The Unofficial David Cook Guitar Chord Anthology

This is a compilation of guitar chords born of the All About the Music thread here on DCO. We've come up with them different ways - some of us work them out in our heads, or on pianos or guitars, or we find them on the internet and play around with them to see if they sound right. This blog is an effort to compile them in a single handy reference you can turn to whenever you're in the mood to channel your inner Andy Skib.

You can, of course, also find chords for many of Cook's songs online at sites like ultimate-guitar.com. They're a good resource; just remember that anyone can post tabs to these sites, so sometimes the tabs are good, and sometimes they're terrible. I haven't looked at many, myself, but I'd be happy to add links to any reasonable ones you find. Just let me know.

Finally, here is a site that has charts for just about any chord you might want to play on the guitar. Don't let the names of some of these chords intimidate you, if you're just beginning to play. Many of them are easier to play than they are to pronounce (e.g., the F - major - ninth chord linked above).

And, while I'm linking things, let me put in a plug for one of my favorite sites, guitarnoise.com. A guy named David Hodge writes a column called "Easy Songs for Beginners" in which he comes up with easy-to-play arrangements of well-known rock songs. I like it because he doesn't just hand it to you; he walks you through the process of coming up with the arrangement, so you can't help but learn something about how a musician might think. For me, it's been a fun way to learn new things.

So...

.
.
Songs from DAVID COOK (The Record)
********************************************************

Light On chords, courtesy of some dudes in t-shirts. Bonus points if you catch the part where the subtitle guy (*cough*zatyou,Skib?*cough*) messes up.

.
.

Life on the Moon chords, courtesy of minstrel

(Note: This is the recorded version. The Sirius acoustic version is in a lower key. Based on someone else's tab, found online. The riff really makes this because the chords themselves are ridiculously simple. It is pretty easy to work out the riff by ear.)

intro (riff).... Bm, Gmaj7 (x20002), D, A
verse: Bm Gmaj7 D A Bm Gmaj7 D A A7
prechorus: G Em Bm A G A
chorus: Bm G D A F#7 (xx2322), Bm G D A Bm F#7 Gmaj7 (riff, but only half of it)
repeat verse/prechorus/chorus
bridge (getting lost etc): Em G Em A Em G D A
chorus
coda (Iife on the moon, life on the moon, the life that i knew etc): Bm G D A F#7 Bm Gmaj7 D A

extro: Bm G D A

.
.

Mr. Sensitive 'harmonic riff', courtesy of normanthecat

Open strings, use your left hand to finger the harmonics at xx7xxx - xxxx7x - x9xxxx - xxx7xx
The third note is tricky, and I can't make it very loud, but after watching this a few dozen times, I'm pretty sure it's what NFT is doing.

Mr Sensitive chords, tab: HERE

.
.

Lie chords, courtesy of normanthecat

(Playing around with the sus2/sus4/maj7 chords – really, just playing the notes C – C-B-C, C – C-B-C, C – C-B-C, D-C-B on the second string – makes it sound a little bit more like the original than just playing the regular ol’ chords.)

Intro: Am7 (sus2) - C (maj7) - F (sus4) – G (sus4) (x2)

Verse 1: Am7 – C – F – G (x3)
Em (Don’t say a word, I’m O...) F (..kay with the quiet…)
Em – F – G
Am7 – C – F – G (x3)
Em – F
Em – F – G

Verse 2: Same as Verse 1

Chorus: Am – C – F – G (x 3)
F – G – Am – G (Look me in the eye..)
F - G - Am (and lie, lie, lie)

Verse 3, same as Verse 1

Chorus 2, same as Chorus 1 until last line, then
F (lie) – G (lie)– C (lie) – Cmaj7 – Csus2 – C (into bridge)

Bridge: C – Cmaj7 – Csus2 – C (Don’t want to believe…)
Am7 – Am7sus2 – Am7sus4 – Am7(Let the cameras…)
Dm (Tomorrow’s all wrong if) F (you walk away, just)
G (Stay)

Repeat chorus twice; second time end with 2 measures each of F and G (lie, lie), then into intro pattern for third and final “lie.” End on some version of Am.

.
.

Avalanche chords, courtesy of minstrel

F, Am, C, G (x2), D7, F for verse
C, G, Am, Am7, F, C, G, Am or Am7, D, F, G, F/C, Am C, G for chorus. (second iteration of chorus goes on from where with another loop through Am, Am7, D7, F, G)
Final Chorus: C, G, Am, Am7, F, C, G, Am, Am7, D7/F, C, F, Am, Am7, F, C, G, Am, D, F, G, Am, Am7, C, D7, F, G
Coda: F, Am, C, G

.
.

