Taylor Swift - Mandolin Chords

Capo 1 
Intro: G, D, C, D (x2)

Verse 1

G
 He's got a nice
D
 Little life
C               D
 And he's gonna live it, but on
G            D              C     D
 Friday night he plays that mandolin
G            D
 Painted red, and he said
     C              D
It's not the best I know
         G   D           C       D
But it's mine, I'm gonna make it mine

G, D, C, D (x2)

G                  D
 People there can't help but care
          C                   D
About the friendly music of a guy who's
G          D            C   D
 Getting by on their applause
    G          D
He's got a song that moves along
             C             D
He's got his local crowd tonight
   G          D              C   D
At Angelina's Family Bar and Grill

    G             D
He's got his heart on his sleeve
    C                  D
The song he plays just living free
G             D          C            D
 But who knows what goes through his mind
       G            D         
When he plays a song that brings along
C           D
Everybody's saying
G                   D               C
Who's that boy that plays the mandolin?
D        G      D        
 Mandolin       
C   D           G
 Oh yeah, mandolin

D, C, D

    G          D
He's got a car, got a scar
      C            D
Like everyone he's got a few but,
G          D             C   D
 Everybody loves that mandolin
G            D             
 Got his problems, bills to pay
     C           D
Somehow that boy finds a way
        G     D     C   D
Through paychecks in tip jars

    G             D
He's got his heart on his sleeve
    C                  D
The song he plays just living free
G             D          C            D
 But who knows what goes through his mind
       G            D         
When he plays a song that brings along
C           D
Everybody's saying
G                   D               C
Who's that boy that plays the mandolin?
D        G      D        
 Mandolin       
C   D           G
 Oh yeah, mandolin

(G), D, Am, D

   Em               C
Oh he's the kind of guy
    D            G
Who never really wanted fame
    Em               C             D
His feet are planted firmly on the ground
   Em           C           D           G
He never wanted people to remember his name
   Em           C           D
He never wanted word to get around
              D-once
That he found heaven on earth

 G             D
He's got his heart on his sleeve
    C                  D
The song he plays just living free
G             D          C            D
 But who knows what goes through his mind
       G            D         
When he plays a song that brings along
C           D
Everybody's saying
G                   D               C
Who's that boy that plays the mandolin?
D        G      D        
 Mandolin       
C   D           G
 Oh yeah, mandolin

G, D, C, D, G-once




How to play "Mandolin" by Taylor Swift on guitar

Capo:
The song uses a capo on the 1st fret to match the recording's pitch.

Chords Used (relative to capo):
- G chord: Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, your middle
  finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret
  of the high E string.
- D chord: Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, your middle
  finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret
  of the B string.
- C chord: Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, your middle
  finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and your index finger on the 1st fret
  of the B string.
- Am chord: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string, your middle
  finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and your ring finger on the 2nd fret
  of the G string.
- Em chord: Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, and your
  middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.

Strumming Pattern:
The strumming pattern is fairly consistent throughout the song:
Down, Down-Up, Down-Up
This provides a rhythmic, folk-inspired feel.

Progressions:
- Intro & Verse:
  G, D, C, D

- Pre-Chorus:
  G, D, Am, D

- Bridge:
  Em, C, D, G

- Outro:
  G, D, C, D

Playing Tips:
- Emphasize the downstrokes to give a driving rhythm to the strumming pattern.
- Switch between chords promptly to keep up with the song's tempo.
- In the bridge, focus on clean chord transitions to maintain the emotional
  momentum of the song.

Common Mistakes:
- Switching from G to D too late, which disrupts the flow of the verse.
- Overstrumming the C chord, causing it to overpower other chords.
- Not transitioning back to G quickly after playing Em in the bridge.

Song Facts:
"Mandolin" by Taylor Swift celebrates the life of a musician who plays
the mandolin at local bars and leads a humble life. The lyrics honor the
joy and dedication of this character, and the melodic progression reflects
the mandolin's unique sound in a heartwarming way.