Here’s a classic indie pop ballad that’s been moving audiences since its release in 2005.
The song was inspired by existential questions about what happens after death. The lyrics are deep and the guitar part is very soothing.
I’m going to break down this style for you step-by-step in a way that I haven’t seen anyone do online yet.
You see, most instructors explain the strumming pattern with a pick. However, if you listen to the original recording, it was done with a folk-style brushing pattern – similar to what Paul McCartney did on “Blackbird”
So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” chords and guitar lesson!
"I Will Follow You Into the Dark" is a song by Death Cab for Cutie, written by the band’s frontman, Ben Gibbard. It was released in 2005 as part of their fifth studio album, Plans.
The inspiration for the song came about when Gibbard was grappling with thoughts of mortality after the death of a friend’s parent. The lyrics explore themes of fear of losing a loved one, and the promise of eternal companionship, no matter what happens.
Gibbard said he wrote the song in about 15 minutes while sitting on the edge of his bed.
This was relatively fast for him.
I’ve noticed this theme in a lot of great songs. It’s like they just fall out of the sky. Of course, the artist is always digging and searching for them. However, they don’t always show up when the artist wants. But then when they do, it’s often in a quick moment of inspiration. It’s as if they just drop out of the ether.
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” was recorded at Long View Farm, a studio located in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Unlike other songs on the album Plans, which had much more elaborate production, "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" was recorded with minimal instrumentation—just Gibbard and his guitar. This sparse approach kepts the song honest, upfront, and personal. This simplicity made it stand out on the album.
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Despite its modest commercial performance upon its initial release, the song went on to become one of Death Cab for Cutie's most beloved tracks and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
It also achieved widespread recognition when it was used in various TV shows, movies, and commercials, further etching its status as an iconic indie ballad.
During live performances, the song is frequently a fan favorite, with the crowd often singing along. This interaction has sometimes moved Gibbard to tears, as he feels the weight of the song's meaning for so many people.
Now, you may be wondering…
The tuning for "I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, as recorded by Ben Gibbard, is standard tuning. Gibbard kept things simple.
Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE.
Here are the strings:
However, you may be wondering…
Yes. If you want to play the guitar part like how it sounds on the original recording. Then you will need to use a capo on the 5th fret. This allows you to play folk-style open chords but higher up the neck.
If you’re in standard tuning with a capo on the 5th fret your tuner will read:
Don't fret if you don’t have a capo, you can still play the song. It’s just going to sound in a lower key without the capo.
Next, let’s talk about the…
To play “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” on guitar you only need to know 6 chords Am, C, F, G, E, and Fm. Two of these chords are bar chord shapes, and the rest can be played in open position. Let’s take a look at a few options for how they might look on the fretboard below.
Am is played from the 5th string down like this:
C just changes one note from Am and is also played from the 5th string down like this:
F is the first bar chord you’ll run into. It’s played in 1st position like this:
G is played in a folk-style using the ring and the pinkie fingers like this:
E is a very common open chord. It’s played using all 6 strings in open position like this:
Finally, Fm comes in during the end of the chorus and is bar’d on the 1st fret 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 “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” chords, let’s now talk about…
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” as recorded by Ben Gibbard with Death Cab For Cutie is in the key of F major.
However, since this is a guitar lesson, and because we are using a capo. It’s easier for guitar players to think of it as being in the key of C major. These are the capo chords. If this seems confusing, don’t worry about it. Forget the part about F major above and just continue on. If you want to know more about this, it comes down to understanding the difference between capo chords and concert pitch.
Viewing the chords through the lens of the capo, all of the chords fit the key of C major except for E, and Fm.
The C major scale is built from the notes:
In the key of C major, each scale degree corresponds to a chord built on that note, using the notes of the scale. Here are the diatonic chords:
Here is a quick analysis of the chords in the song:
C (I): The tonic chord of C major, built on the first degree of the scale.
Am (vi): The relative minor chord, built on the sixth degree of the scale. It is closely related to C major because it shares the notes A, C, and E.
F (IV): The subdominant chord, built on the fourth degree. It leads to the dominant chord (G) or back to the tonic (C).
G (V): The dominant chord, built on the fifth degree. It creates tension that resolves back to C major.
E (III): The mediant chord, built on the third degree. This chord is usually minor in the key of C. However, making it major provides a nice color or transition.
Fm: This is not diatonic to the key of C major, as it includes the note Ab, which is not in the C major scale. Fm could be considered a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (C minor), adding a chromatic flavor and emotional depth to the progression. This is a common Beatles’ style chord progression where you go to the IV chord and make it minor.
That’s the theory, but remember knowing all this doesn’t mean a thing without a good…
The main strumming pattern for “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” is a steady 8th-note strum. Strumming 8th notes means dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into two equal parts.
To properly strum 8th notes, you need to understand how to count them within each measure. In a 4/4 time signature, each measure has four beats. When subdividing each beat into 8th notes, each beat is divided into two equal parts, giving us a total of eight 8th notes per measure.
To count 8th notes, you typically use the following syllables:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Here’s the breakdown:
1: The first 8th note (on the beat)
&: The second 8th note (off the beat)
When counting out loud, it sounds like:
"One and, Two and, Three and, Four and"
Gibbard uses a folk-style strumming pattern similar to clawhammer banjo strumming. This is also similar to the style Paul McCartney uses on “Blackbird”.
Here’s an example of this kind of folk strumming pattern:
To wrap it up, “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” shows the masterful songwriting skill Ben Gibbard has. It’s a standout tune in the Death Cab For Cutie catalog and is a great song to learn on guitar.
Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide right here now:
Jon MacLennan
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