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Skinny Love

Chords

4.74,238 votes

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KeyOriginal

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Tune 1/4 step down from E standard tuning to get the original
[Intro]
|      Am|       C|      C|      C|
|      Am|       C|      C|      C|
|      Am|       C|      C|      C|
|  D6sus2|  D6sus2|     Am|  Am    C|
|       C|       C|      C|      C|
[Verse 1]
AmCome on skinny lCove, just last the year
AmPour a little sCalt, we were never here
My, my, Ammy, my, my, Cmy, my, my
Staring at the D6sus2sink of blood and crushed venAmeerFmaj7/C  
[Verse 2]
AmI tell my Clove to wreck it all
AmCut out all the Cropes and let me fall
My, my, Ammy, my, my, Cmy, my, my
Right in this D6sus2moment this order's tallAm  
[Chorus]
And I Ctold you to be patient
And I C/Btold you to be Ffine
And I Ctold you to be balanced
And I Gtold you to be Fkind
And in the Cmorning I'll be with you
But it will C/Bbe a different "Fkind"
And I'll be Cholding all the tickets
And you'll be C/Bowning all the Ffines
[Verse 3]
AmCome on skinny lCove, what happened here
AmSuckle on the Chope in light brassiere
My, my, Ammy, my, my, Cmy, my, my
Sullen load is D6sus2full; so slow on the spAmlitFmaj7/C  
[Chorus]
And I Ctold you to be patient
And I C/Btold you to be Ffine
And I Ctold you to be balanced
And I Gtold you to be Fkind
And now Call your love is wasted
So then C/Bwho the hell was FI?
And I'm Cbreaking at the britches
And at the C/Bend of all your lFines
[Outro]
CWho will love you?
C/BWho will fFight?
CWho will falC/Bl far beFhind?
[Coda]
|      Am|       C|      C|      C|
|      Am|       C|      C|      C|
|      Am|       C|      C|      C|
|  D6sus2|  D6sus2|     Am|  Am    C| C  

All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

"Skinny Love" explores the fragile nature of a relationship where two people are together out of need rather than genuine connection. The songwriter, Justin Vernon, described it as being about that specific time in a relationship when you're seeking help from your partner, but that's not a strong foundation for love—it's "skinny." This song, from Bon Iver's 2007 debut album For Emma, Forever Ago, delves into the raw emotion of a love that might be unsustainable. Playing it can evoke a sense of poignant introspection about the complexities of human connection.

AI-written from these sources:Skinny Love — Wikipedia ↗Bon Iver — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Skinny Love

by Bon Iver

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D6sus2

Fmaj7/C

C/B

Tune 1/4 step down from E standard tuning to get the original

[Intro]

Am C C C

| | | | |

Am C C C

| | | | |

Am C C C

| | | | |

D6sus2 D6sus2 Am Am C

| | | | |

C C C C

| | | | |

[Verse 1]

Am C

Come on skinny love, just last the year

Am C

Pour a little salt, we were never here

Am C

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my

D6sus2 Am Fmaj7/C

Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

[Verse 2]

Am C

I tell my love to wreck it all

Am C

Cut out all the ropes and let me fall

Am C

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my

D6sus2 Am

Right in this moment this order's tall

[Chorus]

And I told you to be patient

C/B F

And I told you to be fine

And I told you to be balanced

G F

And I told you to be kind

And in the morning I'll be with you

C/B F

But it will be a different "kind"

And I'll be holding all the tickets

C/B F

And you'll be owning all the fines

[Verse 3]

Am C

Come on skinny love, what happened here

Am C

Suckle on the hope in light brassiere

Am C

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my

D6sus2 Am Fmaj7/C

Sullen load is full; so slow on the split

[Chorus]

And I told you to be patient

C/B F

And I told you to be fine

And I told you to be balanced

G F

And I told you to be kind

And now all your love is wasted

C/B F

So then who the hell was I?

And I'm breaking at the britches

C/B F

And at the end of all your lines

[Outro]

Who will love you?

C/B F

Who will fight?

C C/B F

Who will fall far behind?

[Coda]

Am C C C

| | | | |

Am C C C

| | | | |

Am C C C

| | | | |

D6sus2 D6sus2 Am Am C C

| | | | |

About Skinny Love Chords by Bon Iver

Learn how to play Skinny Love by Bon Iver with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Skinny Love chords”, “Skinny Love guitar chords”, or “Bon Iver Skinny Love 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 Skinny Love chords and for experienced players who want accurate Skinny Love lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, Am, C, D6sus2, Fmaj7/C, C/B.

FAQ — Skinny Love by Bon Iver

How do I play "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver free?

Yes. The chords for "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Skinny Love" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Skinny Love" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Skinny Love"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Skinny Love" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Skinny Love" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bon Iver below.

What key is "Skinny Love" in?

The chords for "Skinny Love" show the original chord names (including E, Am, C, D6sus2, Fmaj7/C, C/B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.