Mar132026

Buffalo Traffic Jam – Hanging On Hope Chords on Piano & Ukulele

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These are Hanging On Hope chords by Buffalo Traffic Jam for Piano and Ukulele.

[Intro]
Cadd9    G

[Verse 1]
Cadd9
Well, I've been on the backroads
                         G
Learning things I didn't know
Cadd9
You said, "Well, do it your way"
             G
I just gotta know
Cadd9
And I've been feeling bad, dear
                    G
'Cause this mind is broke
                   Cadd9
Yeah, this mind is broke
    G
Mmm-hmm

[Chorus]
Em                Cadd9
Bleed me, use me, run around, 
don't kill me
G
 It's better than being alone
      Em                Cadd9
Well, love me, heal me, turn 
around and see me
G
'Cause I'm hanging on hope
G  D/F#  Em     Cadd9
Hanging on hope
         G      D/F#
Hanging on hope

[Verse 2]
Cadd9
Well, I've been sleeping 
restless
                        G
Unless I'm heavy on the smoke
Cadd9
I'm staring at the sky now
                           G
With these feelings I don't show
Cadd9
I'll let a little grin grow
                          G
From those kind words you spoke
              Cadd9
Ooh, that you spoke
    G
Mmm-hmm

[Chorus]
Em                Cadd9
Bleed me, use me, run around, 
don't kill me
G
 It's better than being alone
      Em                Cadd9
Well, love me, heal me, turn
 around and see me
G
'Cause I'm hanging on hope
G  D/F#  Em     Cadd9
Hanging on hope
         G      D/F#
Hanging on hope

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[Bridge]
        Em7                    
There's shovels in the backyard,
  Cadd9                      G
 wish we'd never drift this far
          D/F#
We'll be alright
  Em7                      
I know you never needed me, 
         Cadd9       
there's wear and tear
            G
 you can't see
          D/F#
But who's at fault?

[Out-Chorus]
Em                Cadd9
Bleed me, use me, run around,
 don't kill me
G
 It's better than being alone
      Em                Cadd9
Well, love me, heal me, turn 
around and see me
G
'Cause I'm hanging on hope
G  D/F#  Em     Cadd9
Hanging on hope
         G
Hanging on hope

How to play Hanging On Hope: key, chords and progression

Hanging On Hope by Buffalo Traffic Jam keeps coming home to G major (one sharp: F♯). You need 5 chords: Cadd9, G, Em, D/F# and Em7.

The backbone of the song is Cadd9 – G – Em – Cadd9 (IVadd9 – I – vi – IVadd9 in G major). In solfa, that is fah – doh – lah – fah. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

Beginner-friendly: on guitar every chord is an open shape, which makes this a good song to learn early on.