"How to Save a Life" by The Fray (Chord Chart)

Song Info

  • Key: A#/Bb
  • Chord Family: G,G Whiz
  • Capo: 3
  • Capo Key: G major
  • G-Whiz: Yes
  • Genre: Rock,Pop,Folk,Indie
  • Skills: Basic Strumming, Open Chords

On this site we use a simple and unique system for teaching chords and strumming patterns. To learn about this system, or to see a list of definitions for the "Song Info" terms above, visit our page describing how to read our chord charts.

If you are just starting out on the guitar I would recommend checking out our "G-Whiz" Tutorial and our list of songs in the key of G.

Enjoy!

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INTRO
/G---/D|F#---/Em---/D|F#-G-/

VERSE 1
G                  D/F#              Em                 D½       D/F#½   G
Step one you say we need to talk, He walks you say sit down it’s just a talk
           D/F#             Em               D½    D/F#½     G
He smiles politely back at you, You stare politely right on through
              D/F#           Em                D½     D/F#½      G
Some sort of window to your right, As he goes left and you stay right
             D/F#              Em                       D½   D/F#½
Between the lines of fear and blame, And you begin to wonder why you came


CHORUS
  C             D                 Em               G½             D/F# ½
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend, Somewhere along in the bitterness
    C                   D                Em                 G½    D/F#½   G
And I would have stayed up with you all night, Had I known how to save a life

INTERLUDE
/G---/D|F#---/Em---/D|F#-G-/


VERSE 2
G                 D/F#                  Em            D½      D/F#½  G
Let him know that you know best, ‘Cause after all you do know best
                 D/F#         Em                D½      D/F#½    G
Try to slip past his defense, Without granting innocence
           D/F#            Em                       D½      D/F#½     G
Lay down a list of what is wrong, The things you’ve told him all along
                   D/F#             Em             D½      D/F#½
And pray to God he hears you, And I pray to God he hears you


CHORUS
  C             D                 Em               G½            D/F# ½
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend, Somewhere along in the bitterness
    C                   D                Em                 G½   D/F#½    G
And I would have stayed up with you all night, Had I known how to save a life


INTERLUDE
/G---/D|F#---/Em---/D|F#-G-/


VERSE 3
G                D/F#               Em               D½       D/F#½    G
As he begins to raise his voice you lower yours and grant him one last choice
              D/F#                Em                         D½   D/F#½   G
Drive until you lose the road, Or break with the ones you’ve followed
           D/F#              Em                 D½   D/F #½    G
He will do one of two things, He will admit to everything
                      D/F#               Em               D½   D/F#½
Or he’ll say he’s just not the same, And you’ll begin to wonder why you came


CHORUS (x2)
  C             D                 Em               G½            D/F# ½
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend, Somewhere along in the bitterness
    C                   D                Em                 G½   D/F#½    G
And I would have stayed up with you all night, Had I known how to save a life


INTERLUDE
/G---/D|F#---/Em---/D|F#-G-/ (x2)


CHORUS (x2)
  C             D                Em                G½            D/F# ½
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend, Somewhere along in the bitterness
    C                   D                 Em                G½   D/F#½    G
And I would have stayed up with you all night, Had I known how to save a life


ENDING 
(G)   D/F#   Em   D½   D/F#½   G
                  How to save a life
(G)   D/F#   Em   D½   D/F#½   G
                  How to save a life
(G)   D/F#   Em   D½   D/F#½   G
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