CAPO: 2nd FRET
[Intro]
G G
Em Cadd0 D
G D Cadd9
[Verse]
Em Cadd9 D
The whole bar starts talking when I walk in
G D Cadd9
They all know my name, but I don’t know them
Em Cadd9 D
I guess lonely ain’t too hard to see
G D Cadd9
That’s why they call me the heartbreak king
[Chorus]
Em
But I’m the guy that the girl left
Cadd9 G D
Hoping that she’ll come back, knowing she never will
Em Cadd9
When they see me coming, they keep on coming,
G D
'Cause they’ve all felt how I feel
G D Cadd9
And pour another Crown for the heartbreak king
G D Cadd9
No I don’t know them but they know me
Em Cadd9 D D
All hail the heartbreak king
G D Cadd9 Cadd9
[Verse]
Em Cadd9 D
Every time that old jukebox kicks on
G D Cadd9
It’s a steel guitar and a hurting song
Em Cadd9 D
Like an old familiar melo--dy
G D Cadd9
They turn it on up for the heartbreak king
[Chorus]
Em
I’m the guy that the girl left
Cadd9 G D
Hoping that she’ll come back, knowing she never will
Em Cadd9
When they see me coming, they keep on coming,
G D
'Cause they’ve all felt how I feel
G D Cadd9
Pour another Crown for the heartbreak king
G D Cadd9
No I don’t know them but they know me
Em Cadd9 D D
All hail the heartbreak king
[Instrumental]
G D Cadd9 Cadd9
Em Cadd9 D D
G D Cadd9 Cadd9
[Break]
Em Cadd9 D
I’m a glass half empty with my hat down low
G Cadd9
Sitting up high on my bar stooool throne
[Chorus]
Em
I’m the guy that the girl left
Cadd9 G D
Hoping that she’ll come back, knowing she never will
Em Cadd9
When they see me coming, they keep on coming,
G D
'Cause they’ve all felt how I feel
G D Cadd9
Pour another Crown for the heartbreak king
G D Cadd9
No I don’t know them but they know me
Em Cadd9 D D
All hail the heartbreak king
G D Cadd9 Cadd9
[Outro]
Em Cadd9 D
The whole bar starts talking when I walk in
G Cadd9
They all know my name, but I don’t know them
How to play "Heartbreak King" by Ian Munsick on guitar.
Place a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original key of the song.
This song weaves a narrative of loneliness and recognition with
a chord progression that supports its storytelling. Let's go
through the structure and chords.
[Intro]
Start with a simple strum on G, then move to a sequence of Em,
Cadd9, and D, followed by G, D, and Cadd9. This intro sets a
reflective tone:
G G
Em Cadd9 D
G D Cadd9
[Verse]
The verse uses Em, Cadd9, and D to narrate the story, with a
return to G, D, and Cadd9. Strum these chords softly to maintain
the song's melancholic mood:
Em Cadd9 D
The whole bar starts talking when I walk in
[Chorus]
The chorus reveals the emotional core of the song. Em and Cadd9
lead into G and D, painting the picture of the heartbreak king's
loneliness and the communal understanding of his pain:
Em
But I’m the guy that the girl left
[Verse 2]
Continue with the same chord progression as the first verse,
keeping your strumming pattern consistent and reflective of
the song's narrative.
[Chorus]
Repeat the chorus, emphasizing the story's progression and the
character's acceptance of his situation.
[Instrumental]
The instrumental section follows the verse and chorus progression,
offering a moment to musically reflect on the song's themes. Use
this part to experiment with dynamics.
[Break]
The break introduces a moment of introspection. Maintain the
soft strumming pattern as the lyrics delve deeper into the
heartbreak king's persona:
Em Cadd9 D
I’m a glass half empty with my hat down low
[Chorus & Outro]
The final chorus and outro should carry the emotional weight of
the song, slowly winding down to the last strum on Cadd9, where
the song started, full circle:
Em Cadd9 D
The whole bar starts talking when I walk in
"Heartbreak King" by Ian Munsick captures the essence of a
lonely heart in a crowded room, resonating with anyone who has
ever felt misunderstood or unseen. The song skillfully combines
melody and lyrics to tell a poignant story of heartbreak and
solitude, making it a compelling piece for guitarists and
music lovers alike.