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Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name Chords

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.

Shotthroughtheheart,andyou’retoblame,darlin’yougiveloveabadname
EmCDEmCDGEmEmCDEmCDEm
AnEmangel’ssmileiswhatyousell,youEmpromisemeheaven,thenputmethroughhell
EmChainsoflovegotaholdonme,whenEmpassion’saprison,youcan’tbreakfree
AOhyou’realoadedgunEmyeah,Dohthere’snowheretorun
ANoonecansaveme,theBdamageisdone
EmShotthroughthe Cheart,andDyou’reto Emblame,CyougiveDloveaGbadEmname(badname)
IEmplaymyCpartandyouDplayyourEmgame
CYougiveDloveaGbadEmname(badname),CyougiveDloveabadEmname
EmPaintyoursmileonyourlips,Embloodrednailsonyourfingertips
AEmschoolboy’sdream,youactsoshy,yourEmveryfirstkisswasyourfirstkissgoodbye
AOhyou’realoadedgunEmyeah,Dohthere’snowheretorun
ANoonecansaveme,theBdamageisdone
EmShotthroughthe Cheart,andDyou’reto Emblame,CyougiveDloveaGbadEmname(badname)
IEmplaymyCpartandyouDplayyourEmgame
CYougiveDloveaGbadEmname(badname),CyougiveDloveabadEmname
EmShotthroughthe Cheart,andDyou’reto Emblame,CyougiveDloveaGbadEmname(badname)
IEmplaymyCpartandyouDplayyourEmgame
CYougiveDloveaGbadEmname(badname)
ArtistBon Jovi
AlbumSlippery When Wet
Year1986
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

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

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 verse, played 18 times.

Em to C

2. C → D chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

C to D

3. D → Em chord transition

Switching 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 verse, played 11 times.

D to Em

4. D → G chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

D to G

5. G → Em chord transition

Switching 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 7 times.

6. Em → A chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

8. A → B chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

9. B → Em chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

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 (18%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → D: 18%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → A: 17%