Chords + Lyrics | Watermelon Sugar
Verse 1
| N.C | Dm | Am |
Tastes like strawberries, on a summer evenin’.
| C | G |
And it sounds just like a song.
| Dm | Am |
I want more berries and that summer feelin’.
| C | G |
It’s so wonderful and warm.
Bridge 1
| Dm | Am |
Breathe me in, breathe me out.
| C | G |
I don’t know if I could ever go without.
| Dm | Am |
I’m just thinking out loud.
| C | G |
I don’t know if I could ever go without.
Chorus 1
| Dm | Am |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| C | N.C |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar high. Watermelon sugar.
Verse 2
Strawberries, on a summer evenin’.
Baby, you’re the end of June.
I want your belly, and that summer feelin’.
Getting washed away in you.
Bridge 2
| Dm | Am |
Breathe me in. Breathe me out.
| C | N.C |
I don’t know if I could ever go without.
Chorus 2
| Dm | Am |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| C | G |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| Dm | Am |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| C | G |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
Chorus tag
| Dm | Am |
I just wanna taste it. I just wanna taste it.
| C | G |
Watermelon sugar high.
Verse 3 (breakdown)
| Dm | Am |
Tastes like strawberries, on a summer evenin’.
| C | G |
And it sounds just like a song.
| Dm | Am |
I want your belly, and that summer feelin’.
| N.C | N.C |
I don’t know if I could ever go without.
Outro
| Dm | Am |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| C | G |
Watermelon sugar (sugar), high. Watermelon sugar, high (sugar).
| Dm | Am |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| C | G |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar, high.
| Dm | Am |
I just wanna taste it, I just wanna taste it.
| C | G |
Watermelon sugar high.
| Dm | Am |
I just wanna taste it, I just wanna taste it.
| C | G N.C |
Watermelon sugar, high. Watermelon sugar.
Watermelon Sugar Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Watermelon Sugar. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, horns, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar sharp to 442Hz. In the backing track, I’ve done this job for you by detuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
If you think of each mode as a feeling, it becomes clear why Watermelon Sugar’s four-chord loop is so captivating.
Dorian (II) carries a touch of sadness but with a sense of hope. Aeolian (VI) is the saddest. Ionian (I) is happy and settled, while Mixolydian (V) feels determined to resolve.
So when the chords move II – VI – I – V, the progression takes us through a cycle of emotions—melancholy with hope, deeper sadness, happiness, and a pull towards resolution. In the key of C, that looks like this:
||: Dm (II) | Am (VI) | C (I) | G (V) :||
To maintain interest, the song shifts between sections (verse, bridge, chorus, tag), but the same chord progression runs throughout.
Breakdowns, layers of production (like those in verse 2), and, most importantly stops, all add dynamics to the arrangement.
If you’re playing this tune with a band, locking in those stops is key to sounding professional—or, as I’ve learned the hard way, realising no one else in the band has studied the arrangement in detail!
To make this easier, use this chord chart—send it to the band, and maybe you’ll hit the stops perfectly.
For more specific guitar ideas, including how to play as the only guitarist, check out the TAB further down this guitar lesson.
Watermelon Sugar Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
If you’d like to download my chord chart, here’s a PDF: Watermelon Sugar chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iRealPro. Here’s a link to the file: Watermelon Sugar iReal Pro. With the iRealPro app, you can also change the key.
Watermelon Sugar | TAB
Let’s look at how to play Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles using TAB and play-along loops (see further down the lesson), as this has become a standard in the working guitarist’s repertoire in the U.K.
Here’s a good basic rhythm you could use throughout – we’re only using three strings per chord and playing in a simplified, beginner-like way.
Play this along with the loop below, as well as the backing track and chord chart above. As soon as you feel comfortable, start exploring the fretboard by trying the same rhythm using different shapes.
Next, let’s develop that basic idea by not always playing three strings. Here’s idea 2:
We’re hammering on, sliding up, and most of the time playing two strings at once. Depending on whether it’s a downstroke or upstroke, which two strings you play will vary.
I haven’t changed the chord names, even though there are occasionally notes beyond the triad.
Here’s the next idea – we’re now avoiding string 1 entirely. This approach will likely sit better in the mix compared to ideas 1 and 2. Notice how I’m altering the rhythm on beat 4.
If you explore the fretboard using this way of playing the rhythm, you can keep yourself entertained for many gigs. If you don’t, you may get bored.
Here’s idea 4, where we start using extensions. Play along with the loop in the playlist to get it right.
We’re now into small, microscopic details. For example, notice the dot on beat 2 – this means “play short.” It’s used to make the rhythm easier to read compared to using 16th notes and rests.
Here’s idea 5. This time, we’re using new chord shapes. I’m not a massive fan of the Dm7 using an Em shape – it doesn’t feel great – but the other new shapes do!
Most interestingly, the Am7 and C use the same notes – as do Am and C6. The only thing that separates the two bars is beat 4. You can only play like this if the bass changes the root note.
The last bar moves between G and G6.
Here’s the final idea – it’s a bit extreme. Practise it as written (use the loop), and then explore moving this concept to other shapes.
In the end, you can incorporate this Hendrix like 16th note triplet anywhere – Try it out using the backing track and chord chart above.
Want to hear all this TAB? I’ve recorded it for you below.
One of Harry Styles’ Best Tunes
Harry Styles, formerly of One Direction, released Watermelon Sugar as a single from his second album, Fine Line (2019).
With over 10 million in combined sales, it became the album’s standout hit—a far cry from the polished bubblegum pop of his boy band days.
Before Watermelon Sugar, Harry had already shown promise as a solo artist, starting with his debut single Sign of the Times (2017)—not to be confused with the Prince classic!
Another solid track from Fine Line is Adore You (2020), while his most recent major hit, As It Was (2022), from Harry’s House, carries echoes of The Weeknd, who in turn channels A-ha.
It may not be groundbreaking, but it’s certainly a step up from One Direction!
Watermelon Sugar Chords: Continue Learning
Step-by-step Guitar Courses
Master guitar by studying real tunes. Build your skills with video lessons, eBooks and practice routines that connect theory with the music you love!
Explore SpyTunes step-by-step Guitar Courses.
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
