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The Hard Way

Chords

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/32

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 32Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

------------------------------------
(These are the chords for the acoustic (rhythm) guitar; capo at the 2nd
 fret.  The electric guitars play it in D with no capo.  Frankly, either way
 is pretty easy, but I wrote the chords down for the acoustic.  The tab at
(It sounds okay to play E7 instead of G#dim7.)
(I play C5 as x3x013 and G#dim7 as xx0101 or x20101.)
(Each chord is half a measure.)
[Intro]
no capo on the electrics.)
e|-A----0---Bm----0---|G----0----A----0--|A----0---Bm----0---|G----0---A----0---|
B|---2---2---3---3-|--3---3----2--2-|--2---2---3---3-|--3---3---2---2-|
G|-2-------4-------|0--------2------|2-------4-------|0-------2-------|
D|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|-----------------|--------------5-|7-7-7-7-9-9-9-5-|5-5-5-5-7-7-7-7-|
E|-----------------|--------------3-|5-5-5-5-7-7-7-3-|3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5-|
                                  *  *     * *     *    *   * *       (accents)
   ^   ^   ^   ^    ^   ^   ^   ^    ^   ^   ^   ^    ^   ^   ^   ^   (timing)
[Intro]
G(elAmectrFic GguitaGr(sAm))  F(whGole bCandC)C/E  F  C  C  C/E  F  
[Chorus 1]
   C  CShow a little C/EinspirFation,    C  Cshow a little C/EsparkF  
   CAnd Cshow that things that C/Edrew me tFo you and sCtole mCy heartC/E  F  
   CAnd Ctell me something C/EI don't knFow instead of CeverythCing I dC/EoF  
   CAnd Clook at me as C/Eif I mFean sComething to CyouC/E  F  
[Verse 1]
  GOur hearts are Gbeating whG#dimile we slG#dimeep, but Amwhile we're wAm/Gide awD7/F#akeD7/F#  
You know the Fworld won't C5stop, and aC5ctions speak C5louder
FListen to your C5heart, and what your C5heart might C5say
GEverything we Amgot, we gFot the hGard wayC  C  C/E  F  
[Chorus 2]
 CShCow a little paC/Ession, Fbaby,    C  Cshow a little C/EstyleF  
 CAnd shCow the knack for knowiC/Eng when aFnd the gift Cfor kCnowing C/EhowF  
 CAnd haCve a little trust C/Ein us when Ffear obscures Cthe paCthC/E  F  
 CYou knCow we got this C/Efar, FdarliCng, not by lCuck, but by C/Enever Fturning back
[Verse 2]
GSome will call on Gdestiny, G#dimbut I jusG#dimt call on AmfaithAm/G  D7/F#  D7/F#  
That the worlFd won't stopC5, and actioC5ns speak loudC5er
FListen to your C5heart, to what your hC5eart might sC5ay
GEverything we Amgot, we gFot the hGard wayC  C  C  C  
[Bridge]
   Em7Caught up Em7in our Flittle livFes,    Cthere's not a lCot left oGverGsus4  G  
   Em7I see what's Em7missing iAm7n your eAm7/Gyes; you're F(9)searching F(9)for that Gsus4field of Gclover
[Instrumental]
C  C  C/E  F    C  C  C/E  F
C  C  C/E  F    C  C  C/E  F
[Chorus 3]
  CSCo show a littlC/Ee inspFiratioCn,    Cshow a littlC/Ee sparkF  
  CShow Cthe world a little ligC/Eht when yFou show it Cyour hCeartC/E  F  
GWe've got two livGes, one weG#dim're given G#dimand the Amother one we Dmake
   And the woFrld won't stC5op, and actC5ions speak loC5uder
  GListen to yoAmur heart, Fand youGr heart CmigCht CsayC  
[Outro]
GEverything we Amgot, we gFot the hGard (Geverything we Amgot, we gFot the hGard way)
GEverything we Amgot, we gFot the hGard wCayC  C/E  F  
      C   C(because the C/Eworld won't Fstop)  hang on, bCaby...C  C/E  F  
[Instrumental]
   C     C       C/E     F     C     C       C/E     Ffade.

