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Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Chords

4.71,121 votes

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1/49

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 49Position: 1

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: Standard
Capo: 3rd fret
Play: Em
Key: Gm
For chords in original key transpose this tab +3 steps (and "use flats").
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* [Intro]
 [Em7    [Em6   [Cmaj7/E  [Em      [Am              [Bsus4  [B       
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|------------320-|----------------|0---0-----------|
B|3---3---2---2---|1---1---0---0---|1---1-----------|0---0---4---4---|
G|0---0---0---0---|0---0---0-------|2---2-12--------|4-------4---4---|
D|2---2---2---2---|2---2---2-------|2---2-h-2-------|--4---4-4-4---4-|
A|2-------2-------|2-------2-------|0-------0-3-2-0-|2-------2-------|
E|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|----------------|----------------|
** Turnaround in the verses/choruses
 [G  [F#m7-5 [B7sus4
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  
e|3---3---x---0---|
B|0---0---1-0-0-4-|
G|0---0---2---2---|
D|0---0---2---x---|
A|x---x---x---2---|
E|3---3---2-------|
*** Transition to chorus
 [G      [D/F#
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  
e|x---x-----------|
B|0---0-------3-0-|
G|0---0---2-0-2---|
D|0---0---0-------|
A|x---x---x-------|
E|3---3---2-------|
**** [Coda]
 [Em7    [Em6   [Cmaj7/E      [Em  [Am(6)  [B7      [Em7
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|0
B|3---3---2---2---|1---1---0---0---|1-------0-------|3
G|0---0---0---0---|0---0---0---2---|2-----------2---|0
D|2---2---2---2---|2---2---2---2---|2---4---1---1---|2
A|2-------2-------|2-------2-------|0-------2-------|2
E|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|----------------|0
| h  hammer-on
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL CHORDS / VOICINGS
[Intro]/ [Outro]
          E-A-D-G-B-e
Em7       0-2-2-0-3-x
Em6       0-2-2-0-2-x
Em(b6)    0-2-2-0-1-x (= Cmaj7/B in the chord sheet)
Em        0-2-2-0-0-x
Bsus4     x-2-4-4-0-0
B         x-2-4-4-4-x
[Verse] / [Chorus]
F#m7-5    2-x-2-2-1-x
D/F#      2-x-0-2-3-x
Bsus4     x-2-4-4-0-0
B         x-2-4-4-4-x
Am9       x-0-5-5-0-0 or 5-3-2-0-0-0, easier: x-0-2-0-0-0 (no 3rd)
[Chorus]
C/E       x-x-2-0-1-0
B7/D#     x-x-1-2-0(0)
Em/D      x-x-0-0-0-0
A/C#      x-4-2-2-2(0)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
|  Em7   Em6|  Cmaj7/E   Em|  Am|  Bsus4   B|
  (see tab section: *)
[Verse 1]
 EmWhat have I got to do to Em7make you Amlove me
                         D        D7|      G    F#m7-5   B7sus4|
 What have I got to do to make you care  (see tab section: **)
 EmWhat do I Em7do when lightning Amstrikes me
                        D          D7|      G    F#m7-5   B7sus4|
 And I wake to find that you're not there  (see tab section: **)
[Verse 2]
 EmWhat do I Em7do to make you Amwant me
                      D     D7|      G    F#m7-5   B7sus4|
 What have I got to do to be heard  (see tab section: **)
 EmWhat do I Em7say when it's all Amover
                         D      D7|      G   D/F#|
And sorry seems to be the hardest word  (see tab section: ***)
[Chorus]
 C/EIt's sad,  B7/D#so sad
  Em/DIt's a sad, sad A/C#situation
                C      Bsus4      B|      Em    F#m7-5   B7sus4|
And it's getting more and more absurd  (see tab section: **)
 C/EIt's sadB7/D#,  so sad
 Em/DWhy can't we A/C#talk it over
COh it seems to me
  C/BThat Amsorry seems to B7sus4be the B7hardest Emword
[Solo]
|  Em   Em7|  Am|  D     D7|   G   F#m7-5   B7sus4|
                           (see tab section: **)
|  Em   Em7|  Am|  D     D7|   G   D/F#|
                       (see tab section: ***)
[Chorus]
 C/EIt's sad,  B7/D#so sad
  Em/DIt's a sad, sad A/C#situation
                 C      Bsus4      B|      Em    F#m7-5   B7sus4|
 And it's getting more and more absurd  (see tab section: **)
C/EIt's sad,  B7/D#so sad
 Em/DWhy can't we A/C#talk it over
COh it seems to me
  C/BThat Amsorry seems to B7sus4be the B7hardest Emword
[Verse 3]
 EmWhat do I do to make you Amlove me
                    D      D7|      G    F#m7-5   B7sus4|
 What have I got to do to be heard  (see tab section: **)
 EmWhat do I Em7do when lightning Amstrikes me
F#m7-5What have I got to B7do
EmWhat have I got to Am9do
When F#m7-5sorry seems to B7be 
           [  Em7]
The hardest word
[Coda]
|  Em7   Em6|  Cmaj7/E   Em|    Am   B7sus4   B7| Em7  
 (see tab section: ****)

All chords in this song (21)

The story behind the song

This mournful ballad captures the heartbreaking feeling of a romantic relationship falling apart. It explores the difficulty of expressing regret and the struggle to save something that feels already lost, a situation many can relate to. Elton John wrote the melody and much of the lyrics for this 1976 song, with Bernie Taupin completing it, beginning with the line, "What have I got to do to make you love me." At its heart, it plays like a plea for reconciliation, even when hope seems dim.

