Mr. Brightside

How to play Mr. Brightside by The Killers on guitar

Mr. Brightside is a fast, driving song that feels exciting right away, and it is a great one to learn if you want a big, confident rhythm part. At about 120 BPM, you get a steady push that makes the whole song feel urgent and fun to play.

The chart leans on barre shapes, with F as the main open shape if you want an easier option. The opening progression C# - F# - Cm - F# is the change to lock in first, since moving cleanly between those shapes will make the rest feel much smoother.

Start by practicing the chord changes slowly and evenly, then repeat the opening progression until your hands know the movement. After that, play along at a comfortable tempo and focus on staying steady through the faster transitions. Once the shapes feel automatic, bring it up to full speed.

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.