James Arthur – Breathe Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsDmCBbBbmaj7Am7Gm7FBbm7Dsus2Bbm

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This is the chords of Breathe by James Arthur on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
Dm C Bb C x2

[Verse 1]
Dm              C            Bb
We’re all strangers
C                          Dm              C                          Bb
Fighting in the streets with no common ground
C    Dm      C       Bb
We’re just strangers
C                         Dm                         C             Bb
Tryna find release when there’s none around

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[Pre-Chorus 1]
C             Bbmaj7
Then there’s you
Am7                         Gm7
You don’t feel that much a stranger
Am7                                     Bbmaj7
You stand out from all the crowds
Am7                                     Gm7
I don’t feel that much in danger
C
I was lost till I found you

[Chorus]
F                                                 Gm7
Baby, baby, won’t you please come rescue me?
Bbmaj7
I don’t really wanna stay if you’re not
Am7
All I know is that I need you, baby
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7 C F
Hold me close so I can finally breathe

[Verse 2]
Dm             C             Bb
We’re all strangers
C                         Dm             C                         Bb
Fighting gravity, stuck here on the ground
C      Dm     C      Bb
We’re just strangers
C                         Dm                         C                       Bb
Tryna keep the peace when there’s none around

[Pre-Chorus 2]
C             Bbmaj7
Then there’s you
Am7                         Gm7
You’re my little ray of sunshine
Am7             Bbmaj7
You are immortality
Am7                                     Gm7
You make me forget about time
C
And how it’s comin’ for me, so

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[Chorus]
F                                     Gm7
Baby, baby, won’t you please come rescue me?
Bbmaj7
I don’t really wanna stay if you’re not
Am7
All I know is that I need you, baby
Bbmaj7      Am7     Gm7      C   F
Hold me close so I can finally breathe
Gm7          Bbmaj7             Am7
Finally breathe, finally breathe
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7 C
Hold me close so I can finally

[Post-Chorus]
F
When you tell me that you love me, babe

You bring the sun and take away my pain
Gm7
And the anxiety is miles away

I didn’t know that I could feel that way
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7 C
I didn’t know life was so beautiful till I held you, oh, yeah

[Bridge]
Bbmaj7 Bbm7 Am7 Dsus2
Your eyes make me feel like I’m off floating on air
Gm7 C F Dsus2
When you look at me, fuck everything else but you, yeah
Gm7 Bbm
I don’t wanna be there, so

[Chorus]
F Gm7
Baby, baby, won’t you please come rescue me?
Bbmaj7
I don’t really wanna stay if you’re not
Am7
All I know is that I need you, baby
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7 C
Hold me close so I can finally
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7 C
Hold me close so I can finally
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7 C F
Hold me close so I can finally breathe

How to play Breathe: key, chords and progression

Breathe by James Arthur is in the key of F major (one flat: B♭). The song uses 10 chords: Dm, C, Bb, Bbmaj7, Am7, Gm7, F, Bbm7, Dsus2 and Bbm.

The progression the song keeps returning to is Dm – C – Bb – C (vi – V – IV – V in F major), a minor-key rock and pop loop. In solfa, that is lah – soh – fah – soh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes Am, G, F, Fmaj7, Em7, Dm7, C, Fm7, Asus2, Fm (70% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 40% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

Dm chord on guitar (xx0231)
DmD F A
C chord on guitar (x32010)
CC E G
Bb chord on guitar (x13331)
B♭B♭ D F
Bbmaj7 chord on guitar (x13231)
B♭maj7B♭ D F A
Am7 chord on guitar (x02010)
Am7A C E G
Gm7 chord on guitar (353333)
Gm7G B♭ D F
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C
Bbm7 chord on guitar (x13121)
B♭m7B♭ D♭ F A♭
Dsus2 chord on guitar (xx0230)
Dsus2D E A
Bbm chord on guitar (x13321)
B♭mB♭ D♭ F

Need another chord or a different shape? Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator.

Breathe chords: questions

What key is Breathe in?

Breathe by James Arthur is in the key of F major (one flat: B♭).

What chords are in Breathe?

Breathe uses 10 chords: Dm, C, Bb, Bbmaj7, Am7, Gm7, F, Bbm7, Dsus2, Bbm.

What is the chord progression of Breathe?

The main progression is Dm – C – Bb – C (vi – V – IV – V), a minor-key rock and pop loop.

Is Breathe easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes Am, G, F, Fmaj7, Em7, Dm7, C, Fm7, Asus2, Fm (70% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 40% without a capo).

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