“Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber is a fantastic song for beginner guitarists to learn. Its simple chord progression and relatable lyrics make it both enjoyable to play and a crowd-pleaser. This guide breaks down the “Love Yourself” guitar chords, making it easy for you to master this popular hit.
Basic Chords for Love Yourself
You’ll only need to know a few basic guitar chords to play “Love Yourself”. These chords are common for beginners and are great building blocks for your guitar journey:
- C Major (C): A foundational chord, often one of the first learned.
- G Major (G): Another essential open chord, frequently used in popular songs.
- Am Minor (Am): A minor chord that adds a touch of melancholy and depth.
- F Major (F): While slightly trickier for absolute beginners, a simplified version can be used (Fmaj7 or just the first two strings barre). For simplicity we will assume full F, as it’s crucial for learning.
- Dm Minor (Dm): Another minor chord, adding harmonic variety.
You can find chord diagrams online by searching for “[chord name] guitar chord diagram”. Practice transitioning smoothly between these chords before trying to play along with the song.
Song Structure and Chord Progression
“Love Yourself” follows a fairly standard song structure, which makes it easy to learn and memorize. Here’s a breakdown of the structure and the chords used in each section:
-
Verse: The verses tell the story of the song. The chord progression is:
C G Am Dm C G -
Pre-Chorus: This section builds up the energy towards the chorus. The chords are:
C G Am Dm C G(same as verse) -
Chorus: The most memorable part of the song, delivering the main message. The chorus chords are:
Am F C G
Am F C G -
Bridge: A slight change in melody and lyrical content, providing contrast. The bridge chords are:
C G Am F
C G C -
Outro: Fades out at the end of the song, often repeating chorus chords.
Full Song Chord Chart:
(Verse 1)
C G
For all the times that you
Am Dm
rained on my parade
C G
And all the clubs you get in
C G
using my name
C G
You think you broke my heart, oh
Am Dm
girl for goodness sake
C G
You think I’m crying, oh my
C G
own, well I ain’t
(Pre-Chorus)
C G
And I didn’t wanna
Am G
write a song
C G
Cause I didn’t want
Am Dm
anyone thinking I still care
C G
I don’t but,
C G
you still hit my phone up
C G
And baby I be
Am Dm
moving on
C G
and I think you should be something
C G
I don’t wanna
Am Dm
hold back,
C G
maybe you should know that
(Chorus)
Am F
My mama don’t like you and
C G
she likes everyone
Am F
And I never like to
C G
admit that I was wrong
Am F
And I’ve been so caught up in my
C G
job
Am F
Didn’t see what’s going
G
on but now I know
(Post-Chorus)
G
I’m better sleeping on my own
(Chorus)
C G
‘Cause if you like the
Am F
way you look that much
C G
Oh baby you should go and
C
love yourself
C G
And if you think that
Am F
I’m still holding on to something
C G
You should go and
C
love yourself
(Verse 2)
C G
When you told me
Am Dm
that you hated my friends
C G
The only problem was with
C G
you and not them
C G
And every time you told
Am Dm
me my opinion was wrong
C G
And tried to make me
C G
forget where I came from
(Pre-Chorus)
C G
And I didn’t wanna
Am G
write a song
C G
Cause I didn’t want
Am Dm
anyone thinking I still care
C G
I don’t but,
C G
you still hit my phone up
C G
And baby I be
Am Dm
moving on
C G
and I think you should be something
C G
I don’t wanna
Am Dm
hold back,
C G
maybe you should know that
(Chorus)
Am F
My mama don’t like you and
C G
she likes everyone
Am F
And I never like to
C G
admit that I was wrong
Am F
And I’ve been so caught up in my
C G
job
Am F
Didn’t see what’s going
G
on but now I know
(Post-Chorus)
G
I’m better sleeping on my own
(Chorus)
C G
‘Cause if you like the
Am F
way you look that much
C G
Oh baby you should go and
C
love yourself
C G
And if you think that
Am F
I’m still holding on to something
C G
You should go and
C
love yourself
(Bridge)
C G
For all the times that you
Am F
made me feel small
Dm C
I fell in love now I feel
G
nothin’ at all
C G
I never felt so low when
Am F
I was vulnerable
Dm C
Was I a fool to let you
G
break down my walls?
(Chorus)
C G
‘Cause if you like the
Am F
way you look that much
C G
Oh baby you should go and
C
love yourself
C G
And if you think that
Am F
I’m still holding on to something
C G
You should go and
C
love yourself
(Outro)
C G Am F (Repeat and Fade)
C G C
Strumming Pattern
For beginners, a simple strumming pattern will work great for “Love Yourself”. You can start with a Down, Down, Up, Down, Up pattern. As you get more comfortable, you can experiment with adding more complex rhythms and variations. Listen to the song to get a feel for the rhythm and try to match it.
Tips for Playing Love Yourself
- Start Slow: Don’t rush! Practice the chord changes slowly and focus on clean transitions. Speed will come with practice.
- Use a Metronome: A metronome is a fantastic tool for developing timing and rhythm. Start at a slow tempo and gradually increase speed as you improve.
- Listen to the Song: Regularly listen to “Love Yourself” to internalize the rhythm and feel of the song. This will help you play with better timing and expression.
- Practice Chord Transitions: Smooth chord changes are key to making the song sound good. Focus on practicing the transitions between C-G, G-Am, Am-F, and F-C.
- Simplified F Chord: If the full F chord is challenging, try using Fmaj7 (133211) or a simplified F by only barring the first two strings. However, working towards the full F will be beneficial in the long run.
- Consistent Practice: Even short, regular practice sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones. Try to practice for at least 15-20 minutes each day.
Conclusion
“Love Yourself” is an excellent song to add to your guitar repertoire. With its basic chords and repetitive structure, it’s very accessible for beginners while still sounding impressive. By following this guide and practicing regularly, you’ll be playing “Love Yourself” guitar chords in no time. Enjoy making music!
