Key
Em (E Minor)
Tempo / BPM
110 BPM (Approx.)
Tuning
Standard (E A D G B E)
Time Signature
4/4
Difficulty Level
Very Easy
Capo Position
No Capo
Chord Count
4 Unique Chords
Genre
Britpop
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Lights Up by Harry Styles is played in the key of Em. Arranged in the natural sounding key of Em in standard guitar tuning without a capo, 'Lights Up' by Harry Styles utilizes direct fretboard shapes to project full open-string acoustic warmth and resonance throughout every section. The song relies exclusively on open cowboy chords (C/E, Em, D, Dsus4), letting beginners concentrate on tone clarity, ringing string resonance, and sustain without encountering demanding barre finger fatigue. The primary progression challenge lies in switching between C/E and Em: keep your fingers hovering close to the fretboard rather than flying off between changes. Set your metronome at an initial practice tempo of 79 BPM in 4/4 time to master the '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' strumming groove, emphasizing steady downstrokes on beats one and three before accelerating toward the studio speed of 110 BPM.
