Jul12022

Imagine Dragons – Waves Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsG D Am C

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
G D Am C

[Verse 1]
G                D
 Twenty-one years,
 she figured it out
Am
  She started a job
C                 G
 She's feeling it out
       D              Am
Before once, it feels right
      C
She's feeling like
                 G
the prime of her life
               D                Am
But all of that, is just a dream,
              C
shattered now
                 G
And everything's changed
         D            Am
With one car, and one night
     C
It's driving through
                  G
the prime of your life
          D
Took your freedom
Am           C     G
  There's no reason,
            D
  just keep breathing
Am             C
  Time doesn't hear
                 G
  if you ask it away

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[Chorus]
G            D               Am
 La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
            C
Oh now your tears,
                       G
they just row with the waves
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
                C
Path that could change,
                     G
it could change in a day
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
              C
Cherish these years and
                  G
just row with the waves
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
             C
Time doesn't hear,
                G
so row with the waves

[Verse 2]
                D
Eleven years old, my new friend
Am            C           G
  Taking me in, where was I
   D        Am
He took his life
Oh, I was singing in the
            G
prime of my life
          D     Am        C
Where was I when you were calling
G        D      Am
 I can't go back
Am             C                   G
  Time doesn't hear if you ask it away

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

[Chorus]
G            D               Am
 La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
            C
Oh now your tears,
                       G
they just row with the waves
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
                C
Path that could change,
                     G
it could change in a day
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
              C
Cherish these years and
                  G
just row with the waves
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
             C
Time doesn't hear,
                G
so row with the waves

[Bridge]
    D   Am C
Ooh-ooh
G
 Living regret, or out of the future
I'd rather be here,
thinking about the now
'Cause this breath could fade fast
And this day could be your last

[Chorus]
G            D               Am
 La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
            C
Oh now your tears,
                       G
they just row with the waves
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
                C
Path that could change,
                     G
it could change in a day
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
              C
Cherish these years and
                  G
just row with the waves
            D               Am
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
             C
Time doesn't hear,
                G     D Am C
so row with the waves

[Outro]
G D Am

How to play Waves: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Waves by Imagine Dragons on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

To play Waves by Imagine Dragons, think in G major (one sharp: F♯). It takes 4 chords: G, D, Am and C.

The backbone of the song is G – D – Am – C (I – V – ii – IV in G major). In solfa, that is doh – soh – reh – fah. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

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