Aug232019

Taylor Swift – Death By A Thousand Cuts Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression

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This is the chords of Death By A Thousand Cuts by Taylor Swift on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
My, my, my, my (my, my, my, my)
My, my, my, my (my, my, my, my)
C C/B
My, my, my, my
Am C
My, my, my, my
F Am
My, my, my, my
Dm Gsus4 G
My, my, my, my

[Chorus 1]
C C/B Am
Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts
C
Flashbacks waking me up
F Am
I get drunk, but it’s not enough
Dm Gsus4 G
‘Cause the morning comes and you’re not my baby
C C/B Am
I look through the windows of this love
C
Even though we boarded them up
F Am
Chandelier still flickering here
Dm Gsus4 G C
‘Cause I can’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not
C/B Em F G
It’s death by a thousand cuts

[Verse 1]
C C/B Em F
I dress to kill my time, I take the long way home
G
I ask the traffic lights if it’ll be alright, they say, “I don’t know”
C C/B Em F
And what once was ours, is no one’s now
G
I see you everywhere, the only thing we share is this small town
C C/B Em F
You said it was a great love, one for the ages
G
But if the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?

[Chorus 2]
C C/B Am
‘Cause saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts
C
Flashbacks waking me up
F Am
I get drunk, but it’s not enough
Dm Gsus4 G
‘Cause the morning comes and you’re not my baby
C C/B Am
I look through the windows of this love
C
Even though we boarded them up
F Am
Chandelier still flickering here
Dm Gsus4 G C
‘Cause I can’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not
C/B Em F G
It’s death by a thousand cuts

[Verse 2]
C C/B
My heart, my hips, my body, my love
Em F
Tryna find a part of me that you didn’t touch
G
Gave up on me like I was a bad drug
C
Now I’m searching for signs in a haunted club
C/B
Our songs, our films, united, we stand
Em F
Our country, guess it was a lawless land
G
Why are my fears at the touch of your hands?
C
Paper cut stains from my paper-thin plans
C/B
My time, my wine, my spirit, my trust
Em F
Tryna find a part of me you didn’t take up
G
Gave you so much, but it wasn’t enough
C C/B Am G
But I’ll be alright, it’s just a thousand cuts

[Chorus 3]
F Am
I get drunk, but it’s not enough
Dm Gsus4 G
‘Cause you’re not my baby
C C/B Am
I look through the windows of this love
C
Even though we boarded them up
F Am
Chandelier still flickering here
Dm Gsus4 G C
‘Cause I can’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not, no it’s not
C/B Em F G
It’s death by a thousand cuts (you didn’t touch)

[Post-Chorus]
C
Tryna find a part of me that you didn’t touch
C/B Em F
My body, my love, my trust (it’s death by a thousand cuts)
G
But it wasn’t enough, it wasn’t enough, no, no

[Outro]
C C/B Am C
I take the long way home
F Am Dm
I ask the traffic lights if it’ll be alright
Gsus4 G
They say, “I don’t know”

How to play Death By A Thousand Cuts: key, chords and progression

Death By A Thousand Cuts by Taylor Swift is in the key of C major (no sharps or flats). The song uses 8 chords: C, C/B, Am, F, Dm, Gsus4, G and Em.

Most of the song cycles through G – C – C/B – Em (V – I – I – iii in C major). In solfa, that is soh – doh – doh – mi. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

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