“Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey is a hauntingly beautiful song, perfect for playing on guitar. Its melancholic melody and poignant lyrics resonate with listeners, and learning to play it on guitar allows you to connect with the song on a deeper level. This guide provides you with easy-to-read guitar chords so you can start playing this iconic track. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced guitarist, you’ll find these chords accessible and enjoyable.
Standard Tuning and Essential Chords
To play “Young and Beautiful”, you’ll need a guitar in standard tuning (E A D G B e). The song primarily uses a set of common chords that are fundamental in guitar playing. These chords are:
- G Major (G)
- A Major (A)
- B minor (Bm)
- D Major (D)
- G Major 7th (Gmaj7)
- E minor 7th (Em7)
- F sharp minor 7th (F#m7)
- C Major 9th (C9)
- D suspended 4th (Dsus4)
These chords are widely used in many songs, making “Young and Beautiful” a great song to learn for expanding your chord vocabulary. If you are new to guitar, focusing on mastering these chords will be beneficial for learning many other songs as well.
“Young and Beautiful” Guitar Chords and Lyrics
Here are the chords for “Young and Beautiful” arranged with the lyrics. Follow along and practice strumming each chord change.
(Intro)
G | A | Bm | D (x2)D G A
I’ve seen the world, done it all,
Bm D
Had my cake now.
G A Bm D
Diamonds, brilliant on Bel Air now.
G A D Bm
Hot summer nights, mid July
Bm G A
When you and I were forever wild,
G A Bm D
The crazy days, city lights,
Bm G A
The way you’d play with me like a child.(Chorus)
G A
Will you still love me
Bm D
When I’m no longer young and beautiful?
G A
Will you still love me
Bm D
When I’ve got nothing but my aching soul?
G A
I know you will, I know you will,
Bm D
I know that you will,
Gmaj7 A
Will you still love me
Bm
When I’m no longer beautiful?Bm G A
I’ve seen the world, lit it up
As my stage now.
Channelling angels in, the new age now.
Hot summer days, rock and roll,
The way you’d play for me at your show,
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul.(Chorus)
G A
Will you still love me
Bm D
When I’m no longer young and beautiful?
G A
Will you still love me
Bm D
When I’ve got nothing but my aching soul?
G A
I know you will, I know you will,
Bm D
I know that you will,
Gmaj7 A
Will you still love me
Bm
When I’m no longer beautiful?Bm G A
Dear Lord, when I get to heaven,
Bm D
Please let me bring my man.
G A
When he comes, tell me that you’ll let him in,
Bm D
Father, tell me if you can.
Em7 A
All that grace, oh, that body,
F#m7 Bm
Oh, that face makes me wanna party.
Em7 A C9
He’s my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds.(Chorus)
G A
And will you still love me
Bm D
When I’m no longer young and beautiful?
G A
Will you still love me
Bm D
When I’ve got nothing but my aching soul?
G A
I know you will, I know you will,
Bm D
I know that you will,
Gmaj7 A
Will you still love me
Bm
When I’m no longer beautiful?Dsus4 G
Will you still love me
A Bm
When I’m no longer beautiful?
D G
Will you still love me
A Bm
When I’m not young and beautiful?Tips for Playing “Young and Beautiful”
- Strumming Pattern: A simple strumming pattern that works well for this song is Down-Down-Up-Down-Up. Focus on keeping a consistent rhythm. You can also experiment with different strumming patterns to find what sounds best to you.
- Tempo: The song is played at a moderate tempo. Start slowly to get the chord changes smooth, and gradually increase speed as you become more comfortable. Using a metronome can be helpful for maintaining consistent tempo.
- Chord Transitions: Pay attention to smooth transitions between chords. Practice moving between G-A-Bm-D repeatedly to build muscle memory. Clean chord changes are crucial for a polished sound.
- Dynamics: “Young and Beautiful” has dynamic shifts. Notice the build-up in the chorus. You can reflect this in your playing by strumming softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.
- Listen to the Original: Listen to Lana Del Rey’s version frequently to internalize the feel and timing of the song. This will help you play with more expression and accuracy.
Conclusion
“Young and Beautiful” is a rewarding song to learn on guitar. Its beautiful melody and relatively straightforward chord progression make it accessible for guitarists of various skill levels. By practicing these chords and following the tips, you’ll be able to play this captivating song and impress your listeners. Keep practicing and enjoy making music!
