Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer

Taylor Swift · 120 BPM · 4/4

Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer

Taylor Swift · Capo 2

0:000:00
CapoPlace capo at fret 2; pitch is unchanged.

F#m

F#m2fr134111
F#m(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
F#mFever dream high iFmn the quiet of thF#me night
F#mYou know that I caught it (oh yeah, Ayou're right, I want it)
EmBad, bad boyF#m, shiny toy with a price
F#mYou know that I bought it (oh Gyeah, you're right, I want it)
 Killing me slow, out tFhe window
FI'm always waitF#ming for youG to be waiting below
 Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyF#mes
F#mWhat doesn't killG me makes me wanDt you more
DAnd it's new, tGmhe shape of your F#mbody
F#mIt's blueG, the feeling I've got
GAnd it's Emooh, whoa-oh
EmIt's a cruCel summer
C"It's cooGl," that's what I tell F#m'em
F#mNo rulGes in breakBmable heGaven
GBut oohEm, whoa-oh
EmIt's a crFuel summer wiGth you (yeGmah, yeah)
GmHang your head low in the glow of thF#me vending machine
F#mI'm not dying (oh yeah, you're rEmight, I want it)
EmYou say that we'll just screw it up in these tryinF#mg times
F#mWe're not tryinGg (oh yeah, you're right, I want itEm)
EmSo cut the heF#madlights, summerD's a knife
DI'm alwaysGm waiting for you just to cut to the boEmne
EmDevils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes
 AndF if I bleed, you'll be theG last to know, oh
GIt's new, the shape ofF#m your body
F#mIt's blue, the feeling I'veG got
GAnd it's oohEm, whoa-oh
EmIF#mt's a cFruel summGer
G"It's cool," that's what I tell 'em
 No rulesBm in breakable heaven
GBut oohEm, whoa-oAh
AIt's a cruel summer wCith you
CI'm drunk inF#m the back of the car
F#mAnd I cried like a baby coming home from the bar (oh)
F#mSaid,Em "I'm fine," but it F#mwasn't true
F#mI don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you
F#mAnd I snuckG in through the garden gate
GEvery night that summEmer, just to F#mseal my fate (oh)
F#mAnd I screaEmmed, "For whatever it's F#mworth
F#mI love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?"
F#mHe loBmoks up, grinnin' like a devil
 It's new, the shapeGm of your body
GmIF#mt's blue, the feelGing I've got
GAnd it'Ems ooh, whoa-oh
EmIt's a cruel summer
 "It's cGool," that's wGmhat I tell 'eF#mm
F#mNo rules Bmin breakable heaven
 But oohEm, whoa-oh
EmItF#m's a cruel summer with you
F#mI'm drunkGm in the back of the car
GmAnd I cried liGke a baby coming home fBmrom the bar (oh)
 Said, "I'm fEmine," but it wasn't true
EmI don't wanna keep seCcrets just to keep you
 AndF#m I snuck in through Gthe garden gate
GEvery night that summer, just to seal my fate (oh)
GAnd I scEmreamed, "For whatever it's worth
EmI loveF#m you, ain't that the woGmrst thing you ever heard?"
Gm(Yeah, yeaGh, yeah, yeah)
Em

♪ instrumental ♪

Tap any line to jump

All Chords Used (10)
F#m2fr134111
Fm134111
A✕123
Em23
G213
F134211
D✕✕132
Gm3fr134111
C✕321
Bm7fr134111
KeyG# minor
CapoFret 2
Tempo~120 BPM

How to play Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift on guitar

Cruel Summer is a strong song to learn because the progression feels urgent and catchy right away, and it gives you that driving pop energy without needing a lot of complicated movement. At about 120 BPM, it sits in a lively groove that feels exciting once you lock in the changes.

You will move between open shapes and barre shapes, so the main challenge is keeping your fretting hand relaxed while switching cleanly. The opening G#m - Gm - G#m - B asks you to shift quickly between two barre shapes and then land on B without losing time, so that change is the one to watch closely.

Start by practicing the opening four-chord loop slowly and evenly, then repeat it until the switches feel automatic. After that, add the rest of the song in small sections, and only bring the tempo up when each change sounds clear. When you can play the loop smoothly, the full track will come together fast.

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.

Looking for more? Browse the full guitar song library or explore chord diagrams.

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