James Bay – Bad Guitar & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

James Bay – Bad Guitar & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsE9G#mA7C#mF#m7BE9/D#EE/D#Bsus

Key
View

This is the chord progression of Bad by James Bay on Guitar, Ukulele and Keyboard.

[Verse 1]
E9                                                        G#m
I know it hurts that we don’t touch anymore
E9                                                             G#m
It’s even worse ’cause we built this from the floor
E9                                                 G#m
It’s just as hard for me to know I might see you ’round
E9                                                                         G#m
Just as hard for me to worry ’bout reachin’ out

Advertisement

[Pre-Chorus]
A7                         C#m                         F#m7                         C#m
The more I think about you, the more I keep the ghost alive
A7                         C#m                         F#m7                                   B
Yeah, the more I think about you, the more I keep the ghost alive

[Chorus]
E9      E9/D#        C#m             B
I want you bad, but it’s done
A7             C#m             F#m7             B
I’m bleeding out, ’cause we can’t go on
E9      E9/D#      C#m             B
I want you bad, ’til I shake
A7             C#m             F#m7             B                         E9
I want what we’ve had, but what’s broken don’t unbreak

[Verse 2]
E9                                                             G#m
Soon as I’m ready to get over you, you call me up
E9                                                             G#m
Then I crumble when you say you’re getting over us

[Pre-Chorus]
A7                         C#m                       F#m7                         C#m
But the more I think about you, the more I keep the ghost alive
A7                                     C#m                         F#m7                         B
Yeah, the more that I’m without you, the less I know if I was right

Advertisement

[Chorus]
E9        E9/D#       C#m      B
I want you bad, but it’s done
A7             C#m             F#m7             B
I’m bleeding out, ’cause we can’t go on
E9      E9/D#        C#m      B
I want you bad, ’til I shake
A7                         C#m                         F#m7                         B
I want what we’ve had, but what’s broken don’t unbreak

[Bridge]
E E/D# C#m E/D# E F#m7 E9
And I won’t tell you what I want to
Bsus             B
What I want to
E E/D# C#m E/D# E F#m7 E9
I’m falling through, I can’t hide it
Bsus             B
But I learn to

[Chorus]
E9             E9/D#             C#m             B
‘Cause I want you bad, but it’s done
A7             C#m             F#m7             B
I’m bleeding out, ’cause we can’t go on
E9 E9/D# C#m B
I want you bad, ’til I shake
A7 C#m F#m7 B E9
I want what we’ve had, but what’s broken don’t unbreak

[Outro]
E9 E9/D# C#m B
I want you bad, but it’s done
A7 C#m F#m7 B
I want you bad, but we can’t go on

How to play Bad: key, chords and progression

Bad by James Bay keeps coming home to E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). You need 10 chords: E9, G#m, A7, C#m, F#m7, B, E9/D#, E, E/D# and Bsus.

The progression the song keeps returning to is A7 – C#m – F#m7 – B (IV7 – vi – ii7 – V in E major). In solfa, that is fah – lah – reh – soh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes D9, F#m, G7, Bm, Em7, A, D, Asus4 (63% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 25% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

E9 chord on guitar (x7677x)
E9E G♯ B D F♯
G#m chord on guitar (466444)
G♯mG♯ B D♯
A7 chord on guitar (x02020)
A7A C♯ E G
C#m chord on guitar (x46654)
C♯mC♯ E G♯
F#m7 chord on guitar (242222)
F♯m7F♯ A C♯ E
B chord on guitar (x24442)
BB D♯ F♯
E chord on guitar (022100)
EE G♯ B
Bsus4 chord on guitar (x24452)
Bsus4B E F♯

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

Bad chords: questions

What key is Bad in?

Bad by James Bay is centred on E major (four sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

What chords are in Bad?

Bad uses 10 chords: E9, G#m, A7, C#m, F#m7, B, E9/D#, E, E/D#, Bsus.

What is the chord progression of Bad?

The main progression is A7 – C#m – F#m7 – B (IV7 – vi – ii7 – V).

Is Bad easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the shapes D9, F#m, G7, Bm, Em7, A, D, Asus4 (63% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 25% without a capo).

New chords in your inbox

Fresh piano, guitar and ukulele chords and playing tips, once a week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.