ABBA – The Winner Takes It All (Guitar)

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Title: The Winner Takes It All Artist: ABBA Transcribed in friendly G, ABBA's recording is in F#, however. To match the key of the recording: - transpose this chord sheet -1 to F# or - tune down the guitar on step to Eb-Ab-Db-G-Bb-Eb or - transpose this chord sheet -2 to F and use a capo 1st fret - transpose this chord sheet -5 to D and use a capo 4th fret (my preferred option) Novice players may leave out the slash chords (see voicings below) and just play the regular shapes (E7 instead of E7/G#, D instead of D/F# etc.). SPECIAL CHORDS
G-shapes               D-shapes (transpose -5)     F-shapes (transpose -2) 

        E-A-D-G-B-e            E-A-D-G-B-e                 E-A-D-G-B-e
E7/G#   4-x-0-1-0-0    B7/D#   x-x-1-2-0-2         D7/F#   2-x-0-2-1-2
D/F#    2-x-0-2-3-2    A/C#    x-4-2-2-2-0         C/E     x-x-2-0-1-0
Am/E    0-x-2-2-1-0    Em/B    x-2-x-0-0-0         Gm/D    x-x-0-3-3-3

[Intro] / [Chorus] and [Bridge]
Transpose -5 to D + capo 4
  D                D    F#7         Bm               Bm   B7/D#  
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----3-----2-----|0---------------|----0-----------|----------------|
B|----3-----3-----|3-----3---------|----------3-----|2-----0---------|
G|2---2-----2-----|2-----3---------|4---4-----4-----|4-----2---------|
D|0---------------|------4---------|4---------------|4-----1---------|
A|----------------|----------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

  Em                                A
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----5-----3-----|2-----0---------|----------------|----------------|
B|----0-----0-----|0-----0---------|----3-----2-----|0---------------|
G|0---0-----0-----|0-----0---------|2---2-----2-----|2-----2---------|
D|----------------|----------------|2---------------|2-----2---------|
A|2---------------|----------------|0---------------|0-----0---------|
E|0---------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[Intro] | G | G B7 | Em | Em E7/G# | | Am | % | D | % | | G | G B7 | Em | Em E7/G# | | Am | % | D | % | [Verse]
              G
I don't wanna talk

                   D/F#
About things we've gone through

                    Am/E
Though it's hurting me

              D
Now it's history

               G
I've played all my cards

                       D/F#
And that's what you've done too

                Am/E
Nothing more to say

               D
No more ace to play
[Chorus]
                    G
The winner takes it all

    B7             Em
The loser standing small

  E7/G#         Am
Beside the victory

                D
That's her destiny
[Verse]
              G
I was in your arms

             D/F#
Thinking I belonged there

                  Am/E
I figured it made sense

              D
Building me a fence

              G
Building me a home

                D/F#
Thinking I'd be strong there

            Am/E
But I was a fool

               D
Playing by the rules
[Bridge]
                     G
The gods may throw a dice

      B7               Em
Their minds as cold as ice

    E7/G#   Am
And someone way down here

              D
Loses someone dear
[Chorus]
                    G
The winner takes it all

    B7           Em
The loser has to fall

     E7/G#           Am
It's simple and it's plain

                D
Why should I complain?
[Verse]
           G
But tell me does she kiss

               D/F#
Like I used to kiss you?

                 Am/E
Does it feel the same

                    D
When she calls your name?

              G
Somewhere deep inside

                D/F#
You must know I miss you

               Am/E
But what can I say

               D
Rules must be obeyed
[Bridge 2]
           G
The judges will decide

    B7           Em
The likes of me abide

    E7/G#         Am
Spectators of the show

               D
Always staying low
[Bridge 3]
                G
The game is on again

  B7         Em
A lover or a friend

  E7/G#          Am
A big thing or a small

                    D
The winner takes it all
[Verse]
              G
I don't wanna talk

                D/F#
If it makes you feel sad

            Am/E
And I understand

                        D
You've come to shake my hand

       G
I apologize

                D/F#
If it makes you feel bad

             Am/E
Seeing me so tense

             D
No self-confidence, but you see …Z
[Outro]
                   | G | G B7 | Em | Em E7/G# |
The winner takes it all

   [ E7/G# ]        | Am | % | D | % |                
The winner takes it all ...

G          B7 Em        Em E/G#
 So the winner takes it a -all

Am            D
 And the loser has to fall

G           B7  Em       Em E/G#
 Throw a di-ice, cold as ice

Am             D
 Way down here, someone dear

G           B7  Em      Em  E/G#
 Takes it a-all, has to fall

Am                     D
 It seems plain to me ...
(fade out over last lines)