Indie, Folk

Between the Bars Chords

Elliott Smith Beginner Key of C 4 Chords 2 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · Am · F · G

Between the Bars Chords – Guitar

Elliott Smith’s melancholic ballad about addiction and lost potential. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, steady strum to match the song’s somber mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C Am

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

F G

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

C Am

Where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

F G

Waiting to finally be caught

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Verse 2

C Am

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F G

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

C

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Bridge

F C

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F C

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

F

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Practice tip: The chords C, Am, F, and G are the only ones used; practice switching between them slowly until the changes feel natural.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · Am · F · G

Between the Bars Chords – Ukulele

Elliott Smith’s melancholic ballad about addiction and lost potential. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, steady strum to match the song’s somber mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C Am

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

F G

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

C Am

Where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

F G

Waiting to finally be caught

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Verse 2

C Am

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F G

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

C

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Bridge

F C

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F C

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

F

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Practice tip: The chords C, Am, F, and G are the only ones used; practice switching between them slowly until the changes feel natural.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · Am · F · G

Between the Bars Chords – Piano

Elliott Smith’s melancholic ballad about addiction and lost potential. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, steady strum to match the song’s somber mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C Am

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

F G

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

C Am

Where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

F G

Waiting to finally be caught

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Verse 2

C Am

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F G

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

C

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Bridge

F C

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F C

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

F

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Practice tip: The chords C, Am, F, and G are the only ones used; practice switching between them slowly until the changes feel natural.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · Am · F · G

Between the Bars Chords – Banjo

Elliott Smith’s melancholic ballad about addiction and lost potential. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, steady strum to match the song’s somber mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C Am

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

F G

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

C Am

Where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

F G

Waiting to finally be caught

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Verse 2

C Am

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F G

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

C

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Bridge

F C

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F C

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

F

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Practice tip: The chords C, Am, F, and G are the only ones used; practice switching between them slowly until the changes feel natural.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · Am · F · G

Between the Bars Chords – Mandolin

Elliott Smith’s melancholic ballad about addiction and lost potential. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, steady strum to match the song’s somber mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C Am

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

F G

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

C Am

Where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

F G

Waiting to finally be caught

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Verse 2

C Am

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F G

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

C

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Bridge

F C

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F C

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

F

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Practice tip: The chords C, Am, F, and G are the only ones used; practice switching between them slowly until the changes feel natural.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · Am · F · G

Between the Bars Chords – Harmonica

Elliott Smith’s melancholic ballad about addiction and lost potential. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, steady strum to match the song’s somber mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C Am

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

F G

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

C Am

Where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

F G

Waiting to finally be caught

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Verse 2

C Am

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F G

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

C

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Bridge

F C

People you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore

F C

That push and shove and won’t bend to your will

F

I’ll keep them still

Chorus

C Am

Drink up one more time and I’ll make you mine

F G

Keep you apart, deep in my heart

C Am

Separate from the rest, where I like you the best

F G

And keep the things you forgot

Practice tip: The chords C, Am, F, and G are the only ones used; practice switching between them slowly until the changes feel natural.