Suspicious Minds | TAB
Based around a guitar riff, Suspicious Mind’s chords are more complex than you may first suspect. Let’s start with looking at TAB for the entire verse, then discuss what’s happening.

As you can see, the G goes to a C/G, then back to the G. This is why I’ve written G and (C/G) in the chords and lyrics lesson, indicating that it comes in and then goes back.
The C – F/C – C is identical, just transposed up a 4th. The D and (D6) are slightly less busy, probably because the vocal is more intense here so it avoids getting in the way. The following C (C6) is identical.
Using two riffs repeated in this way is a great idea, it feeds the listener’s brain with repetition.
The descending chord riff takes us to the chorus after verses 1 and 2. Following verse 3, we don’t play the descending chords.
The chorus is diatonic as it moves IV – I – III – IV – V on line 1, then VI – III – IV – V, like this:
| C | G | Bm | C D |
| Em | Bm | C | D |
Chorus 2 goes to a B7 at the end, setting us up for a 6/8 half-time middle 8, very unusual! Here are the chords:
||: Em | Bm | C | D :||
| G | C | G | 4/4 D7 |
Again, these are all diatonic, we’re not breaking any rules. The only outside note in Suspicious Mind’s chords is F/C this is a bVIIx/backdoor dominant. Repeating a riff in this way adds a bluesy feeling to the tune.
Having learned the verse using the TAB, can you figure out the rest of this tune?
Suspicious Minds TAB | Related Pages
Suspicious Minds | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn to play Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G (C/G) | G (C/G) | C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
Mark James tunes
Back in the late 60s and 70s, some people were actually employed as songwriters, working for publishing companies.
One of the most successful was Mark James who wrote for Elvis Presley, including Suspicious Minds and Always On My Mind.
Mark James on the web
Elvis Presley tunes
Elvis Presley didn’t just change music by popularising Rock n’ Roll and becoming the world’s first superstar, he changed the world.
Hits include Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Don’t Be Cruel, Blue Suede Shoes, In The Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, and (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.
Elvis Presley on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Suspicious Minds chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.