What It Takes Chords
What It Takes by Gentry Montgomery is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of Am. It uses the chords Am, C and G. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Intro: Play Am, C, G with each followed by the riff below
e|-------3---
B|---0h1-----
G|-----------
D|-----------
A|-----------
E|-----------
Then, after Am, C, and G; play Am again followed by this riff:
e|-----------
B|-------1---
G|---0h2-----
D|-----------
A|-----------
E|-----------
Am
I learn what I know
C
But I was born this way
G
More of a number
Am
And less of a name
Am
I talk a little too quiet
C
And not enough they say
G
I only tell my secrets
Am
When it’s time to pray
Am C
You wouldn’t see the war just lookin’ from the outside
Am G
I’ve got red dirt blood here runnin on the inside
C G
Sink or swim, live or die
Am
A saving grace and a blue sky
C G
All alone, and unafraid
Am
It’s never just another day
Am
And you don’t back down or walk away
G
But I know, I do, I am
C
What it takes
What it takes
Am
Wash away my footprints
C
With the undertow
G Am
While I’ll walk the wire, of the great unknown
Am
I got two parts too
C
My storied soul
G Am
One stands with my brothers, one waits for me back at home
C G
Sink or swim, live or die
Am
A saving grace and a blue sky
C G
All alone, and unafraid
Am
It’s never just another day
Am
And you don’t back down or walk away
G
But I know, I do, I am
C
What it takes
Am C
You wouldn’t see the war just lookin’ from the outside
Am G
I’ve got red dirt blood here runnin on the inside
C G
Sink or swim, live or die
Am
A saving grace and a blue sky
C G
All alone, and unafraid
Am
It’s never just another day
Am
And you don’t back down or walk away
G
But I know, I do, I am
C
What it takes
Oh what it takes
What it takes