Jun92019

Halsey – Nightmare Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression & Tabs

ChordsF E Am C Em Cm Em7 Am7 G Fmaj7 Cmaj7 A

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This is the chord progression of Nightmare by Halsey on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
F E Am C F Em Am C

[Verse 1]
Am
I’ve tasted blood and it is sweet
Cm F
I’ve had the rug pulled beneath my feet
Em Am
I’ve trusted lies and trusted men
C F
Broke down and put myself back together again
Em7
Stared in the mirror and punched it to shatters
Am7 Am
Collected the pieces and picked out a dagger
F Em
I’ve pinched my skin in between my two fingers
And wished I could cut some parts off with some scissors

[Pre-Chorus]
F Em
“Come on, little lady, give us a smile”
Am C
No, I ain’t got nothin’ to smile about
F Em
I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for
Am F
A moment to say I don’t owe you a goddamn thing

[Chorus]
Em Am
I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
C F
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
Em Am
They talk shit, but I love it every time
C
And I realize

[Post-Chorus]
G G Am C
I’m no sweet dream, but I’m a hell of a night
C F Em7 Am Em
That I’m no sweet dream, but I’m a hell of a night

[Verse 2]
F Em Am7
No, I won’t smile, but I’ll show you my teeth
Am F
And I’ma let you speak if you just let me breathe
Em7 Am
I’ve been polite, but won’t be caught dead
G F
Lettin’ a man tell me what I should do with my bed
Em
Keep my exes in check in my basement
Am C
‘Cause kindness is weakness, or worse, you’re complacent
F Em
I could play nice or I could be a bully
I’m tired and angry, but somebody should be

[Chorus]
Em Am
I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
C F
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
Em Am7
They talk shit, but I love it every time
C
And I realize
F Em Am
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
C F
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
Em Am
They talk shit, but I love it every time
C
And I realize
G Am C Fmaj7 Em7 Am

[Bridge]
G Am C
Someone like me can be a real nightmare, completely aware
Fmaj7 Em7 Am C
But I’d rather be a real nightmare, than die unaware, yeah
Am Em Am
Someone like me can be a real nightmare, completely aware
Fmaj7 Em7 Am
But I’m glad to be a real nightmare, so save me your prayers

[Chorus]
Fmaj7 Em Am
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
Am F
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
Em Am7
They talk shit, but I love it every time
Cmaj7
And I realize
F Em Am7
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
C F
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
Em Am7
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize

[Post-Chorus]
Am C A C
I’m no sweet dream, but I’m a hell of a night
F Em7 Am
That I’m no sweet dream, but I’m a hell of a night

How to play Nightmare: key, chords and progression

Nightmare by Halsey keeps coming home to A minor (no sharps or flats). You need 12 chords: F, E, Am, C, Em, Cm, Em7, Am7, G, Fmaj7, Cmaj7 and A.

Listen for F – Em – Am – C (VI – v – i – III in A minor): the song comes back to it again and again. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Beginner-friendly: almost every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.