Playing From The Start — What You Actually Need
The song sits in G major. You strum the standard progression: G, Em, C, D, looping through that four-chord sequence most pop songs use. The tempo is roughly 95 BPM, feel like a slow rock ballad but with a jazz undertone. If you Google it you will find twelve different tabs arguing about whether the second chord is Em7 or E minor, and honestly it does not matter much when you are playing for fun. Here is what works at the instrument. Verse goes G – Em – C – D. Pre-chorus shifts to Em – C – G – D, which is where most people mess up because they try to force a G in there when the vocal line actually lands on the E minor sound. The chorus is G – D – Em – C, and that final C needs to ring out into the next verse or it sounds choppy. I learned this the hard way at a gig in Portland back in 2019. The venue had a cheap Yamaha acoustic with action so high I could barely fret the barre chords. When I hit the Em in the second bar of the verse, my ring finger couldn't press all six strings. The singer kept asking why it sounded muffled. I ended up playing just the top four strings on that Em and nobody noticed because the vocal carries it anyway. If your guitar setup is rough, don't obsess over perfect voicings — focus on getting the rhythm right and the vocals on pitch.
Strumming Pattern That Actually Fits
Down, down-up, up-down-up. Keep it loose. The first two downs anchor the beat, then the triples fill out the measure. Try it slow at 60 BPM first, then ramp up to the actual tempo. Most people rush the strum and sound like they are playing something entirely different from the recording. The bridge is where things get interesting. It moves to C – G – Am – Em, which gives that lifted feeling before dropping back into the chorus. Play the Am with a full barre if you can, or just the top three strings if your wrist is tired. I usually skip the barre on live sets because my hand cramps after the third song.
capo and Tuning Notes
No capo needed. Standard tuning, E-A-D-G-B-E. Some players put a capo on the second fret and play in the key of A to match the original vocal range better, but then you are transposing everything. If you want it exactly like the record, stick with G as written and sing along without the capo. Your voice will be lower than Laufey's, but that is fine — this song works at any comfortable range. One thing nobody mentions: the original track uses a pedal steel sound in the intro. You can approximate it with a slide on your guitar, or just ignore it and start straight on the G chord. The melody enters right after anyway, so missing the intro trick isn't going to ruin the performance.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
People switch from D to G too early in the chorus. Hold the D until the vocal hits "from the start" on that high note, then move. Also, the Em to C transition gets sloppy fast because your index finger lifts before the new chord settles. Practice that change separately at half speed until it clicks. Another thing: the outro fades on a sustained G with a little vibrato on the high E string. Don't just stop strumming — let it ring and fade naturally. It gives the ending proper closure instead of sounding abrupt.
