeswill Ddecide,thelikesofme Bmabide

SpectatorsoftheEmshow,alwaysstayingAlow

Thegameison DagainaloveroraBmfriend

AbigthingoraEmsmallthewinnertakesitAall

Idon’twannaDtalk,ifitmakesyouAfeelsad

AndI Emunderstandyou’vecometoshakemyAhand

I DapologizeifitmakesyouAfeelbad

SeeingmesoEmtenseno Aselfconfidence

Butyousee,thewinnertakesitDallBm

ThewinnertakesitEmall…A

ArtistABBA

AlbumSuper Trouper

GenresEuropop, Pop

Year1980

KeyD

DifficultyEasy

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:

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

This transition appears in the intro, played 8 times.

2. Bm → Em chord transition

To move from Bm to Em:

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

This transition appears in the intro, played 8 times.

3. Em → A chord transition

To move from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the intro, played 16 times.

4. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the intro, played 15 times.

The Winner Takes It All chord transition analysis

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%