How Can It Be

Q: How to play the easy chords for How Can It Be (Jeffrey Lewis)?

To play the Easy Chords for How Can It Be, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords (C, G, Am, F) to make transitions easier without barre chords.

Q: Is audio sync and auto-scroll available for practice?

Yes, ChordGitar.in features touch-free Auto-Scroll with speed control, as well as an integrated player so your tempo and rhythm practice stays precise.

Jeffrey Lewis verified

Key: C

110 BPM

Tuning: Standard

sync_saved_locally Audio Synced

Transpose

Notation

Capo

Instrument

speed

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Easy Chord Tip: Place Capo on Fret to play open chord shapes ().

CHORD DIAGRAMS

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tune Transposed: semitones

HOW CAN IT [B] [E] Jeffrey Lewis

[Tabbed by:]
luismg9
Email:

[C] How, how [F]can it be?
[C] How can it be you [G]still love him and not me?
[C] Does it really add [F] up mathematically?
[C] How, how [G]can it be?

[C] Because I'm thinking [F]of how I made you laugh
[C] And I'm thinking of [G]the love that we had
[C] And I'm saying it'[F]s a matter of time
[C] How long 'till you [G]remember you're mine?

[Am] It don't make it true just '[F]cause it's where you've been sighted
[Am] It don't make it true just '[F]cause it's what you've decided
[C] Oh it's the [F]logic that's wrong,[G] why are you [F]there for so long?
[C] I just can [F]see nothing [G]else except for [F]you and myself

[C] So How, how [F] can it be?
[C] How can it be you [G]still love him and not me?
[C] Does it really [F]make sense logically?
[C] And does it really [G]make you happy to see

[C] That now I'm with [F]someone beautiful and cool
[C] And she seems to [G]think the world of me too
[C] And we're laughing as [F]we stroll up the street
[C] Until I take her to [G]that joint where I eat

[Am] But why are you here [F] Know in my restaurant
[Am] And you're with the [F]only one that you want
[C] So I won't [F]be eating [G]here or anywhere [F] else I fear
[C] And the girl [F]that's on my ar [Gm] is gonna [F]have to see tears
[G] stop
More tears

[C] Because I see your [F]face and it's still my own
[C] How can I ever think it'[G]s something that's gone?
[C] It's just the fact that we'[F]re a match that makes sense
[C] Although insane if you [G]still claim we'll be friends

[Am] And I know you think I'm [F]crazy and the world makes it two
[Am] But I'm not crazy it's just [F]dumb to be alive without you
[C] I know you love [F]his looks, you [G]love his love, you [F] love his family
[C] But is that [F]really any [G]reason to love him [F] instead of me
[G] I can't see

[C] Oh how [F]can it be?
[C] And does it really [G]add up mathematicaly?
[C] Or should I say it [F] more emphatically?
[C] Consistently [G]or sporadically?
[C] Oh is [F]this [C]really just [G]the way it [C] will be?

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Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album A Turn in the Dream-Songs

Released 2026

Genre

Anti-folk Country

Songwriter Jeffrey Lewis

Chord Version Options

2 Versions

Versi Studio (Key B) Alternative By Contributor

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info About This Song

Song Fundamentals

Original Key C (C Major)

Tempo / BPM 110 BPM

Tuning Standard

Time Signature 4/4

Difficulty Level Medium

Capo Position No Capo

Chord Count 7 Unique Chords

Genre Anti-folk

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How Can It Be by Jeffrey Lewis is played in the key of C with a tempo of around 110 BPM. Progresi ini menciptakan pergerakan harmoni alami: C (I) sebagai Tonic (Pusat Nada/Stabil), diikuti F (IV) sebagai Subdominant (Gerak Maju/Tensi Sedang), diikuti G (V) sebagai Dominant (Tensi Kuat Menuju Tonic), diikuti Am (vi) sebagai Submediant (Relatif Minor/Melankolis).

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Guitarist Playing Guide & Pedagogical Tips

Theory Guide

Guitar playing guide for How Can It Be by Jeffrey Lewis: sounding in C without capo at 110 BPM (4/4) featuring beginner-friendly strumming ('↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑').

check_circle Key & Tempo: Sounding in C (Standard tuning without capo) at 110 BPM in 4/4 time signature.
check_circle Voicing & Barre Bypass: Contains barre shapes (B, F) with open cowboy substitutions (e.g. Fmaj7, Bm7, B7) to eliminate finger fatigue.
check_circle Critical Transition: Transition from B to E requires anchoring index or ring finger as a stable pivot.
check_circle Strumming Pattern: Master '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' by starting at 79 BPM before accelerating to studio 110 BPM.

account_tree Chord Progression Analysis

Harmonic Progression

Progression Pattern (Roman Numerals)

B – E – I – IV – V – vi – Gm

Song chords:

star Primary Chords (Song Foundation)

B E C F

Chords that repeat most frequently throughout the verse and chorus.

more_horiz Auxiliary / Transition Chords

G Am Gm

Used as harmonic transition variations in intro, bridge, or outro.

tune Why Use a Capo?

