Oct162026

Zach Bryan – Backwards Chords on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsD Em C G

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
D Em C G
D Em C G

[Verse]
       D                            Em
'Cause I don't feel human anynmore, mama
                              C
When am I ever gonna get that karma
                                       G
You said it was heading back down this way

     D                             Em
The knife inside my back feels so familiar
                   C
Reminds me of the real her
                      G
Cold and sharp pocket blade

[Verse]
    D                            Em
And I don't trust anyone anymore lover
                                C
They all want money or anything other
                              G
then whats good or what truly stays

 D                                 Em
All I want are your beautiful legs around me
                           C
On that Spanish beach you found me
                            G
For the rest of my earthly days

[Chorus]
 C               G        D    Em
This is how you walk backwards
C            G            D         Em
Everything I ever said I said in reverse
C            G                D             Em
Everything I ever did, hell, what's it all worth
         C               G        D     D
Live and learning how to walk backwards

[Instrumental]
D  Em  Em  C  C  G  G

[Verse]
    D                                 Em
And I said plenty things i didn't mean back then
                   C
I blame it on my thick skin
                           G
like a dog that's beat too much

    D                      Em
And nowdays I dont shake or shiver
                          C
When it's simply time for dinnner
                     G
My backward walk's enough

[Chorus]
 C               G        D    Em
This is how you walk backwards
C            G            D         Em
Everything I ever said I said in reverse
C            G                D             Em
Everything I ever did, hell, what's it all worth
          C               G        D    D  D
Live and learning how to walk backwards

[Instrument]
D  Em  Em  C  C  G  G

[Verse]
Em       G                D          C
And I forgive you for the things you did
Em              G         D        C
you're the red, underdog, comeback kid
Em        G                  D          C
And I dont blame you for the things you did
Em                   G               D         C
My father taught me, keep it walkin', always forgive

[Chorus]
 C               G        D    Em
This is how you walk backwards
C            G            D         Em
Everything I ever said I said in reverse
C            G                D             Em
Everything I ever did, hell, what's it all worth
          C               G        D
Live and learning how to walk backwards

How to play Backwards: key, chords and progression

Backwards by Zach Bryan is in the key of G major (one sharp: F♯). The song uses 4 chords: D, Em, C and G.

The progression the song keeps returning to is D – Em – C – G (V – vi – IV – I in G major), a rotation of the “four-chord” pop progression (I–V–vi–IV). In solfa, that is soh – lah – fah – doh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Beginner-friendly: every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.