Aug262022

Rina Sawayama – Phantom Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

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[Intro]
G
   (Phantom, phantom)

[Verse 1]
G             G/F#
Once upon a time, there was
   Em               C
a girl, pleasing the world
G             G/F#
Dying to be liked, looking for
 Em             C
love, wanting to trust

[Pre-Chorus]
C
  Stickers and scented gel pens
Bm                 B
  Give possessions, get friends
Em
  Breaking off pieces,
           C
  things started to change
C
  I've been tryin'
  to find her since
Bm                  B
  She gave a little too
         Em Emmaj7
  much away

[Chorus]
              F           G      D
I don't wanna do this without you
                         Em
I don't wanna do this if you're
                     C
just a ghost in the night
        G
I tried everything to fill up
     D
the void that you left me with,
  C    Cm       G
my phantom (Phantom)

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[Post-Chorus]
G     D  Em    C
  Phan-tom, phantom

[Verse 2]
   G                 G/F#
If I could talk to you, I'd tell you
        Em                C
not to rush, you're good enough
G                    G/F#
You don't have to lose what makes you
Em                 C             Cm
you, still got some growin' to do

[Pre-Chorus]
C
   When did we get so estranged?
Bm                 B
   Haunted by the way I've changed
Em                             C
   Claiming back the pieces of me
   that I've lost
C
   Reaching in and hoping you're still
Bm                  B
   Waiting by the windowsill,
        Em               Cm
   I'd bring you back to us

[Chorus]
              F           G      D
I don't wanna do this without you
                         Em
I don't wanna do this if you're
                     C
just a ghost in the night
        G                          D
I tried everything to fill up the void
                   C    Cm       G
ou left me with, my phantom (Phantom)

[Bridge]
   G                      D
Ooh, I was wrong to assume
I would ever outgrow you
F                                 C
  I need you now, I need you close,
  how do you hold a ghost?
G
  Inner child, come back to me
D
  I want to tell you that
      C          Cm   G D   Em C
  I'm sorry, I'm sorry
G D C Cm

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

[Chorus]
                          G      D
I don't wanna do this without you
                         Em
I don't wanna do this if you're
                     Cm
just a ghost in the night
        G
I tried everything to fill up the
 D                      C    Cm
void ou left me with, my phantom
                          G      D
I don't wanna do this without you
                        Em
Don't wanna do this if you're
                   C
locked away in my mind
        G
I tried everything to fill
        D
up the void ou left me with,
  C    Cm       G
my phantom (Phantom)

[Post-Chorus]
G     D  Em    C G
  Phan-tom, phantom
G     D  Em   Cm G
  Phan-tom, phantom

[Outro]
G                D
Once upon a time,
            Em  C
there was a girl
     G               D
Ooh, dying to be liked,
             C  Cm
looking for love
    G    D      Em C
Ooh, ooh,  ooh, ooh
    G    D      F C
Ooh, ooh,  ooh, ooh
    G    D      Em C
Ooh, ooh,  ooh, ooh
     G  D
Ooh, ooh I don't wanna
            C      Cm
do this without you

How to play Phantom: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Phantom by Rina Sawayama on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Phantom by Rina Sawayama is written in G major (one sharp: F♯) and moves through 10 chords: G, G/F#, Em, C, Bm, B, Emmaj7, F, D and Cm.

The backbone of the song is G – D – Em – C (I – V – vi – IV in G major), the “four-chord” progression behind countless pop, rock and worship songs. In solfa, that is doh – soh – lah – fah. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

Good to know: on guitar, Bm, B, Emmaj7, F and Cm need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.