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Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, C, D, G, A, B
Strumming↓-↓↑

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

  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • 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

[Opening]
Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame, darlin’ you give love a bad name
[Em] [C] [D] [Em] [C] [D] [G] [Em] [Em] [C] [D] [Em] [C] [D] [Em]
An [Em]angel’s smile is what you sell, you [Em]promise me heaven, then put me through hell
[Em]Chains of love got a hold on me, when [Em]passion’s a prison, you can’t break free

[chorus]
[A]Oh you’re a loaded gun [Em]yeah, [D]oh there’s nowhere to run
[A]No one can save me, the [B]damage is done

[chorus]
[Em]Shot through the he[C]art, and [D]you’re to b[Em]lame, [C]you give [D]love a [G]bad [Em]name (bad name)
I [Em]play my [C]part and you [D]play your [Em]game
[C]You give [D]love a [G]bad [Em]name (bad name), [C]you give [D]love a bad [Em]name

[Closing]
[Em]Paint your smile on your lips, [Em]blood red nails on your fingertips
A [Em]school boy’s dream, you act so shy, your [Em]very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

[chorus]
[A]Oh you’re a loaded gun [Em]yeah, [D]oh there’s nowhere to run
[A]No one can save me, the [B]damage is done

[chorus]
[Em]Shot through the he[C]art, and [D]you’re to b[Em]lame, [C]you give [D]love a [G]bad [Em]name (bad name)
I [Em]play my [C]part and you [D]play your [Em]game
[C]You give [D]love a [G]bad [Em]name (bad name), [C]you give [D]love a bad [Em]name

[chorus]
[Em]Shot through the he[C]art, and [D]you’re to b[Em]lame, [C]you give [D]love a [G]bad [Em]name (bad name)
I [Em]play my [C]part and you [D]play your [Em]game
[C]You give [D]love a [G]bad [Em]name (bad name)

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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.
ArtistBon Jovi
AlbumSlippery When Wet
GenresHard Rock, Rock, Glam Rock, Metal
Year1986
KeyEm

How to play You Give Love A Bad Name on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 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.

You Give Love A Bad Name uses these transitions most often: C → D (18), Em → C (18), and D → Em (11). 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 - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

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.
Em to C

2. C → D chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

To move from C to D;

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

3. D → Em chord transition

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

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

4. D → G chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from D to G;

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A;

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

8. A → B chord transition

To move 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.

9. B → Em chord transition

To move from B to Em;

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

You Give Love A Bad Name chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in You Give Love A Bad Name.

  • You Give Love A Bad Name includes 73 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • You Give Love A Bad Name contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how You Give Love A Bad Name 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 (17%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → D: 17%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → A: 17%
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.