AI-written from these sources:Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word — Wikipedia ↗Elton John — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

by Elton John

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Em7

Em6

Cmaj7/E

Bsus4

F#m7-5

B7sus4

D/F#

C/E

B7/D#

Em/D

A/C#

C/B

Am9

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

Tuning: Standard

Capo: 3rd fret

Play: Em

Key: Gm

For chords in original key transpose this tab +3 steps (and "use flats").

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

* [Intro]

[Em7 [Em6 [Cmaj7/E [Em [Am [Bsus4 [B

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

e|----------------|------------320-|----------------|0---0-----------|

B|3---3---2---2---|1---1---0---0---|1---1-----------|0---0---4---4---|

G|0---0---0---0---|0---0---0-------|2---2-12--------|4-------4---4---|

D|2---2---2---2---|2---2---2-------|2---2-h-2-------|--4---4-4-4---4-|

A|2-------2-------|2-------2-------|0-------0-3-2-0-|2-------2-------|

E|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|----------------|----------------|

** Turnaround in the verses/choruses

[G [F#m7-5 [B7sus4

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

e|3---3---x---0---|

B|0---0---1-0-0-4-|

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

D|0---0---2---x---|

A|x---x---x---2---|

E|3---3---2-------|

*** Transition to chorus

[G [D/F#

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

e|x---x-----------|

B|0---0-------3-0-|

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

D|0---0---0-------|

A|x---x---x-------|

E|3---3---2-------|

**** [Coda]

[Em7 [Em6 [Cmaj7/E [Em [Am(6) [B7 [Em7

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1

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

B|3---3---2---2---|1---1---0---0---|1-------0-------|3

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

D|2---2---2---2---|2---2---2---2---|2---4---1---1---|2

A|2-------2-------|2-------2-------|0-------2-------|2

E|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|----------------|0

| h hammer-on

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

SPECIAL CHORDS / VOICINGS

[Intro]/ [Outro]

E-A-D-G-B-e

Em7 0-2-2-0-3-x

Em6 0-2-2-0-2-x

Em(b6) 0-2-2-0-1-x (= Cmaj7/B in the chord sheet)

Em 0-2-2-0-0-x

Bsus4 x-2-4-4-0-0

B x-2-4-4-4-x

[Verse] / [Chorus]

F#m7-5 2-x-2-2-1-x

D/F# 2-x-0-2-3-x

Bsus4 x-2-4-4-0-0

B x-2-4-4-4-x

Am9 x-0-5-5-0-0 or 5-3-2-0-0-0, easier: x-0-2-0-0-0 (no 3rd)

[Chorus]

C/E x-x-2-0-1-0

B7/D# x-x-1-2-0(0)

Em/D x-x-0-0-0-0

A/C# x-4-2-2-2(0)

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

[Intro]

Em7 Em6 Cmaj7/E Em Am Bsus4 B

| | | | |

(see tab section: *)

[Verse 1]

Em Em7 Am

What have I got to do to make you love me

D D7 G F#m7-5 B7sus4

| |

What have I got to do to make you care (see tab section: **)

Em Em7 Am

What do I do when lightning strikes me

D D7 G F#m7-5 B7sus4

| |

And I wake to find that you're not there (see tab section: **)

[Verse 2]

Em Em7 Am

What do I do to make you want me

D D7 G F#m7-5 B7sus4

| |

What have I got to do to be heard (see tab section: **)

Em Em7 Am

What do I say when it's all over

D D7 G D/F#

| |

And sorry seems to be the hardest word (see tab section: ***)

[Chorus]

C/E B7/D#

It's sad, so sad

Em/D A/C#

It's a sad, sad situation

C Bsus4 B Em F#m7-5 B7sus4

| |

And it's getting more and more absurd (see tab section: **)

C/E B7/D#

It's sad, so sad

Em/D A/C#

Why can't we talk it over

Oh it seems to me

C/B Am B7sus4 B7 Em

That sorry seems to be the hardest word

[Solo]

Em Em7 Am D D7 G F#m7-5 B7sus4

| | | | |

(see tab section: **)

Em Em7 Am D D7 G D/F#

| | | | |

(see tab section: ***)

[Chorus]

C/E B7/D#

It's sad, so sad

Em/D A/C#

It's a sad, sad situation

C Bsus4 B Em F#m7-5 B7sus4

| |

And it's getting more and more absurd (see tab section: **)

C/E B7/D#

It's sad, so sad

Em/D A/C#

Why can't we talk it over

Oh it seems to me

C/B Am B7sus4 B7 Em

That sorry seems to be the hardest word

[Verse 3]

Em Am

What do I do to make you love me

D D7 G F#m7-5 B7sus4

| |

What have I got to do to be heard (see tab section: **)

Em Em7 Am

What do I do when lightning strikes me

F#m7-5 B7

What have I got to do

Em Am9

What have I got to do

F#m7-5 B7

When sorry seems to be

Em7

[ ]

The hardest word

[Coda]

Em7 Em6 Cmaj7/E Em Am B7sus4 B7 Em7

| | | |

(see tab section: ****)

About Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word Chords by Elton John

Learn how to play Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Elton John with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word chords”, “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word guitar chords”, or “Elton John Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 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 Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word chords and for experienced players who want accurate Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, Gm, E, Am, Bsus4, B.

FAQ — Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Elton John

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What key is "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" in?

The chords for "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" show the original chord names (including Em, Gm, E, Am, Bsus4, B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.