“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls is a timeless song, beloved by generations for its emotional depth and powerful melodies. For guitar players, “Iris” is also a fantastic song to learn, offering a rewarding playing experience with its memorable chord progression and sing-along quality. This guide provides you with the guitar chords for “Iris”, breaking down the song structure to make learning this hit track easy and enjoyable.
The beauty of “Iris” lies not only in its lyrics and vocal performance but also in its simple yet effective chord arrangement. The song primarily uses a selection of common guitar chords, making it accessible for intermediate players while still offering enough musicality to captivate even seasoned musicians.
Here’s a breakdown of the “Iris” guitar chords and song structure to get you playing along:
Verse 1: Strum 1
|D Em G G|
And I’d give up forever to touch you
|Bm A G G|
‘Cause I know that you feel me somehow
| D Em G G|
You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be
|Bm A G G|
And I don’t want to go home right now
Verse 2: Strum 1
|D Em G G|
And all I can taste is this moment
|Bm A G G|
And all I can breathe is your life
|D Em G G|
And sooner or later it’s over
|Bm A G G|
I just don’t want to miss you tonight
Chorus: Strum 2
|Bm A G G|
And I don’t want the world to see me
|Bm A G G|
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
|Bm A G G|
When everything’s made to be broken
|Bm A G G|
I just want you to know who I am
Interlude: N.C. (No Chords)
Verse 3: Strum 1
| D Em G G|
And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming
| Bm A G G|
Or the moment of truth in your lies
| D Em G G|
When everything feels like the movies
| Bm A G G|
Yeah, you bleed just to know you’re alive
Chorus: Strum 2
|Bm A G G|
And I don’t want the world to see me
|Bm A G G|
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
|Bm A G G|
When everything’s made to be broken
|Bm A G G|
I just want you to know who I am
Interlude: N.C. (No Chords)
Bridge: Strum 3
Bm G Bm G Bm G
Guitar Solo:
Bm G D G D G D Bm Bm G D Bm Bm
Breakdown: N.C. (No Chords)
Chorus: Strum 2
|Bm A G G|
And I don’t want the world to see me
|Bm A G G|
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
|Bm A G G|
When everything’s made to be broken
|Bm A G G| 6/8 G
I just want you to know who I am
|Bm A G G|
And I don’t want the world to see me
|Bm A G G|
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
|Bm A G G|
When everything’s made to be broken
|Bm A G G|
I just want you to know who I am
Outro:
|Bm A G G|
I just want you to know who I am
|Bm A G G|
I just want you to know who I am
|Bm A G G|
I just want you to know who I am
Outro: N.C. (No Chords)
Strumming Patterns:
While the original song utilizes various strumming techniques, here are suggested strumming patterns to get you started:
- Strum 1: A gentle, consistent down-down-up-down-up rhythm works well for the verses.
- Strum 2: For the chorus, increase the intensity with a more driving pattern like down-down-up-down-down-up.
- Strum 3: The bridge can benefit from a more rhythmic and percussive strumming, experiment with patterns to find what sounds best to you.
Tips for Playing “Iris” on Guitar:
- Chord Transitions: Practice smooth transitions between chords, especially between Bm, A, and G in the chorus.
- Dynamics: Pay attention to the dynamics of the song. Verses are softer, while the chorus and bridge are more powerful. Use strumming intensity to reflect these changes.
- Listen to the Original: Listen to the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” frequently to internalize the rhythm, timing, and feel of the song. This will greatly enhance your playing accuracy and musicality.
“Iris” is a fantastic addition to any guitarist’s repertoire. With these chords and song structure, you’ll be well on your way to playing this iconic song. Grab your guitar, practice these “Iris Guitar Chords”, and enjoy playing!
