Learn how to play 'I Love You, I'm Sorry' by Gracie Abrams on guitar!

In this easy lesson, we'll use a simple chord progression, a flowing 6/8 strumming feel, and expressive dynamics that bring the song to life. This tutorial is perfect for players building timing, control, and emotional delivery—all with beginner-friendly chords. The song may look simple on paper, but the feel is everything. That is where it really shines!

Capo & Setup

We play the song with a capo on the 3rd fret, which places the chords in the right range to match the original recording.

Chords We Use

Most of the song uses the same four-chord loop:

G → D → A minor 7 → C

We explore several comfortable fingerings for the G chord, and we use A minor 7 (A minor with the 3rd finger lifted), which makes the movement to C smoother and more fluid.

There is only one chord change in the whole song:
On the lyric “I tend to laugh whenever I’m sad”, the G chord becomes E minor for that line only—then the progression returns to D → Am7 → C.

Strumming & Rhythm

The song is in 6/8 time, counted:

1 2 3 4 5 6

with strong accents on 1 and 4. We first lock in the feel using simple downstrokes to build the groove, then move to the full strumming pattern:

1 2& 3& 4 5& 6&

The key is keeping the strumming hand moving evenly at all times—even when some strokes don’t hit the strings. This maintains a steady and musical rhythm. We also practice the pattern without fretting chords first, so the rhythm becomes automatic before adding chord changes.

Dynamics & Palm Muting

Because the chord progression remains the same throughout the verses, choruses, and bridge, dynamics are what create emotion and contrast. We use palm muting in the verses to make the sound:

quieter
more intimate
more focused on the story

Then we release the mute in the chorus so the song opens up and lifts. This creates a significant emotional difference between sections, making the song feel powerful rather than repetitive. The natural flow becomes:

Quiet verses
Big open choruses
Big bridge
Final lifted choruses

Optional Embellishments

For extra musicality, we explore light hammer-ons inside the chords:

On G, Am7, and C
Small stepping movements between chords

These are not required to play the song correctly, but they add motion and expression in a style Gracie Abrams often uses.

Why This Song is Great to Learn on Guitar

This song helps us build:

steady rhythm through chord changes
6/8 strumming control
dynamic playing that makes simple chords sound emotional and professional

It is a perfect example of how feel, groove, and dynamics turn a simple progression into a powerful performance.

👉 Up for more? Browse other beginner-friendly guitar tutorials here!