All chords in this song (17)

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The Hard Way

by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

C/E

G#dim

Am/G

D7/F#

Em7

Gsus4

Am7

Am7/G

F(9)

------------------------------------

(These are the chords for the acoustic (rhythm) guitar; capo at the 2nd

fret. The electric guitars play it in D with no capo. Frankly, either way

is pretty easy, but I wrote the chords down for the acoustic. The tab at

(It sounds okay to play E7 instead of G#dim7.)

(I play C5 as x3x013 and G#dim7 as xx0101 or x20101.)

(Each chord is half a measure.)

[Intro]

no capo on the electrics.)

A Bm G A A Bm G A

e|-----0-------0---|----0--------0--|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|

B|---2---2---3---3-|--3---3----2--2-|--2---2---3---3-|--3---3---2---2-|

G|-2-------4-------|0--------2------|2-------4-------|0-------2-------|

D|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

A|-----------------|--------------5-|7-7-7-7-9-9-9-5-|5-5-5-5-7-7-7-7-|

E|-----------------|--------------3-|5-5-5-5-7-7-7-3-|3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5-|

* * * * * * * * (accents)

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ (timing)

[Intro]

G Am F G G Am F G C C C/E F C C C/E F

(electric guitar(s)) (whole band)

[Chorus 1]

C C C/E F C C C/E F

Show a little inspiration, show a little spark

C C C/E F C C C/E F

And show that things that drew me to you and stole my heart

C C C/E F C C C/E F

And tell me something I don't know instead of everything I do

C C C/E F C C C/E F

And look at me as if I mean something to you

[Verse 1]

G G G#dim G#dim Am Am/G D7/F# D7/F#

Our hearts are beating while we sleep, but while we're wide awake

F C5 C5 C5

You know the world won't stop, and actions speak louder

F C5 C5 C5

Listen to your heart, and what your heart might say

G Am F G C C C/E F

Everything we got, we got the hard way

[Chorus 2]

C C C/E F C C C/E F

Show a little passion, baby, show a little style

C C C/E F C C C/E F

And show the knack for knowing when and the gift for knowing how

C C C/E F C C C/E F

And have a little trust in us when fear obscures the path

C C C/E F C C C/E F

You know we got this far, darling, not by luck, but by never turning back

[Verse 2]

G G G#dim G#dim Am Am/G D7/F# D7/F#

Some will call on destiny, but I just call on faith

F C5 C5 C5

That the world won't stop, and actions speak louder

F C5 C5 C5

Listen to your heart, to what your heart might say

G Am F G C C C C

Everything we got, we got the hard way

[Bridge]

Em7 Em7 F F C C G Gsus4 G

Caught up in our little lives, there's not a lot left over

Em7 Em7 Am7 Am7/G F(9) F(9) Gsus4 G

I see what's missing in your eyes; you're searching for that field of clover

[Instrumental]

C C C/E F C C C/E F

[Chorus 3]

C C C/E F C C C/E F

So show a little inspiration, show a little spark

C C C/E F C C C/E F

Show the world a little light when you show it your heart

G G G#dim G#dim Am D

We've got two lives, one we're given and the other one we make

F C5 C5 C5

And the world won't stop, and actions speak louder

G Am F G C C C C

Listen to your heart, and your heart might say

[Outro]

G Am F G G Am F G

Everything we got, we got the hard (everything we got, we got the hard way)

G Am F G C C C/E F

Everything we got, we got the hard way

C C C/E F C C C/E F

(because the world won't stop) hang on, baby...

[Instrumental]

C C C/E F C C C/E F

fade.

About The Hard Way Chords by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Learn how to play The Hard Way by Mary Chapin Carpenter with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Hard Way chords”, “The Hard Way guitar chords”, or “Mary Chapin Carpenter The Hard Way chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Hard Way chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Hard Way lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, E7, G#, A, Bm, G.

FAQ — The Hard Way by Mary Chapin Carpenter

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