“Linger” by The Cranberries is a timeless classic, beloved for its haunting melody and Dolores O’Riordan’s distinctive vocals. For guitar players, it’s also a fantastic song to learn, with a beautiful chord progression that’s accessible for beginners. This guide provides you with the guitar chords to play “Linger”, allowing you to recreate this iconic song on your acoustic or electric guitar.
Linger Guitar Chords
Here are the chords for “Linger” by The Cranberries, broken down by song section. You’ll find them easy to pick up and start playing along in no time.
Intro:
|A6 A| |A6 A| |A6 A| |A6 A| G G
Verse 1:
D D
If you, if you could return
A6 A6
Don’t let it burn, don’t let it fade
Cadd9
I’m sure I’m not being rude
Cadd9
But it’s just your attitude
G G
It’s tearing me apart
It’s ruining everything
Verse 2:
D D
And I swore, I swore I would be true
A6
And honey so did you
A6 Cadd9
So why were you holding her hand
Cadd9
Is that the way we stand
G G
Were you lying all the time
Was it just a game to you
Chorus:
D D
But I’m in so deep
A6 A6
You know I’m such a fool for you
Cadd9
You got me wrapped around your finger
Cadd9 G
Do you have to let it linger
G
Do you have to, do you have to
D
do you have to let it linger
Verse 3:
D A6 A6
Oh, I thought the world of you
Cadd9 Cadd9
I thought nothing could go wrong
G G
But I was wrong I was wrong
D D
If you, if you could get by
A6
Trying not to lie
A6 Cadd9
Things wouldn’t be so confused
Cadd9
And I wouldn’t feel so used
G
But you always really knew
G
I just wanna be with you
Chorus:
D D
But I’m in so deep
A6 A6
You know I’m such a fool for you
Cadd9
You got me wrapped around your finger
Cadd9 G
Do you have to let it linger
Interlude:
|A6 A| |A6 A| Cadd9 Cadd9 G G
Chorus:
D D
But I’m in so deep
A6 A6
You know I’m such a fool for you
Cadd9
You got me wrapped around your finger
Cadd9 G
Do you have to let it linger
G
Do you have to, do you have to
D
do you have to let it linger
A6 A6
You know I’m such a fool for you
Cadd9
You got me wrapped around your finger
Cadd9 G
Do you have to let it linger
G
Do you have to, do you have to
D D
do you have to let it linger
Outro:
A6 A6 Cadd9 Cadd9 G G
Outro Picking: (Follow the intro pattern for picking)
Tips for Playing “Linger” on Guitar
- Strumming Pattern: The song primarily uses a simple strumming pattern. For the verses and intro, try a down-down-up-down-up pattern. For the chorus, you can strum more intensely to match the emotional build-up. Experiment to find what sounds best to you.
- Chord Transitions: “Linger” involves smooth transitions between chords. Practice moving between D, A6, Cadd9, and G efficiently. Start slowly and gradually increase speed as you become more comfortable.
- A6 Chord: The A6 chord might be new to some beginners. It adds a unique flavor to the song. It’s played as x02222. Make sure your fingers are pressing down cleanly to avoid buzzing.
- Cadd9 Chord: Cadd9 (x32033) is another beautiful chord in this song. It’s very similar to a C chord, with an added 9th. If you are not comfortable with Cadd9, you can substitute a regular C chord (x32010), but Cadd9 will sound closer to the original.
- Listen to the Original: The best way to learn the feel and timing of “Linger” is to listen to the original Cranberries recording repeatedly. Pay attention to the rhythm and dynamics of the guitar part.
- Capo: While these chords are in the key of D, The Cranberries often used a capo on their guitars. If you want to play along with the original recording, you might want to experiment with a capo on the 2nd fret and play the chords in C (using C, G, Fadd9, and F shapes). However, the chords provided here sound great in standard tuning as well.
Learning “Linger” on guitar is a rewarding experience. These chords provide a solid foundation for playing this iconic song. With practice and patience, you’ll be playing along to “Linger” in no time, impressing yourself and others with this beautiful Cranberries classic.
