Ariana Grande - We Can’t Be Friends

How to play Ariana Grande - We Can’t Be Friends by Lost Panda on guitar

This is a great beginner tune to learn because the progression is simple, the tempo sits at a comfortable pace, and the repeating feel makes it easy to settle into the groove. You can focus on clean changes and steady time, which makes it a good song for building confidence.

The chart mixes open shapes with barre shapes, so the main challenge is moving smoothly between the easier grips and the harder ones. Watch the opening move from C# to C#m and back to C#, then into A# - that shift is the one to drill until it feels natural.

Start by practicing the opening progression slowly, one change at a time, until each shape feels secure. Then loop the full sequence at a relaxed pace, keeping the pulse even, and only speed up once the switches between the barre shapes and open shapes feel automatic.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.