All You Had To Do Was Stay Chords — Taylor Swift

How to Play All You Had To Do Was Stay by Taylor Swift

This upbeat Taylor Swift pop track from the 1989 album uses a simple four-chord loop throughout — Bb, F, C and Dm. No capo is required. The chord progression is nearly identical across all sections, making this an excellent choice for beginner guitarists and keyboard players.

The energetic, synth-driven feel of the original can be replicated on acoustic guitar with a driving strumming pattern (down-down-up-up-down-up) across all four chords.

Tips for Playing All You Had To Do Was Stay

• No capo needed — play Bb as a full barre chord on the 1st fret or use a capo-1 with A-shape.
• The Dm/C voicing means Dm chord with C in the bass — perfect for smoother transitions.
• Keep a consistent down-up strumming pattern throughout; the groove never changes.