Chords + Lyrics | I’m a Believer
Intro
| F/A C/G |
||: D7#9 (C D F, C D F, C D F) :||
Verse 1
||: G | D | G | G :||
I thought love was only true in fairy tales.
Meant for someone else but not for me.
Bridge 1
| C | G | C | G |
Ah, love was out to get me, oh, that’s the way it seemed.
| C | G | D | D N.C |
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.
Chorus 1
| G C | G | G C |
Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer.
| G | G C | G | G C |
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind.
| G | G N.C | C | G | F |
I’m in love (mm), I’m a believer (oh, yeah), I couldn’t leave her if I tried.
Instrumental 1
||: D7#9 (C D F, C D F, C D F) :||
Verse 2
I thought love was more or less a giving thing.
Seems the more I gave the less I got.
Bridge 2
What’s the use in trying, all you get is pain?
When I needed sunshine, I got rain.
Chorus 2
Oh, then I saw her face, now I’m a believer.
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind.
I’m in love (mm), I’m a believer (oh, yeah), I couldn’t leave her if I tried. Oh.
Instrumental 2
||: D7#9 (C D F, C D F, C D F) :||
Solo
||: G | D | G | G :||
Bridge 3
Oh, love was out to get me, now that’s the way it seemed.
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.
Chorus 3
Oh, then I saw her face, now I’m a believer.
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind.
I’m in love (mm), I’m a believer (oh, yeah), I couldn’t leave her if I tried.
Instrumental 3
||: D7#9 (C D F, C D F, C D F) :||
Outro
||: G C | G :||
Yes, I saw her face, now I’m a believer.
Without a trace, of doubt in my mind.
Said, I’m a believer, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I’m a believer).
Said, I’m a believer, yeah (I’m a believer).
I said, I’m a believer, yeah (I’m a believer).
I’m a Believer Chords: Understanding the Classic Progressions
There are four sections to work through in I’m a Believer. Let’s break them down one by one, starting with the intro/instrumental section.
This is the characteristic part of the song that immediately tells the listener what the tune is. The clever part here is that it begins with a chord outside the key!
In the key of G, the F is a bVIIx (also known as a backdoor dominant). The C chord is IV, and when paired with the F, it creates tension—especially when this combination returns after the chorus.
Intro
The signature single-note riff has been written in brackets as C D F, repeated. I also like to imagine a D7#9 chord here, as the intervals remind me of it, like this:
| F/A (bVIIx/3) C/G (IV/5) |
||: D7#9 (C D F, C D F, C D F) :||
What’s crucial here is to play these chords and the riff using the correct inversions—there’s a right way and a wrong way to play it.
You’ll need TAB to make sense of this, and you can check that part of the lesson here: I’m A Believer – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Verse
As the verse starts, we only have the I and V chords. After all the tension from the intro/instrumental section, this feels like a relief.
| G (I) | D (V) | G | G |
| G | D | G | G |
Bridge
The bridge, like many bridges, starts on chord IV. The tension increases as it resolves to the V chord, and then… nothing!
| C (IV) | G (I) | C | G |
| C | G | D (V) | D N.C |
Chorus
The chorus reverses the bridge concept, moving from I to IV rather than IV to I. The final chord is the bVIIx we first heard during the intro.
| G (I) C (IV) | G | G C |
| G | G C | G | G C |
| G | G N.C | C | G | F (bVIIx) |
The arrangement remains the same throughout, with only a solo replacing the verse. The outro is simply the first half of the chorus, repeated.
Here’s a chord chart I made for you.
I’m a Believer Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
I’m pleased with how this chord chart turned out. You play the intro, then repeat the verse, bridge, and chorus three times.
The third verse is a solo. Perhaps the only thing missing in the chord chart is an indication that the third verse is a solo. I learned my lesson and added this for Under the Boardwalk.
Should you want to download it, here’s a PDF: I’m a Believer chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iReal Pro. Here’s a link to that file: I’m a Believer iRealPro.
Using the app, you can change the key and even indicate that the third verse is a solo. You could use the text tool, as I have done, to write “D.S.” and indicate the riff intervals.
By the way, writing intervals instead of note names is a great idea because if you change the key, the intervals—being numbers—will still be correct.
I’m a Believer TAB | Course Preview
In the course, you get several TAB examples demonstrating how to play I’m a Believer as the sole guitarist in the band.
One particularly interesting section—and a great example of why TAB is often more helpful than standard notation—is the intro. If you only had the sheet music, it could easily lead to an awkward or even unplayable part.
Below is an example of what you might end up playing if you relied solely on the notes and chord names. Here’s the incorrect TAB:
Try this incorrect TAB along with the original recording, and then consider how you might fix it.
The biggest-selling single of 1967
Written by Neil Diamond but recorded and made famous by The Monkees, I’m a Believer was released in late 1966. It quickly shot to the #1 spot in the U.S. and stayed there for seven weeks.
The song’s popularity was undeniable, becoming the biggest-selling single of 1967. Its success wasn’t limited to the U.S.; it reached #1 in an additional twelve countries!
In total, I’m a Believer sold over 10 million copies worldwide, largely due to The Monkees being more than just a band—they were also a TV show (or a sitcom, if you like).
As a band, The Monkees were a massive success globally, selling a staggering 75 million records, with hits like Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream Believer, and, of course, I’m a Believer.
Since the late ’60s, I’m a Believer has remained a staple of many cover bands’ repertoires, sitting comfortably alongside songs like I Saw Her Standing There, Honky Tonk Women, and Brown Eyed Girl.
If you’re in a band that plays tunes from the late ’60s, this one is almost certainly going to appear on your setlist.
I’m a Believer Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: I’m a Believer (The Monkees) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
