Barely Blue chords
Swap ↔ or rotate ↻ the device
Capo 1st fret
[Intro]
G C D
[Verse 1]
G Gmaj7
And I'm the talk of the town
G Gmaj7
And I've been making the rounds
C D
And the rounds have been making me
C D
Feel better than I thought I'd be
[Verse 2]
G Gmaj7
All my friends are surprised
G Gmaj7
I'm getting on with my life
C
I can't say I never cared
D
But I think I'm nearly there because
[Chorus]
G C
I'm barely blue without you, baby, I'm alright
D
Thought it would kill me when you walked out the door
D
I'm alright
C D
I never thought that I'd get up off the floor
G
But I've had a few to get me over your goodbye
C D
I'm hanging in there, hanging out here tonight
D
I'm alright
C D G
Under these neon lights, I'm barely blue
[Verse 3]
G Gmaj7
And I've been hanging out late
G Gmaj7 C D
Slowly chipping away at the heart of this heartbreak
C D
Save your sad song for another day 'cause
[Chorus]
G C
I'm barely blue without you, baby, I'm alright
D
Thought it would kill me when you walked out the door
D
I'm alright
C D
I never thought that I'd get up off the floor
G Gmaj7 G
But I've had a few to get me over your goodbye
C D
I'm hanging in there, hanging out here tonight
D
I'm alright
C D Am
Under these neon lights, I'm barely blue
[Guitar Solo]
Am D Am D G D
[Bridge]
C
I know you're with someone else
Cm
I'll have one more, and then I'll tell myself that
[Chorus]
G C
I'm barely blue without you, baby, I'm alright
D
Thought it would kill me when you walked out the door
D
I'm alright
C D
I never thought that I'd get up off the floor
G
But I've had a few to get me over your goodbye
C D
I'm hanging in there, hanging out here tonight
D
I'm alright
C D
Under these neon lights
C
And I'm alright
D G
I'm barely blue
[Outro]
G D G
```
How to play "Barely Blue" by Midland on guitar
==================================
Song Overview:
Key: Ab (with Capo on 1st fret)
Difficulty level: Beginner
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
Capo Position: 1st fret
Chords Used:
- G (320003)
- C (x32010)
- D (xx0232)
- Gmaj7 (320002)
- Am (x02210)
- Cm (x35543)
Strumming Pattern:
Strumming: Moderate tempo, around 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & rhythm.
- Down on 1, down on "&", up on 2, down on "&", up on 3, and so on.
- Keep the strumming light and flowing for the verses, adding more intensity in the chorus.
Sections Breakdown:
[Intro]
- G, C, D
Light strumming to introduce the song's mood.
[Verse 1]
- G - Gmaj7 - G - Gmaj7
Chord progression: G to Gmaj7. The Gmaj7 adds a smooth transition.
- C - D
Transition smoothly from C to D. Keep strumming steady.
[Verse 2]
- G - Gmaj7 - G - Gmaj7
Same progression as Verse 1. Focus on clean chord transitions.
- C - D
Same as the first verse; keep the rhythm steady.
[Chorus]
- G - C - D - D
Play G, C, and D with a bit more intensity. Add an extra down strum on the second D.
- C - D
The C to D transition happens twice before returning to G.
- G - C - D - D
Same as the first half of the chorus. Let the D ring out at the end.
[Verse 3]
- G - Gmaj7 - G - Gmaj7
Similar to previous verses. The Gmaj7 adds a reflective mood.
- C - D
Use clean strumming for a steady flow.
[Chorus]
- Same as the first chorus. Keep the rhythm upbeat, strumming more firmly.
[Guitar Solo]
- Am - D - Am - D - G - D
During the solo, keep strumming light but steady, following the chord changes.
[Bridge]
- C - Cm
Transition to Cm here, and add a little pause before returning to the final chorus.
[Chorus]
- Same as before. The C - D transition and final G are crucial for wrapping up.
[Outro]
- G - D - G
Strum the G and D lightly to close out.
Common Mistakes:
- Not transitioning smoothly between G and Gmaj7. Practice the shift.
- Strumming too aggressively during the verses. Keep it light.
- Misplacing the capo. Ensure it's on the 1st fret to stay in key.
General Tips:
- Practice the Gmaj7 transition by lifting your finger slightly from G.
- Keep your strumming hand relaxed to maintain rhythm.
- Use a capo to keep the song in the original key of Ab while playing simple chords.
Song Facts:
"Barely Blue" was released by Midland in 2024. The song is a country ballad
with themes of heartache and resilience. Its blend of traditional country
elements with modern production creates a nostalgic feel. Midland, known
for their throwback style, continues to capture the essence of classic
country music in this release.
Song Meaning:
The song tells the story of someone coping with heartbreak but realizing
they're stronger than they thought. While the pain is still there,
they're "barely blue," meaning they're managing to move on.
Comparisons to Previous Works:
Like their earlier songs "Burn Out" and "Fourteen Gears," "Barely Blue"
blends traditional country sound with modern elements. The reflective
lyrics mirror themes in past works, focusing on heartbreak, but with
a tone of resilience.
```