Easy Chord Tip:Place Capo on Fret to play open chord shapes ().
CHORD DIAGRAMS
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tune
Transposed: semitones
Verse
]
[A]I blew things out of proportion, now you're blue
[D]Put you in jail for something you didn‘t do
[E]I pinned your hands behind your back, oh
[D]Thought I had reason to attack, but no
Pre chorus
[A]Fighting with a true love is boxing with no gloves
[D]Chemistry 'til it blows up, 'til there’s no us
[E]Why'd I have to break[F#m] what I love so much?
[D]It's on your face, and I'm to blame, I need to say
Chorus
[A]Hey, it's[E] all me, i[Bm]n my head
[D]I'm the one who[A] burned us down
[E]But it's not [Bm]what I meant
[D]Sorry that I hurt you
[A]I don't wanna do, I don’t[E] wanna do this to you Ooh
[Bm]I don’t wanna lose, I don't [D]wanna lose this with you Ooh
[A]I need to say, h[E]ey, it’s all m[Bm]e, just don't go
[D]Meet me in the afterglow
Verse 2
]
[A]It's so excruciating to see you low
[D]Just wanna lift you up and not let you go
[E]This ultraviolet morning light below
[D]Tells me this love is worth the fight, oh
Pre chorus
[A]I lived like an island, punished you in silence
[D]Went off like sirens, just crying
[E]Why'd I have to break[F#m] what I love so much?
[D]It’s on your face, don't walk away, I need to say
Chorus
[A]Hey, it's[E] all me, i[Bm]n my head
[D]I'm the one who[A] burned us down
[E]But it's not [Bm]what I meant
[D]Sorry that I hurt you
[A]I don't wanna do, I don’t[E] wanna do this to you Ooh
[Bm]I don’t wanna lose, I don't [D]wanna lose this with you Ooh
[A]I need to say, [E]hey, it’s all me[Bm], just don't go
[D]Meet me in the afterglow
Bridge
[A]Tell me that you're still mine
[E]Tell me that we'll be just fine
[Bm]Even when I lose my mind, I need to say
[A]Tell me that it's not my fault
[E]Tell me that I'm all you want
[Bm]Even when I break your heart, I need to say
Chorus
[A]Hey, it's[E] all me, i[Bm]n my head
[D]I'm the one who[A] burned us down
[E]But it's not [Bm]what I meant
[D]Sorry that I hurt you
[A]I don't wanna do, I don’t[E] wanna do this to you Ooh
[Bm]I don’t wanna lose, I don't [D]wanna lose this with you Ooh
[A]I need to say, h[E]ey, it’s all m[Bm]e, just don't go
[D]Meet me in the afterglow
Outro
[A] [E] [Bm] [D] x2
Found an error in chord or lyrics for this song?
music_note
Capo 2 Needed
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Playing with Capo on 2nd Fret?
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Afterglow by Taylor Swift is played in the key of D with a tempo of around 110 BPM. Progresi ini menciptakan pergerakan harmoni alami: A (V) sebagai Dominant (Tensi Kuat Menuju Tonic), diikuti D (I) sebagai Tonic (Pusat Nada/Stabil), diikuti F#m (iii) sebagai Mediant (Tonic/Pewarna), diikuti Bm (vi) sebagai Submediant (Relatif Minor/Melankolis).
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Guitarist Playing Guide & Pedagogical Tips
Theory Guide
Guitar playing guide for Afterglow by Taylor Swift: sounding in D (Capo Fret 2, shape C) at 110 BPM (4/4) featuring beginner-friendly strumming ('↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑').
check_circleKey & Tempo: Sounding in D (Capo on Fret 2 (played in C shape)) at 110 BPM in 4/4 time signature.
check_circleVoicing & Barre Bypass: Contains barre shapes (F#m, Bm) with open cowboy substitutions (e.g. Fmaj7, Bm7, B7) to eliminate finger fatigue.
check_circleCritical Transition: Transition from E to F#m requires anchoring index or ring finger as a stable pivot.
check_circleStrumming Pattern: Master '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' by starting at 79 BPM before accelerating to studio 110 BPM.
account_treeChord Progression Analysis
Harmonic Progression
Progression Pattern (Roman Numerals)
V – I – E – iii – vi
Song chords:
starPrimary Chords (Song Foundation)
ADEF#m
Chords that repeat most frequently throughout the verse and chorus.
more_horizAuxiliary / Transition Chords
Bm
Used as harmonic transition variations in intro, bridge, or outro.
tuneWhy Use a Capo?
Capo & Sounding Key
Sounding KeyDAcoustic pitch of original recording
Capo Fret 2sync_altRaises the pitch of open strings
Fingering Shape KeyCOpen chord finger positions
Placing a Capo on Fret 2 transforms fingering into C, maintaining D sound without complex barre chords.
lightbulbAlternative Capo Positions for This Song:
pianoChord Family D
Diatonic Matrix
This song is built on the key of D. Here are the 7 diatonic chords (Chord Family) that harmonize according to music theory:
KEY: D•TEMPO: 110 BPM•PROG: V – I – E – iii – vi•DIFF: 3/5•CAPO: 2
helpEasy Chord Guide & FAQ Afterglow
FAQ & Tips
quizHow to play the easy chords for Afterglow (Taylor Swift)?
To play the Easy Chords for Afterglow, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords (C, G, Am, F) with Capo on Fret 2 to make transitions easier without barre chords.
quizWhat are the basic guitar chords and original key for Afterglow?
The original recording key for Afterglow by Taylor Swift is D. You can use the Transpose (+ / -) feature anytime to adjust the pitch to match male or female vocal ranges automatically.
quizIs 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.