Dtap to play
F#tap to play
Bmtap to play
Gtap to play
Bbtap to play
Ctap to play
Atap to play
Key
D
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
D · F# · Bm · G · Bb · C · A
Lithium Chords – Guitar
Dtap to play
F#tap to play
Bmtap to play
Gtap to play
Bbtap to play
Ctap to play
Atap to play
Key
D
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
D · F# · Bm · G · Bb · C · A
Lithium Chords – Ukulele
Dtap to play
F#tap to play
Bmtap to play
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Bbtap to play
Ctap to play
Atap to play
Key
D
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
D · F# · Bm · G · Bb · C · A
Lithium Chords – Piano
Dtap to play
F#tap to play
Bmtap to play
Gtap to play
Bbtap to play
Ctap to play
Atap to play
Key
D
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
D · F# · Bm · G · Bb · C · A
Lithium Chords – Banjo
Dtap to play
F#tap to play
Bmtap to play
Gtap to play
Bbtap to play
Ctap to play
Atap to play
Key
D
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
D · F# · Bm · G · Bb · C · A
Lithium Chords – Mandolin
Dtap to play
F#tap to play
Bmtap to play
Gtap to play
Bbtap to play
Ctap to play
Atap to play
Key
D
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
D · F# · Bm · G · Bb · C · A
Lithium Chords – Harmonica
Nirvana’s grunge anthem about mood swings and isolation from their album “Nevermind”. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Driving Grunge (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
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Tip: Mute the strings with your palm for the verse’s quiet, tense feel, then strum open and hard for the chorus.
Chords & Structure
Full Song
Verse 1
D
A – D
G – D – A
D
Chorus
D – A – Bm
G
D – A
Bm
Verse 2
D
A – D
G – D – A – D
Chorus
D – A – Bm
G
D – A
Bm
Bridge
Bm
G
D
A
Verse 3
D – A – D
G
D – A
D
Chorus
D – A – Bm
G
D – A
Bm
Outro
Bm
G
D
A
Bm
G
D
A
Practice tip: Master the dynamic shift between the muted, choppy verses and the explosive, full-strum choruses to capture the song’s essence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Lithium"?
You need 7 intermediate-friendly chords: D, F#, Bm, G, Bb, C and A.
Is "Lithium" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 7 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Lithium" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Lithium"?
It was written by Kurt Cobain, and released in 1991.