I Did It for Youchords, courtesy of minstrel
Based on chords found online; play at Capo 2 to match the key of the original....
Verse: G C G C D C
Chorus: G C Am C G
Repeat verse
Repeat chorus 2x ("you turn away," followed by "I searched my soul")
Bridge ("try to let you know"): Em (you can walk down from the G that ends the chorus, here) D C Am G
repeat half the verse (G C G) and then right into the chorus, 2x
coda: G C Am C G
Typically I'd play the "rock" G here (320033) instead of the standard folky G (320003). The tab had Asus for all the Am, but this is clearly not harmonically consistent with what's on DCTR.

.
.

Permanent chords, courtesy of Bumble

Intro: Dm C Am Bb2
Verse:
Dm C Am Bb2
Dm C Am Bb2
Gm Dm C
Chorus:
F C Am Bb2
F C Am Bb2
**back to intro/verse/chorus**
Bridge:
Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm7
Bbmaj7 C D C/E
Last Verse:
Dm C Am Bb2
Dm C Am Gm

These are the chords to the CD version. The live version is a half-step lower and the bridge is slightly different. I can post the transposed chords if anyone would rather have those.

The piano intro is very distinct and doesn't follow these chords exactly, but these chords are close to the basis of what is being played. For instance, in the beginning the left hand (bass note) is playing D, C, A, Bb on the downbeat of each measure. The right hand (in the upper octave) plays {F A E}, {F G E}, {F G E}, {F F(octave lower) C Bb}.

.
.

A Daily AntheM chords, courtesy of minstrel:

The recorded version is in D sharp, but I just use capo 2 in G, which produces the song in A, because I find this easier to sing. (G, C , Em, C, G / G, C, Em, G, C, Am for the verse.... chorus is G, Gmaj9, Em C, G, twice..... bridge is C, Em, G, C, Em, D, C Em, D......then verse again..... final oohhhs are G, Gmaj9, Em, C G.)
This is not what David is singing or playing, but... works for me.

.
.

Good TOML tab, found by minstrel

.
.
.

Songs from ANALOG HEART
*********************************************************

Straight Ahead chords, courtesy of Bumble

Intro:
Db~Ab/Db (back & forth, but when the bass comes in, it just stays on the Db, the lead electrics play the notes Db-------C----, and then add the notes F-------Eb---- on top of that)
Db, Db/F, Gb2
Verse:
Db, Gb2 (each held for 4 measures)
Db, Gb2 (same)
Ab ["could you play me..."], Db/F, Gb2
1st Chorus:
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7 (might be a Gbmaj9 here in the choruses, but it's hard to tell on piano)
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7 or Gb2/Db?--not sure about this last chord in the first chorus, but it sounds like the bass is holding out that Db
Verse chords
2nd Chorus:
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7
Db, Db/F, Gbmaj7
Db, Db/F, right into Bridge on "straight aheaaadddd...."
Bridge:
Gbmaj9, Db
This is where they hit the chords, the Db chords are on the 'and' of beats 3 & 4
OR, capo on the first fret, play these chords:
Intro:
C~G/C
C, C/E, F2
Verse:
C, F2 (each held for 4 measures)
C, F2 (same)
G ["could you play me..."], C/E, F2
1st Chorus:
C, C/E, Fmaj7 (might be a Fmaj9 here in the choruses, but it's hard to tell on piano)
C, C/E, Fmaj7
C, C/E, Fmaj7
C, C/E, Fmaj7 or F2/C?--not sure about this last chord in the first chorus, but it sounds like the bass is holding out that C
Verse chords
2nd Chorus:
C, C/E, Fmaj7
C, C/E, Fmaj7
C, C/E, Fmaj7
C, C/E, right into Bridge on "straight aheaaadddd...."
Bridge:
Fmaj9, C

.
.

Fall Back into Me chords, courtesy of minstrel
An online tab suggests this be done in Drop D, but I find it much easier to play in standard tuning, using Capo 1, with the following progression:
Verse: A D G, A D followed by F#m E D("didn't lose it all again")
Prechorus (it could've been different): D E D E
Chorus: A E D (2x, you can vary the D with a Dsus4 if desired)
Interlude: A D G A
Verse: repeat verse above ("congratulations etc"), then repeat prechorus and chorus
Bridge ("I was a name across your lips"): F#m E D F#m E D
The remainder of this is variants on the chorus and verse... as a single voice with one guitar you can work out what you like, because on the record it's multiple parts, which you can't duplicate as one person. But it's all just A E D ... and the last chord is some variant of D that i have not sussed out yet... but it SOUNDS like xx0225 (position relative to the capo), which i guess would be the equivalent of a D aug5, but with no third...
.
Variation on Fall Back into Me chords, courtesy of jayelgee1:
G6 Cmaj7 G6 D Cmaj7 for the verse ( I found that kind of "pulsing" the beat instead of a full strum sets up a good pattern and you can then do the vocal sliding that David does along with filling in the chords more)
chorus: again, G6 Cmaj7 (and then I like ) Am7 G6.
bridge : Em D Cmaj7 Am7 G6

.
.