Capo & Sounding Key

Sounding Key C Acoustic pitch of original recording

No Capo sync_alt Raises the pitch of open strings

Fingering Shape Key C Open chord finger positions

The song is played in its original key of C without a capo.

lightbulb Alternative Capo Positions for This Song:

piano Chord Family C

Diatonic Matrix

This song is built on the key of C. Here are the 7 diatonic chords (Chord Family) that harmonize according to music theory:

I C Tonic

ii Dm Supertonic

iii Em Mediant

IV F Subdominant

V G Dominant

vi Am Submediant

vii° Bdim Leading

speed Difficulty Level: Medium

Difficulty Determinants for This Song:

check_circle Uses 7 unique chords throughout the song

check_circle Requires 2 barre chord shapes (B, F)

dna MUSICAL DNA:

KEY: C • TEMPO: 110 BPM • PROG: B – E – I – IV – V – vi – Gm • DIFF: 2/5 • CAPO: 0

help Easy Chord Guide & FAQ How Can It Be

FAQ & Tips

quiz How to play the easy chords for How Can It Be (Jeffrey Lewis)?

To play the Easy Chords for How Can It Be, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords (C, G, Am, F) to make transitions easier without barre chords.

quiz What are the basic guitar chords and original key for How Can It Be?

The original recording key for How Can It Be by Jeffrey Lewis is C. You can use the Transpose (+ / -) feature anytime to adjust the pitch to match male or female vocal ranges automatically.

quiz Is audio sync and auto-scroll available for practice?

Yes, ChordGitar.in features touch-free Auto-Scroll with speed control, as well as an integrated player so your tempo and rhythm practice stays precise.

info Video playback is restricted by the content owner outside YouTube.

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How Can It Be - Jeffrey Lewis

Official Audio

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Listen to official audio for How Can It Be by Jeffrey Lewis on streaming platforms:

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How Can It Be expand_less

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Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album A Turn in the Dream-Songs

Released 2026

Genre

Anti-folk Country

Songwriter Jeffrey Lewis

Chord Version Options

2 Versions

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HOW CAN IT [B] [E] Jeffrey Lewis

[Tabbed by:]
luismg9
Email:

[C] How, how [F]can it be?
[C] How can it be you [G]still love him and not me?
[C] Does it really add [F] up mathematically?
[C] How, how [G]can it be?

[C] Because I'm thinking [F]of how I made you laugh
[C] And I'm thinking of [G]the love that we had
[C] And I'm saying it'[F]s a matter of time
[C] How long 'till you [G]remember you're mine?

[Am] It don't make it true just '[F]cause it's where you've been sighted
[Am] It don't make it true just '[F]cause it's what you've decided
[C] Oh it's the [F]logic that's wrong,[G] why are you [F]there for so long?
[C] I just can [F]see nothing [G]else except for [F]you and myself

[C] So How, how [F] can it be?
[C] How can it be you [G]still love him and not me?
[C] Does it really [F]make sense logically?
[C] And does it really [G]make you happy to see

[C] That now I'm with [F]someone beautiful and cool
[C] And she seems to [G]think the world of me too
[C] And we're laughing as [F]we stroll up the street
[C] Until I take her to [G]that joint where I eat

[Am] But why are you here [F] Know in my restaurant
[Am] And you're with the [F]only one that you want
[C] So I won't [F]be eating [G]here or anywhere [F] else I fear
[C] And the girl [F]that's on my ar [Gm] is gonna [F]have to see tears
[G] stop
More tears

[C] Because I see your [F]face and it's still my own
[C] How can I ever think it'[G]s something that's gone?
[C] It's just the fact that we'[F]re a match that makes sense
[C] Although insane if you [G]still claim we'll be friends

[Am] And I know you think I'm [F]crazy and the world makes it two
[Am] But I'm not crazy it's just [F]dumb to be alive without you
[C] I know you love [F]his looks, you [G]love his love, you [F] love his family
[C] But is that [F]really any [G]reason to love him [F] instead of me
[G] I can't see

[C] Oh how [F]can it be?
[C] And does it really [G]add up mathematicaly?
[C] Or should I say it [F] more emphatically?
[C] Consistently [G]or sporadically?
[C] Oh is [F]this [C]really just [G]the way it [C] will be?