Hold Back the River by James Bay
Key: F · 136 BPM · 4/4
Hold Back the River by James Bay is written in F major. Its chords cycle through the I-V-IV progression — common turnaround / bluesy resolution, played as a IV-I-V rotation: Bb-F-C. At 136 BPM, it moves at a brisk, upbeat pace.
The progression
This song follows the I-V-IV progression (Common turnaround / bluesy resolution), played as a IV-I-V rotation in F major. Chords are automatically detected — if something looks off, let us know.
Play it in other keys
| Capo | Shape key | Chords to play |
|---|---|---|
| Capo 1 | E | A-E-B |
| Capo 3 | D | G-D-A |
| Capo 5 | C | F-C-G |
Chord chart
- 0:00 Dm
- 0:01 F
- 0:03 Bb
- 0:05 F
- 0:07 Bb
- 0:08 F
- 0:14 Dm
- 0:16 F
- 0:17 Bb
- 0:23 F
- 0:28 Bb
- 0:30 F
- 0:32 Bb
- 0:33 F
- 0:42 Bb
- 0:49 F
- 0:57 Dm
- 0:58 F
- 1:00 Dm
- 1:02 F
- 1:07 Bb
- 1:09 F
- 1:11 C
- 1:14 Dm
- 1:16 F
- 1:18 Bb
- 1:20 F
- 1:21 Bb
- 1:23 F
- 1:25 C
- 1:29 Bb
- 1:36 F
- 1:41 C
- 1:43 Bb
- 1:50 F
- 1:55 C
- 1:57 Dm
- 1:59 F
- 2:01 Bb
- 2:02 F
- 2:04 Bb
- 2:06 F
- 2:08 C
- 2:11 F
- 2:18 Bb
- 2:22 Gm
- 2:26 F
- 2:33 Bb
- 2:36 Gm
- 2:41 Bb
- 2:48 F
- 2:54 C
- 2:55 Bb
- 3:02 F
- 3:07 C
- 3:09 F
- 3:16 Bb
- 3:20 Gm
- 3:22 C
- 3:23 F
- 3:31 Bb
Frequently asked questions
What key is Hold Back the River in?
Hold Back the River is in F major.
What chords does Hold Back the River use?
The core of Hold Back the River cycles through Bb, F, C (3 chords).
What is the tempo of Hold Back the River?
Hold Back the River runs at 136 BPM in 4/4 time.
What chord progression does Hold Back the River use?
Hold Back the River follows the I-V-IV progression, played as a IV-I-V rotation. It's a common turnaround / bluesy resolution.
What capo should I use for Hold Back the River?
Capo 1 and play E major shapes — that gets you open chords instead of barring in F major.