The Truth chords, courtesy of Bumble

Verse:
Ab(sometimes an Ab2), Eb, Fmin, Db2
Chorus:
Ab(sometimes an Ab2), Eb, Db2, Db2/Gb~Db2*
Bridge:
Fm9, Gb, Db2
*On the end of most phrases in the chorus, he jumps from the Gb in the bass back to the Db
This is the basic chord structure. Again, this is a piano translation, which is not always exact. There are some other 2nds, 6ths, etc. thrown in there, but it's hard to pick up.
Or, you can capo the first fret and play these (easier!) chords:
Verse:
G(sometimes a G2), D, Emin, C2
Chorus:
G(sometimes a G2), D, C2, C2/F~C2
Bridge:
Em9, F, C2

The Truth, variations by minstrel

I always play Truth at capo 1 -- much less cumbersome.
he does this chromatic thing on the recording on verse one, which i enjoy approximating (at capo 1) with A5 (x022xx), D, A7sus4 (xx2203), Em, A5, D, A7sus4, C....
but the rest of it? I play pretty much what you've offered, capo 1 version, other than just Em rather than Em9, and sometimes C not C2. (and then in the chorus at the end of the 2d line, make or break my day, C, F, C ... and 'any other way', C, C/F, C, as you've suggested with the C2 version).

.
.
.

AXIUM songs
********************************************************
Balance chords, courtesy of Bumble

(note from ntc: if you tune down 1/2 step, you can play in the key of A, which is a nice key to play in. For instance, the chorus would be E-D-Asus2-A.)

Intro:
Cm7 Abmaj9
Verse:
Cm7 Abmaj9
Interlude back into verse:
Bb5(no 3rd) Ab sus2
Pre-chorus:
Bb5(no 3rd) Ab sus2 [walk away it's your time.....]
Chorus:
Eb Db2 Ab sus2~Ab (vacillates between those 2)

Still chords, courtesy of Bumble
Intro:
Db sus2 Bbm7 Ab sus4 Gb sus2
Verse:
Db sus2 Bbm7 Ab sus4 Gb sus2
Chorus:
Ebm (Fm)Gb [and I'm still standing waiting for you....]
*that Fm is a quick 'pick-up' chord into the Gb
Ebm (Fm)Gb [and I'll keep on demanding...]
Ebm (Fm)Gb [and I'll keep on living....]
Db Absus4 Dbsus2 [cause I've seen love...]
Bridge:
(Ab/C) *quick pick-up chord from the Dbsus2 at the end of the chorus into the downbeat of the bridge
Bbm Gb Db Absus4 [I'm tired of complaining....]
Bbm Gb Db Absus [I'll always live to be....]
Back into intro/verse chords

For those that want it in an easier key:

(note from ntc: again, another choice is to tune down a half-step and play in the key of D, which is a nice key for the guitar. For instance, you'd have Dsus2-Bm7-Asus4-Gsus2 as your intro/chorus chord progression.)

Intro:
Csus2 Am7 Gsus4 Fsus2
Verse:
Csus2 Am7 Gsus4 Fsus2
Chorus:
Dm (Em)F [and I'm still standing waiting for you....]
*that Fm is a quick 'pick-up' chord into the Gb
Dm (Em)F [and I'll keep on demanding...]
Dm (Em)F [and I'll keep on living....]
C Gsus4 Csus2 [cause I've seen love...]
Bridge:
(G/B) *quick pick-up chord from the Csus2 at the end of the chorus into the downbeat of the bridge
Am F C Gsus4 [I'm tired of complaining....]
Am F C Gsus4 [I'll always live to be....]
Back into intro/verse chords

ETA: Just saw that some other chords for Still were posted by minstrel earlier. Really strange that we would both post the same song.......is David messing with our minds so much that we are starting to THINK alike? lol
Anyway, our approach to the chording is different. I DO think you need those minor chords in there to stay true to the song, but YMMV...

Variation on chords for Still, courtesy of minstrel

Still

Intro
C Csus4 (x02010) Gsus4 (32001x) F
(B string can be fingered at 3rd fret as the chords change to match the strum pattern on the recording, creating the passing chords Cadd9, Dadd9sus4, and Dsus4)

C Csus4
Reflections in the waves of my eyes
Gsus4 (32001x) F
My mind's a million shining seas
C Csus4
My life's grounded in the colors of the night
Gsus4 F
And I'm left answering your pleas

G/B (x20033) F
And I'm still standing
Waiting for you
G/B (x20033) F
And I'll keep on demanding
Let these feelings subdue
G/B (x20033) F
And I'll keep on living
With my heart on my sleeve
C Gsus4
'Cause I've seen love
And I still believe

