Simple Plan - What If: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "What If" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

          Cm       G#
What if I lead the way?
          A#sus4   A#
What if I make mistakes? (Will you be there?)
          Cm         G#
What if I change the world?
          A#sus4    A#
What if I take the blame? (Will you be there?)

    Cm      G#    A#sus4      A#               Cm
I remember going back to the place we used to lay
    G#             A#
But I keep losing track
             Cm        G#       A#sus4
And now the days, they all turn black
         A#                  Cm
And our dreams all start to fade
     G#                A#sus4 A#
But there's no turning back

            G#
'Cause the world keeps turning
     A#
(So why do you tell me you care
if you're not gonna stay?)
        G#
And my heart's still burning
   A#
(Why do you tell me you care?)

Chorus:
           Cm         G#
What if I change the world
      D#       A#
If I lead the way?
          Cm     G#      D#         A#
What if I be the one who takes the blame?
           Cm            G#
What if I can't go on without you?
          A#
What if I graduate?
          G#
What if I don't?
          A#
What if I don't?

Now I'm slowly giving up
As the world keeps losing faith
And you still turn your back
Now the path I follow takes a toll on me, on you
But there's no turning back

'Cause the world keeps turning
(So why do you tell me you care
if you're not gonna stay?)
And my heart's still burning
(Why do you tell me you care?)

Chorus:
What if I change the world
If I lead the way?
What if I be the one who takes the blame?
What if I can't go on without you?
What if I graduate?
What if I don't?
What if I don't?
What if I don't?
What if I don't?
(What if I don't?)
(What if I don't?)

D#         G#       Cm
(What if I don't?)
           A#
(What if I don't?)
        D#
I'll be waiting here
        G#
I'll be waiting here
        Cm
I'll be waiting here
        A#
For you to call me
        D#
I'll be waiting here
        G#
I'll be waiting here
        Cm
I'll be waiting here
        A#
For you to call me
        D#
I'll be waiting here (Waiting)
        G#
I'll be waiting here (Waiting)
        Cm
I'll be waiting here (Waiting)
        A#          D#
For you to call me, oh

What if I lead the way?
What if I graduate?
What if I change the world?
Would you still remember me?
What if I lead the way?
What if I graduate?
What if I change the world
And I found the words to tell
you what you mean to me?

I'll be waiting here
I'll be waiting here
I'll be waiting here
For you to call me
I'll be waiting here (Waiting)
I'll be waiting here (Waiting)
I'll be waiting here (Waiting)
For you to call me
I'll be waiting


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A#

Guitar chord A#

A#sus4

Guitar chord A#sus4

Cm

Guitar chord Cm

D#

Guitar chord D#

G#

Guitar chord G#

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "What If" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "What If" by Simple Plan.