“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie is a hugely popular song for guitarists to learn, especially beginners. Its gentle melody and poignant lyrics resonate deeply, and thankfully, it’s quite approachable on the guitar. This guide breaks down the essential guitar chords for “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, making it easy for you to play along and capture the song’s intimate feel.
Essential Guitar Chords for “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”
To play “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with a few fundamental open position guitar chords. These are shapes that are foundational for any guitarist, and they are all used in this song:
- C Major: A bright and common chord. If you’re unfamiliar, a quick Google image search for “C Major guitar chord” will show you the finger placement.
- Am (A minor): A melancholic and equally essential minor chord. Search “Am guitar chord” to see the finger positions.
- F Major: A slightly trickier chord for beginners as it often involves a barre, but for this song, we’ll focus on a simpler, open version. Look up “F Major open guitar chord”.
- Fm (F minor): The minor version of F Major, adding a darker tone. “F minor guitar chord” will guide you.
- G Major: Another very common and joyful sounding chord. “G Major guitar chord” for the diagram.
- E Major: A powerful and resonant major chord. “E Major guitar chord” for finger placement.
These six chords—C, Am, F, Fm, G, and E—are the building blocks for playing “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”. Take some time to learn each chord shape and practice transitioning smoothly between them.
Understanding the Capo and Chord Transposition
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” is famously played with a capo on the 5th fret. A capo acts like a movable nut, effectively shortening the guitar strings and raising the pitch. Using a capo at the 5th fret means that while you are still playing the C, Am, F, Fm, G, and E chord shapes, the actual sounds produced are transposed up.
Here’s how the capo at the 5th fret changes the chord names:
- C shape becomes F Major chord
- Am shape becomes Dm (D minor) chord
- F shape becomes Bb (B flat Major) chord
- Fm shape becomes Bbm (B flat minor) chord
- G shape becomes C Major chord
- E shape becomes A Major chord
While it’s perfectly fine to refer to the chord shapes (C, Am, F, etc.) when learning, it’s beneficial to also understand the actual chord names (F, Dm, Bb, etc.) when playing with a capo. This knowledge will deepen your understanding of music theory and chord relationships. Thinking in terms of the actual chords being played (F, Dm, Bb, Bbm, C, A) is crucial for grasping the song’s key and progression.
Chord Progression and Key of F Major
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” primarily uses chords within the key of F Major. In music theory, Roman numerals are used to denote chords within a key. In the key of F Major:
- F Major is the I chord (the root or “home” chord)
- Dm (D minor) is the vi chord
- Bb (B flat Major) is the IV chord
- C Major is the V chord
The main chord progression of the song revolves around these chords: F (I) – Dm (vi) – Bb (IV) – C (V). This progression is common in popular music and creates a pleasing and familiar harmonic foundation. However, “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” adds some interesting harmonic twists that make it unique.
Songwriting Tricks: Chord Substitution and the IV-iv Cadence
Death Cab for Cutie employs two clever songwriting techniques that elevate the song beyond a simple chord progression:
-
The A Major Chord Substitution: Instead of using Am (iii minor) chord which would naturally fit in the key of F major, the song uses an A Major chord. This A Major chord acts as a substitute for the expected Am chord, creating a surprising and uplifting harmonic color. Chord substitutions like this are a hallmark of sophisticated songwriting and add depth and interest to a song.
-
The IV – iv (Bb to Bbm) Cadence: The progression from Bb Major (IV) to Bbm (iv minor) is a classic and emotionally evocative move. This IV – iv cadence creates a “falling” or descending feeling, often heard in pop music, including The Beatles’ songs. It adds a touch of melancholy and a sense of resolution as it often leads back to the I chord (F Major in this case). Listen carefully to this Bb to Bbm shift; you’ll start recognizing this cadence in countless other songs once you become aware of it.
Practice Technique: Alternating Bass and Percussive Strumming
A key element of the guitar part in “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” is the fingerpicking pattern, which involves alternating bass notes coupled with a percussive strum. Let’s break down a practice exercise using the verse chord progression (with capo at the 5th fret chord names): F – Dm – Bb – F – C.
- Set a slow metronome tempo in 4/4 time.
- Focus on the bass notes: Play a bass note on beat 1 and beat 3 of each bar.
- Beat 1: Play the root note of the chord (e.g., for F, it’s the F note on the 6th string).
- Beat 3: Play the fifth of the chord (e.g., for F, it’s the C note, often found on the 5th string or 6th string).
- Add the percussive strum: On beats 2 and 4, perform a percussive strum across all the strings using the back of your fingernails, mimicking Ben Gibbard’s technique visible in some live performances. This creates a rhythmic “chick-a” sound between the bass notes.
- Practice the 8-bar verse section: F / F / Dm / Dm / Bb / Bb / F / C. Repeat this section slowly, focusing on even timing and clean bass notes and percussive strums. Gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
This alternating bass and percussive strum technique is crucial for capturing the signature sound of “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”. Practice this exercise regularly, and you’ll be well on your way to playing the song beautifully.
Conclusion
Learning “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” on guitar is a rewarding experience. By understanding the basic chords (C, Am, F, Fm, G, E shapes), the use of the capo, the key of F Major, and the song’s unique songwriting elements like chord substitution and the IV-iv cadence, you can approach this song with confidence. Combine this knowledge with practice of the alternating bass and percussive strumming pattern, and you’ll be playing this poignant song in no time. Enjoy your guitar journey!
