expectations

How to play expectations by Olivia Rodrigo & Chappell Roan on guitar

This song is a great pick if you want a modern pop groove that feels direct and expressive at about 120 BPM. You get a steady, driving feel that is fun to lock into and rewarding once the changes start to click.

Most of the chart uses open shapes, so you can stay relaxed with C, G, F, Dm, and Em. The one shape to watch is Gm, since it is the harder barre shape and can slow you down if you do not prepare for it. In the opening progression, the move from G to Gm is the key change to clean up.

Start by looping C - G - Gm - G slowly until the hand shift feels automatic. Then add the rest of the open shapes one at a time, keeping your changes even. When that feels solid, raise the tempo in small steps and focus on making the G to Gm switch smooth every time.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.