Oct82021

Aeden Alvarez – 1 Step Forward 3 Steps Back Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

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[Verse 1]
                       C
you're too much of a good
        C/G  Fmaj7
thing
                    C
that's one thing that
         C/G  Fmaj7
i've learned
                            C
you somehow made another good day
C/G  Fmaj7
                            C
somehow that still struck a nerve
C/G  Fmaj7
                             C
you got me fucked up in the head
     C/G  Fmaj7
boy
                            C
i've never hated being happy
        C/G  Fmaj7
so much
                         C
like am i insane am i wrong
      C/G  Fmaj7
boy?
i hate that i act as if you
     C          C/G  Fmaj7
had fallen out of love

[Chorus]
        C         E
it's just one step forward
 Fmaj7        C
and three steps back
         C         E
i'm the king of the world
   Fmaj7        C
until you make me glad
         C         E
it's always one step forward
Fmaj7        C
and three steps back
          C         E
should i cry, or laugh or
    Fmaj7        C
leave you boy i don't understand
         Fmaj7       C
no i don't understand

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[Verse 2]
           C    C/G         Fmaj7
and maybe in some sick sadistic way
             C    C/G
i kind of find the thrill
    Fmaj7
in fighting
                   C    C/G
like tryna make you someone
        Fmaj7
i can hate
           C    C/G
will i wave goodbye happy
  Fmaj7
or watch you leave crying?

[Chorus]
        C         E
it's just one step forward
 Fmaj7        C
and three steps back
         C         E
i'm the king of the world
   Fmaj7        C
until you make me glad
         C         E
it's always one step forward
Fmaj7        C
and three steps back
          C         E
should i cry, or laugh or
    Fmaj7        C
leave you boy i don't understand
         Fmaj7       C
no i don't understand
             C    C/G
all these highs and lows
     Fmaj7
and you did nothing wrong
                     C    C/G
i'm high then low, reminiscing
       Fmaj7
what just happened
                       C
fuck these highs and lows
  C/G         Fmaj7
no you did nothing wrong
      C    C/G         Fmaj7
i'm high then low
              C
but in a way, yeah,
C/G         Fmaj7
this is all your fault

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Outro]
        C         E
it's just one step forward
 Fmaj7        C
and three steps back
         C         E
i'm the king of the world
   Fmaj7        C
until you make me glad
         C         E
it's always one step forward
Fmaj7        C
and three steps back
          C         E
should i cry, or laugh or
    Fmaj7        C
leave you boy i don't understand
         Fmaj7       C
no i don't understand

How to play 1 Step Forward 3 Steps Back: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for 1 Step Forward 3 Steps Back by Aeden Alvarez on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

1 Step Forward 3 Steps Back by Aeden Alvarez is in the key of C major (no sharps or flats). The song uses 4 chords: C, C/G, Fmaj7 and E.

The progression the song keeps returning to is C – C/G – Fmaj7 – C (I – I – IVmaj7 – I in C major). In solfa, that is doh – doh – fah – doh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Beginner-friendly: every chord here is an open shape on guitar: no capo, no barre chords needed.