Intro (riff or verse chords): xA|---------------------------------------------------7--| xE|--1--3-5------------5------------5-----5---5/3---1----| xC|--2--4-5---9-11---9-5---9-11---9-5---5---5------------| xG|-----------5-7----5-----5-7----5----------------------| Verse: Dm7 F Bb F Tried to keep you close to me, Bb F C But life got in between Dm7 F Bb F Tried to square not being there Bb F C But think that I should have been Chorus: Bb Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes Bb Hold back the river so I F Can stop for a minute and see where you hide F Hold back the river, hold back Verse: Dm7 F Bb F Once upon a different life Bb F C We rode our bikes into the sky Dm7 F Bb F But now we crawl against the tide Bb F C Those distant days are flashing by Chorus: Bb Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes Hold back the river so I F Can stop for a minute and be by your side C Hold back the river, hold back Bb Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes Hold back the river so I F Can stop for a minute and see where you hide C Hold back the river, hold back Dm7 F Bb F Ooh oho, oho, oho, Bb F C Oho, oho, ohooh Bridge: F Bb Lonely water, lonely water won't you let us wander Gm Let us hold each other F Bb Lonely water, lonely water won't you let us wander Gm Let us hold each other Chorus: Bb Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes Hold back the river so I F Can stop for a minute and be by your side C Hold back the river, hold back Bb Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes Hold back the river so I F Can stop for a minute and be by your side C Hold back the river, ooh Bridge: F Bb Lonely water, lonely water won't you let us wander Gm Let us hold each other F Bb Lonely water, lonely water won't you let us wander Gm Let us hold each other Outro: xA|---------------------------------------------------7--| xE|--1--3-5------------5------------5-----5---5/3---1----| xC|--2--4-5---9-11---9-5---9-11---9-5---5---5------------| xG|-----------5-7----5-----5-7----5----------------------| This arrangement is its contributor’s own interpretation, shared for private study, education and non-commercial use. The underlying song, lyrics and music remain the property of their copyright owners. To request removal, see Legal & Copyright.
5 ukulele chords used in "Hold Back The River" by James Bay: Bb, C, Dm7, F and Gm
A|——-3-5-3—-3-5-3——————3——-|
E|1-3-5——–5———5-5-5-3-3-1-0—————|
C|—————————————-|
G|—————————————-|
xA|————3—-5—3——-3–5–3——————————3–|
xE|–1–3-5—5—-6—5–5—5–6—5—5—-5—-5/3—-1–0——|
xC|–2–4-5—————-5—————5–5—5——————–|
xG|———————————————————————–|
The intro is more correct in this way!! 😉
-5 is a lot easier
The strumming pattern I use is down-down-up-up-down-up
+2 is way easier!
This one works best for me 🙂
A| ————— 3——5——5—————3——5——5————————————————3———|
E| 1—3—5——5——5——3—— 5——5——5——3——5——5——5/3——3—1—0————|
C| 2—4—5——————————5——————————5——5——5/3——3—————————|
G|—————————————-————————————————————————————|
At the end of the intro riff do 8-e and 9-c at the same time then 10-e and 11-c at the same time for when it says to do it on the strings over. To me it sounds better and it’s way easier.
+2 is easy but replacing the Em7 with just an Em makes it sound better!
In the chorus i play Bb at the first verse then i change the chord to Bb6
I found that -5 was easier for me to play.
-5 is easy to sing and play.
Thanks, this is awesome! Plus thanks @Bianca032718 !!!! That is a super cool easy version that sounds great!
+5 for a higher voice
Thank you Buzz84! You’re the best!
Im so bad at ukuklele… this has helped with the chords and all, but it’d be better if it had ALL the chords on one single page to help people like me practice.
The numbers represent the fret and the positioning of the numbers represent the order. EG; so if there is a 1 on the line of E and a 2 on the line of C, you out your fingers on the allocated fret number and pick those strings at the same time. If a fret number is on its own, you pick that fret number on its own, according to thee line where it is situated. :3 🙂 @Ukugirl ukugirl
Buzz84, thanks for that intro. I agree with you, I think it’s better, even easier.
How to play the intro? I don’t know what that mean 🙁
Instead of the 11 in the riff I play a 10. Sounds more fitting to me 🙂 Thank you vey much for the tab
I’m so happy to see the chords here!! I’m in love with James Bay, the intro sounds a bit off when I play I don’t know if there are any chords missing ?? Somebody pls help