C Csus4 (x02010) Gsus4 (32001x) F
(repeat verse chords)
But inspiration escapes me
As I look into my dreams
My hands are open for promise
And I fall apart at the seams
(repeat chorus chords)
And I'm still standing
Waiting for you
And I'll keep on demanding
That these feelings subdue
And I'll keep on living
With my heart on my sleeve
'Cause I've seen love
And I still believe

C F
I'm tired of complaining
C
I'm tired of restraining on you
Gsus4 (passes through Dsus4)
Feelings from you
C F
I'll always live to be
C
The one who selflessly
Gsus4
Gave all my heart
C (repeats intro chords, finishes with F)
If you only knew

I'll keep on living
With my heart on my sleeve
'Cause I know love
And I still believe

.
.
.

Songs from the MWK Catalog
*********************************************************

Anodyne chords, courtesy of Bumble

Intro/Verses: Emaj9 (keeps that D# and F# in the chord) G#m B Emaj9
Chorus: (How many times will I play the hero?)
B2 G#m Emaj9 F# (the F# is a quick pick-up into the downbeat of the B2)
repeat this three times, but the last time don't play the F#; go from the Emaj 9 into:
C# E F# (where they all sing "How many times before we're through")
So those last lines with the chords look like this:
How many [times] [C#] before we're [through] [E]; how many [lives] [F#] till another you
Bridge: (The scars are slowly healing)
E G#m B Emaj7 (play this twice)
And then it goes into:
Emaj9 F# G#m C#m9 (the line for "the great white ships...")
And then:
Emaj9 F# G#m A {F#/A#} ("the four last hooves...")
And then back into the chorus
Finish it out with the Intro/Verse chords
These were done on piano, and I know they don't always translate well into the guitar. I know the bass notes are right, but it's difficult sometimes to tell if the guitars are playing 2nds, 7ths, or 9ths--so you can play around with that to get the right feel.

Anodyne chords, transposed up 1/2 step by normanthecat

(to play in the same key as the recording, tune guitar down 1/2 step to Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb)

Intro/Verses: Fmaj9 (keeps that E and G in the chord) Am C Fmaj9
Chorus: (How many times will I play the hero?)
Csus2 Am Fmaj9 G (the G is a quick pick-up into the downbeat of the Csus2)
repeat this three times, but the last time don't play the G - go from the Fmaj 9 into:
D F G (where they all sing "How many times before we're through")
So those last lines with the chords look like this:
How many [times] [D] before we're [through] [F]; how many [lives] [G] till another you
Bridge: (The scars are slowly healing)
F Am C Fmaj7 (play this twice)
And then it goes into:
Fmaj9 G Am Dm9 (the line for "the great white ships...")
And then:
Fmaj9 G Am Bb {G/B} ("the four last hooves...")
And then back into the chorus
Finish it out with the Intro/Verse chords

.
.

Stuck Under Wheels chords, courtesy of normanthecat

No, Cook has never sung this song from Luna Despierta. But, where the hell else am I going to post it? It's just an approximation of the chords for the verses and chorus; the bridge isn't here And to make it sound right, you've got to play around with the chords some, but I'm not good enough to explain it here.

Verse: 4 lines of C#m (x2 measures), B (x2 measures) (or maybe B then F#?)

Chorus: 2 lines of C#m/E/B/F#

The bridge I'm still a little fuzzy on.

I've tried playing it tuned 1/2-step down playing Dm, C (or Dm, C, G) for the verse and Dm/F/C/G for the chorus and it works pretty well. But you've got to mess around with it a little to make it sound right...

.
.
.

COVERS of songs by other artists
****************************

Collective Soul's The World I Know - chords written down by The Man Himself for so_not_funny, amended by minstrel

Verse: Bm D G (4x)
Prechorus: A G
Chorus: D A Bm G D A C G

He finishes with Bm G D G

.
.
.

A Stretch - songs Cook has sung bits of with his opening acts, or whatever
*****************************

Ryan Star's Breathe chords courtesy of normanthecat

Capo 1st fret
(If you play the verse chord progression as G, D/F#, A/E, D/F#), you get a pretty-sounding (mostly) descending bass line. I don't know if Ryan does that or not, but I like it.)

Verse:
G(She's) D(fine, mo-) A(-ost of the) D(time)
G D A A
G D A D
G D A A
G D A A

Chorus:
D(Breathe, just) A(breathe, take the) G(world off your shoulders, and put it on me) (A)
D A G (A)

Repeat Verse, Chorus

Bridge:
Bm(Let go of the fe-) G(-ear, let go of the do-) D(-oubt, let go of the o-) A(-ones who try to push you do-)
Bm(-own... You're gonna, etc.) G D A
G(Yeah...) A(...eah!)

And, Chorus (/start real quiet-like, and build/) D(Breathe...)