I’m a Believer | Chords + Lyrics
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.
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.
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 |
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 |
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
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 chord chart 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 was 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: