Start A War chords by The National (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

C
F
Gsus4
C/E
Dm7
F/A
G
C/G
F/C
G/C
Dm7/C

Intro 1

Gsus4

C/E

Dm7

Gsus4

C/E

Dm7

Verse 1
C 
F 
We expected something,
Gsus4 
C/E 
something better   than before
F 
Dm7 
C 
We expected something more
F 
Do you really think you can just
Gsus4 
C/E 
put      it in a safe
F 
Dm7 
C 
Behind a painting, lock it up    and leave?
C 
F 
Do you really think you can just
Gsus4 
C/E 
put      it in a safe
F 
Dm7 
C 
Behind a painting, lock it up    and leave?
F/A 
G 
C/G 
Walk away now
F 
C 
and you're gonna start a war
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7/C 

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Chorus 1
C 
F/C 
Whatever went  away,
G/C 
F/C 
I'll get it over  now
F 
Dm7/C 
C 
I'll get money,   I'll get funny again
Whatever went away,
F/C 
G/C 
F/C 
I'll get it over  now
F 
Dm7/C 
C 
I'll get money,   I'll get funny again
F/A 
G 
C/G 
Walk away now
F 
C 
and you're gonna start a war
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7/C 
C 

Verse 2
C 
F 
We expected something,
Gsus4 
C/E 
something better   than before
F 
Dm7 
C 
We expected something more
F 
You were always weird
Gsus4 
C/E 
but I never    had to hold  you
F 
Dm7 
C 
By the edges, like I     do now
F 
You were always weird
Gsus4 
C/E 
but I never    had to hold  you
F 
Dm7 
C 
By the edges, like I     do now
F/A 
G 
C/G 
Walk away now
F 
C 
and you're gonna start a war
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7/C 

Chorus 2
C 
F/C 
Whatever went  away,
G/C 
F/C 
I'll get it over  now
F 
Dm7/C 
C 
I'll get money,   I'll get funny again
Whatever went away,
F/C 
G/C 
F/C 
I'll get it over  now
F 
Dm7/C 
C 
I'll get money,   I'll get funny again
F/A 
G 
C/G 
Walk away now
F 
C 
and you're gonna start a war
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7/C 
C 
F/A 
G 
C/G 
Walk away now
F 
C 
and you're gonna start a war
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7/C 
C 

Outro 1
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
C 
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
C 
F/C 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7 
C 
F/A 
G/C 
C 
F/C 
Dm7 
C 

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GuitarPianoUkulele

C
F
Gsus4
C/E
Dm7
F/A
G
C/G
F/C
G/C
Dm7/C

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: C majorBPM: 130

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

C: x-3-2-0-1-0
F: x-3-3-2-1-x
Gsus4: 3-x-0-0-1-3
C/E: 0-3-2-0-1-0
Dm7: x-x-0-2-1-1
F/A: x-0-3-2-1-x
G: 3-2-0-0-0-3
C/G: 3-x-2-0-1-0
F/C: x-3-3-2-1-x
G/C: x-3-5-4-3-3
Dm7/C: x-3-x-2-3-1

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Start A War by The National, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of C major. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of The National's performance.