Every Breath You Take Chords And Guitar Lesson Just Like The Record

Here’s an iconic song, that can at first feel slightly romantic. Until you dive deeper into the stories behind it and uncover a sinister undertone.

Now, I’ve got to let you know upfront, this song ain’t for beginners. Playing the iconic guitar parts requires seriously stretchy chords and articulate playing. It’s an advanced guitar song for sure.

So, you’ve been warned…

If you’re still with me, grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Every Breath You Take” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Every Breath You Take?

“Every Breath You Take" was written by Sting (a.k.a. Gordon Sumner) the bassist and vocalist for British rock band The Police. It’s become one of their most iconic songs and has an interesting history.  

Sting wrote the tune during a rocky period in his personal life, specifically around his separation from his first wife Frances Tomelty. While the vibe of the tune can feel romantic at first, it has sinister undertones. Sting himself has described it as a “dark” song, despite its melodic and seemingly benign front. It’s a song about obsessiveness and control.

"Every Breath You Take" was first released on May 20, 1983. It was the lead single from The Police's final studio album, Synchronicity. The song was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat, a popular recording spot for high-profile artists at the time. The band recorded the track with producer Hugh Padgham, known for his work on many hit records of the era.

One of the coolest parts is the guitar riff played by Andy Summers. While it’s not easy to play, it drives the song, along with the drum pattern played by Stewart Copeland. 

"Every Breath You Take" became a massive hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in many other countries. It is one of The Police's most successful singles.

Next, let’s take a look at the…

Every Breath You Take Chords

If you want to play “Every Breath You Take” on guitar then you only need to know 8 chords A(add9), F#m9, D(add9), E(add9), D7, B(add9), F, and G. 

You’ll notice many of these chords are (add9) chords. An add9 chord is a type of chord which includes the 9th degree of the scale in addition to the basic triad. 

Andy Summers used this chord extensively in tons of Police hit songs. It's a way to add a bit of extra color or tension to a chord without altering the chord's fundamental quality. And, also not sounding overly jazzy. It still keeps the chords mainstream.

As I keep saying many of these chords are very stretchy. Meaning your fretting hand has to reach. This skill is developed over time. Kind of like doing the splits. You don’t just go in and drop straight down to the floor. It must be developed slowly. Working on this is a very valuable thing to do, if you want to improve the strength and dexterity of your fretting hand. So with that said, let’s take a look at some examples of how these chords could be played on the fretboard. 

A(add9) is played using all 6 strings at the 5th fret like this:

F#m9 is essentially the minor bar chord version of the above chord. This is played in 2nd position like this:

Note: for these chords you will not have to ring out every note, especially on these lower frets. (See video above for a demonstration.)

D(add9) is a beautiful sounding chord that uses 5 strings. I play this in the 5th position like so:

For E(add9), simply move the D(add9) up two frets like this:

D7 is a bluesier sounding chord that comes in at moments throughout the tune. This is played in the 5th position like this:

B(add9) is played the same was as A(add9) just shifted up two frets like this:

Then we have an F bar chord played in 1st position using all 6th strings like this:

Finally, G is a 6-string bar chord, and can be played in 3rd position like this:

If you struggled to understand chords on the neck and navigate the fretboard for rhythm and lead then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here:

All right, now that you know the “Every Breath You Take” chords, let’s next answer the question of…

Is Every Breath You Take hard to play on guitar?

Yes. In my humble but accurate opinion, “Every Breath You Take” is hands down the most difficult Police song to play on guitar. 

Why? 

Two reasons. 1) the chords are stretchy. This means your fretting hand has to REACH. It’s not something a beginner can just waltz in and do. And 2) these chords are played in an arpeggio-picking style, which means any chord uncleanliness is going to stick out like a fart in study hall.

What is the tuning for Every Breath You Take?

The tuning for "Every Breath You Take" is in standard tuning. I believe it was recorded in standard tuning and then they used the tape machine to slow it down. Which lands the pitch somewhere between A and Ab on the recording. However, live you can see the song being played in standard tuning.

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings: 

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch) 

Next, you may be wondering…

What key is Every Breath You Take in?

“Every Breath You Take” as recorded by The Police is in the key of A major. All but 4 chords fit the diatonic scale of A major which is built from the notes:

A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G#

The 4 chords that don’t fit the scale are D7, B(add9), F, and G. The D7 is used to give it a slight bluesy flair for a moment, and then the F and G come in during the bridge section. The F and G are used as a climbing chord progression moving in major seconds. That eventually catapults the chords back to the I chord (A major) out of the bridge. It’s quite genius. 

Here’s how each chord relates to the major scale and key center.

A(add9)

Function: This is the I chord (tonic) in the key of A major.

Notes: A - C# - E - B

Role: It provides the home base and a stable sound. Adding the 9th (B) gives it a lush, open quality.

F#m9

Function: This is the vi chord (relative minor) in the key of A major.

Notes: F# - A - C# - E - G#

Role: It adds a minor and jazzy flavor, often used to create a smooth transition or a deeper emotional color.

D(add9)

Function: This is the IV chord (subdominant) in the key of A major.

Notes: D - F# - A - E

Role: It serves to create movement away from the tonic and can lead back to the tonic or to the dominant chord.

E(add9)

Function: This is the V chord (dominant) in the key of A major.

Notes: E - G# - B - F#

Role: It creates tension that resolves back to the tonic chord (A), providing a sense of resolution.

D7

Function: This is a IV7 chord, often used in blues and jazz contexts to add a dominant function.

Notes: D - F# - A - C

Role: In A major, D7 introduces a bit of bluesy tension and can resolve to the tonic A major chord as it does in “Every Breath You Take”.

B(add9)

Function: This is the V chord in the key of E major, which is the dominant of the dominant in the key of A major. It functions as a secondary dominant or a passing chord that enhances the harmonic progression.

Notes: B - D# - F# - C#

Role: As the V chord in the key of E major, B(add9) creates a strong pull towards E (the dominant of A major), adding extra tension and color. It is often used to heighten the resolution when moving to E major or E(add9) in the progression.

F

Function: This chord is not diatonic to the key of A major, but in the context of A major, it functions as a borrowed chord or a modal interchange chord.

Notes: F - A - C

Role: It adds a surprising color, often used to bring a different flavor or to transition to a different section.

G

Function: This chord is also a borrowed or modal interchange chord in the context of A major.

Notes: G - B - D

Role: Like F major, G major adds a unique color to the harmony, often used to shift tonalities or create contrast.

So that is the theory behind the chords. But remember – theory doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

Every Breath You Take Picking Pattern And Groove

The main underlying groove for “Every Breath You Take” is an 8th-note feel. 8th notes divide each beat of a 4/4 time signature into two equal parts. They can be counted like this:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

1, 2, 3, 4: The downbeats (the main beats)

&: The offbeat (between the main beats)

When counting out loud, it sounds like:

"One and, Two and, Three and, Four and"

Andy Summers’ guitar part mainly plays 8th notes. He uses a combination of this driving rhythm, palm-muting, and arpeggio picking. Here’s an example of a guitar part played in the style:

Conclusion

So there you have it—the intricacies of "Every Breath You Take" revealed. From its haunting backstory to the complex guitar chords and picking patterns. Take your time with this one, remember it’s an advanced piece. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide right here now:  

Jon MacLennan