The Coldplay Paradise chords are surprisingly easy to play, making this one of the best modern songs for intermediate guitarists. Once you get the chord shapes down, you’ll have a crowd-pleaser that works around campfires or plugged in.
In this lesson, Marty Schwartz breaks down exactly how to play Paradise by Coldplay—the chords, strumming pattern, and those signature fill riffs that make the song instantly recognizable.
What You’ll Need
Capo: 2nd fret
Paradise uses a capo on the second fret. This lets you play simpler chord shapes while matching the key of the original recording. Without a capo, you’d be dealing with barre chords that are a lot less fun.
Coldplay Paradise Chords – The Main Progression
The main chord progression is: Em → G → D → A
These are all open chords (with the capo), so if you’re comfortable with basic shapes, you’re already halfway there.
E minor: This is your starting chord. Standard Em shape—middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, ring finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. Let the open high E and B strings ring.
G major: Move to the G chord. You can use the three-finger G or wrap your thumb around if that’s more comfortable. Either works.
D major: Standard D shape. Index on the 2nd fret of the G string, middle on the 2nd fret of the high E, ring on the 3rd fret of the B string.
A major: Bar your index, middle, and ring fingers across the 2nd fret of the D, G, and B strings. Let the open A and high E ring.
That’s it. That progression repeats through most of the song.
The Fill Riffs
Here’s where Paradise gets fun. Between the main chord changes, there are some cool little fill riffs that really help the song along.
While holding the chord shapes, you’re adding melody notes on the higher strings. For example, on the G chord, you might add your pinky to the 3rd fret of the high E string, then pull it off to let the open string ring.
These fills aren’t complicated—they’re just embellishments using notes that are already in the chord. Watch Marty’s lesson closely to see exactly where to place those extra notes.
The Verse Chords
In the verse, the progression stays similar but shifts slightly: Bm → G → D → A
B minor: This is the only barre chord in the song. Bar your index finger across the 2nd fret (remember, the capo is already on fret 2, so you’re really pressing down on the 4th fret), then use your ring and pinky to form the minor shape on the D, G, and B strings.
If Bm is giving you trouble, you can simplify it by just playing the top four strings and muting the low E and A strings.
The rest of the verse uses G, D, and A—same chords as before.
The Second Verse Variation
In the second verse, Marty shows a few cool variations you can throw in if you want to match the recording more closely. These aren’t necessary, but they add some nice texture.
One variation involves changing up the voicing of the chords slightly—adding or removing fingers to create slightly different tonal colors. It’s subtle, but it makes a difference.
Coldplay Paradise Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern for Paradise isn’t overly complicated, but getting the rhythm right is key.
Think of it as: down, down-up, down-up
You’re emphasizing the downbeats and adding light upstrokes to fill in the space. Don’t overthink it—let the groove dictate the rhythm.
As you get comfortable, you can add dynamics. Start quieter in the verses and build volume into the chorus. Coldplay songs are all about dynamics—quiet verses, big choruses.
Tips for Playing Paradise on Guitar
- Nail the B minor chord. It’s the only tricky chord in the song. Practice the transition from Bm to G until it’s smooth.
- Don’t rush the fills. Those little melodic runs between chords need to flow naturally. If you’re thinking too hard about them, slow down.
- Use dynamics. Coldplay songs live and die on dynamics. Verse = quiet and controlled. Chorus = open it up.
- Let the strings ring. Paradise has a lot of sustain. Don’t mute the strings too quickly—let the notes breathe.
Musical Interlude
There’s a musical interlude that uses the same chords as the verse. It’s just instrumental, so you can either strum through the progression or pick individual notes if you want to get fancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Coldplay Paradise chords?
The main chords are Em, G, D, and A. The verse uses Bm, G, D, and A. All played with a capo on the 2nd fret.
Is Paradise hard to play on guitar?
No, Paradise is actually pretty easy. The hardest part is the B minor chord, but even that’s manageable with practice. It’s a great song for intermediate players.
Do you need a capo for Paradise?
Yes, you’ll want a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original key and play the easier chord shapes.
What is the strumming pattern for Paradise?
The basic pattern is down, down-up, down-up. Focus on keeping a steady rhythm and adding dynamics between verses and chorus.
Paradise is one of those songs that sounds more complicated than it actually is. Once you’ve got the four main chords and the strumming pattern down, the rest falls into place. The fills are just icing on the cake.
Rock on!