Shawn Mendes - If I Can’t Have You Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
[Opening]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[section 2]
[F]I’m in Toronto and I [Em]got this [Am]view
But I [Dm]might as well be in a [Em]hotel room, yeah
[F]It doesn’t matter ’cause I’m [Em]so [Am]consumed
Spending [Dm]all my nights reading [Em]texts from you
[chorus]
[F]Oh, I’m good at [Em]keeping my [Am]distance
I [Dm]know that you’re the [Em]feeling I’m missing
You [F]know that I [Em]hate to admit [Am]it
But [F]everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[section 3]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[section 4]
[F]I’m so sorry that my [Em]timing’s [Am]off
But I [Dm]can’t move on if we’re still [Em]gonna talk
[F]Is it wrong for me to [Em]not want [Am]half?
I want [Dm]all of you, all the [Em]strings attached
[chorus]
[F]Oh, I’m good at [Em]keeping my [Am]distance
I [Dm]know that you’re the [Em]feeling I’m missing
You [F]know that I [Em]hate to admit [Am]it
But [F]everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[section 5]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[section 6]
[F]I’m trying to move [Em]on, forget [Am]you, but I hold on
[Dm]Everything means nothing, [Em]everything means nothing, babe
[F]I’m trying to move [Em]on, forget [Am]you, but I hold on
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[Closing]
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
[F]I can’t [Em]write one [Dm]song that’s [Em]not about
[F]You can’t [Em]drink [Dm]without [Em]thinking about [F]you
Is [Em]it too [Dm]late to [Em]tell you that
[F]Everything means [Em]nothing if I [Dm]can’t have you
How to play If I Can't Have You on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You on ukulele requires 4 chords and 6 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
If I Can't Have You uses these transitions most often: F → Em (41), Em → Dm (31), and Dm → Em (28). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with F - Em chord transition.
1. F → Em chord transition
To move from F to Em;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place ring finger on C string fret 4.
2. Em → Dm chord transition
To move from Em to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on C string from fret 4 to fret 2.
3. Dm → F chord transition
To move from Dm to F;
- While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from C string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
4. Em → Am chord transition
To move from Em to Am;
- While playing Em, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
5. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on C string fret 2.
6. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am to F;
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
If I Can't Have You chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If I Can't Have You.
- If I Can't Have You includes 157 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- If I Can't Have You contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how If I Can't Have You connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (17%).
- Em → Am: 12%
- Em → F: 8%
After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → Em: 3%