Back to December Chords: Guitar, Piano, Ukulele (with Capo) – Taylor Swift

Few songs capture a wistful apology like Taylor Swift’s “Back to December.” If you’ve ever wanted to pick it up on guitar, piano, or ukulele, here are the standard progressions, capo-free alternatives, and instrument-specific voicings so you can play it the way that fits your hands best.

Song: Back to December ·
Artist: Taylor swift ·
Album: Speak Now ·
Released: 2010 ·
Key (standard): Capo 2 – play C shapes, sound D ·
Chords used: C, Am, F, G, Em

Six quick facts to ground your playing:

What are the standard chords for Back to December?

Standard guitar chords (with capo)

1. Place capo on the 2nd fret.
2. Learn the open chord shapes: C, Am, F, G, Em.
3. Practice the intro progression: | C | Am F | x2 (Chordie (user-submitted tab archive))
4. Strum with a down-down-up-up-down-up pattern at 80 BPM.

• Capo on 2nd fret – play open-position shapes: C, Am, F, G, Em. The actual sound is D major.
• Verse progression: C – Am – F – C – G
• Chorus progression: F – C – G – Am – F – C – G

Chord progression for verse and chorus

• The verse cycles through I–vi–IV–I–V (C–Am–F–C–G) in the capo-2 shapes.
• The chorus extends that to IV–I–V–vi–IV–I–V (F–C–G–Am–F–C–G).

The pattern is consistent across the entire song — the bridge shifts to a more emotional feel but keeps the same chord set. For guitarists, the capo-2 arrangement is the easiest entry point: five open chords, no barres.

The implication: This straightforward chord loop is the foundation for many pop songs, making it a valuable pattern to master.

How to play Back to December chords without a capo?

Transposing without capo

If you don’t have a capo or want to play in the original recorded key, remove the capo and shift each chord up a whole step. The result: D, Bm, G, A, F#m. Multiple tab sources confirm this no-capo progression (Chordie (user-submitted tab archive)).

Chord shapes in original key (D)

• No capo chords: D (xx0232), Bm (x24432), G (320003), A (x02220), F#m (244222).
• The same strumming pattern applies — just move the open shapes up.

The trade-off: you’ll need a barre for F#m. Beginners may find capo-2 easier, but no-capo gives you the full D resonance without transposition.

The implication: Capo-2 is the learning path; no-capo is the performance-ready version. Both are valid, and you can switch between them as your skills grow.

What are the piano chords for Back to December?

Piano chord diagrams

The harmonic structure is identical: D, Bm, G, A, F#m. On piano, play these as root-position triads or inversions to keep hand movement minimal (Hooktheory (music theory database)).

Left hand / right hand arrangement

• Right hand: block chords or arpeggios in root position (D-F#-A, B-D-F#, G-B-D, A-C#-E, F#-A-C#).
• Left hand: simple octave bass (D, B, G, A, F#) on beats 1 and 3.
• Tempo: 80 BPM, ballad feel — hold each chord for one or two bars depending on the phrase.

What this means: Piano players benefit from the consistent left-hand root pattern. Once you’ve mapped the five chords, you can focus on dynamics and phrasing rather than reading sheet music.

How to play Back to December on ukulele?

Ukulele chord shapes

• Standard tuning GCEA, no capo: C (0003), Am (2000), F (2010), G (0232), Em (0402) (Ukulele Tabs (community uke archive)).
• With capo on fret 2: play the same shapes, resulting sound is D major.

Strumming patterns for ukulele

• Basic pattern: down down up up down up (8th-note feel).
• YouTube ukulele tutorial (no-capo lesson) demonstrates a slightly looser down-up with accent on beats 1 and 3.
• Bridge: strum with more emotion — four strums per chord, then three strums plus a muted block.

Ukulele players get the easiest ride: the same open chords as the guitar capo-2 version, but without a capo. The fingerings are all in first position.

What is the strumming pattern for Back to December?

Strumming pattern notation

• Common pattern: down, down, up, up, down, up (counted as 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &).
• Apply to each chord change. The pre-chorus uses two strums per chord, then switches to full pattern at the chorus (YouTube tutorial (ukulele strumming breakdown)).

Rhythm tips

• Keep your wrist loose and aim for a gentle accent on beats 1 and 3.
• Tempo: 80 BPM — slow enough to feel each strum, but not so slow that the ballad drags.
• Experiment with light palm muting on the verse for a softer dynamic.

The pattern: “Back to December” lives in a comfortable 4/4 pocket. The strumming pattern is less about precision and more about feel — let the lyrics guide your dynamics.

For beginner guitarists, the most common point of confusion is whether to use a capo. The answer: start with capo-2 for comfort, then challenge yourself with the no-capo version. For piano players, the left-hand root octaves are your best friend. Ukulele players have it easiest — no capo, no barres, just open chords and a relaxed strum. The beauty of “Back to December” is that its harmonic skeleton is simple enough that you can focus on what really matters: the apology in the lyrics.

“The standard chord progression for ‘Back to December’ with capo on the second fret uses C, Am, F, G, and Em.”

— Ultimate Guitar tab submission (community tab platform)

“You can play the whole song with just five chords and a simple down-up strum — it’s one of the easiest Taylor Swift songs to learn on ukulele.”

— Ukulele Tabs user notes (community archive)

For beginner guitarists, the most common point of confusion is whether to use a capo. The answer: start with capo-2 for comfort, then challenge yourself with the no-capo version. For piano players, the left-hand root octaves are your best friend. Ukulele players have it easiest — no capo, no barres, just open chords and a relaxed strum. The beauty of “Back to December” is that its harmonic skeleton is simple enough that you can focus on what really matters: the apology in the lyrics.

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Musicians can find a comprehensive breakdown of the song’s chord structure in the complete Back to December chords guide which includes guitar, piano, and ukulele versions.

Frequently asked questions