5 Secret Guitar Chords That Make 'Cigarette Daydreams' Sound PERFECT (Updated 2025)

'Cigarette Daydreams' by Cage the Elephant remains one of the most requested and timeless acoustic songs for guitarists, from absolute beginners to intermediate players. The track, known for its haunting melody and introspective lyrics, is deceptively simple to play, but capturing its exact, melancholic sound requires knowing a few specific chord voicings and the correct capo position.

As of December 15, 2025, the definitive, easiest way to play this hit is by using a capo on the 2nd fret, which allows you to utilize simple open chord shapes while achieving the song’s original key of D Major. This guide will break down the precise chords, the essential strumming pattern, and the key musical entities that make this track an alternative rock masterpiece.

The Essential Biography: Cage the Elephant and the Melophobia Masterpiece

To truly master a song, understanding its context is crucial for capturing the right feel and tempo. "Cigarette Daydreams" is a pivotal track in the discography of the American alternative rock band, Cage the Elephant.

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Band Profile: Cage the Elephant

• Origin: Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States.
• Formation: 2006.
• Key Members (Current/Contributing):
  • Matt Shultz: Lead Vocals (The primary songwriter behind the track).
  • Brad Shultz: Rhythm Guitar.
  • Daniel Tichenor: Bass.
  • Jared Champion: Drums.
  • Nick Bockrath: Lead Guitar.
  • Matthan Minster: Keyboards, Guitar.
• Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock.

'Cigarette Daydreams' Song Facts

• Album: Melophobia.
• Album Release: 2013.
• Single Release Date: August 26, 2014.
• Producer: Jay Joyce (A key entity in shaping the band's signature sound).
• Key Success: The song was a massive commercial success, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
• Composition Insight: Vocalist Matt Shultz composed the song using a "stream of consciousness" word association technique, giving the lyrics their raw, confessional, and daydream-like quality.

The 5 Secret Chords for the Perfect Sound (Capo 2 Tutorial)

The original key of "Cigarette Daydreams" is D Major. Playing in the key of D without a capo requires a challenging F#m chord (a barre chord), which is difficult for beginners. By placing a capo on the 2nd Fret, you can use simple, open-position chord shapes that are much easier to transition between, making it the ideal method for the acoustic version.

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The "secret" to the song's signature sound lies in the use of the Dmaj7 chord (or the Cmaj7 shape when using the capo). This chord adds the essential melancholy and harmonic richness that defines the track.

Chords to Use (Capo on 2nd Fret)

When the Capo is on the 2nd Fret, the chord *shapes* you play correspond to the *actual* chords listed below, which sound in the key of D.

• C Shape (Sounds as D)
• Cmaj7 Shape (Sounds as Dmaj7): This is the critical, unique chord.
• Em Shape (Sounds as F#m)
• G Shape (Sounds as A)
• Am Shape (Sounds as Bm)

Note: For simplicity, we will use the Capo Shapes in the progression below (C, Cmaj7, Em, G, Am).

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The Full Chord Progression Breakdown

The song is structured around a simple, repeating four-chord pattern for the verse and chorus, with a slight variation for the bridge.

1. Intro & Verse Progression: (C - Cmaj7 - Em - G)

This is the main, repeating progression that gives the song its wistful, floating feel. The quick change from C to Cmaj7 is vital.

C | Cmaj7 | Em | G

(Play each chord for one full measure, or four beats.)

C Shape: x32010
Cmaj7 Shape: x32000 (Simply lift your index finger from the B string of the C chord!)
Em Shape: 022000
G Shape: 320003

2. Chorus Progression: (Am - G - C - Cmaj7)

The chorus uses the same chords but re-arranges them, providing a subtle lift in the melody.

Am | G | C | Cmaj7

Am Shape: x02210

3. Bridge Progression: (Am - G - C - G)

The bridge is where the song builds tension before returning to the final chorus.

Am | G | C | G

Mastering the Strumming Pattern and Rhythm

The rhythm of "Cigarette Daydreams" is a key element of its laid-back, yet driving, alternative rock feel. It is played at a moderate tempo (around 132 BPM in the original recording), and the strumming is often described as simple but with an emphasis on the downstrokes.

The Essential Strumming Pattern for Beginners

A great, simple pattern to start with that captures the song's energy is a variation of the common folk rhythm. The key is to keep the strumming hand moving constantly and use light accents.

Strumming Pattern: D D U D U

• D: Downstroke
• U: Upstroke
• Pattern Breakdown (per measure/4 beats):

  D (down) - D U (down-up) - D U (down-up)

  (Strum the first 'D' on beat 1, then the 'D U' on beat 2, and the final 'D U' on beat 3, leaving beat 4 mostly silent or very light.)

• Pro Tip: Focus on the downstrokes to give it that driving, alternative rock feel, as mentioned by many guitarists who have studied the track. The original recording features a lot of subtle accents and fingerpicking, but this basic pattern is the foundation.

Alternative Capo Positions for Different Vocals

While Capo 2 is the most common and beginner-friendly, you can adjust the capo position to better suit your vocal range or to explore different tonal qualities. This is a great way to increase your topical authority over the song.

1. Capo on 4th Fret (Shapes: G, Gmaj7, Am, C, D):

This raises the pitch further, which might be ideal for higher male or female vocal ranges. The chord shapes are still relatively easy open chords, but the song will sound brighter and higher pitched.

2. Capo on 5th Fret (Shapes: F, Fmaj7, Gm, Bb, C):

This is a more obscure but sometimes used position. It uses F-shaped chords, which can be tricky for absolute beginners due to the partial barre required for the F shape, but it provides a unique timbre.

3. No Capo (Actual Chords: D - Dmaj7 - F#m - G - A):

Playing without a capo requires mastering the F#m barre chord (244222). This is the true, original key of D Major and is the most challenging method, but it offers the fullest, richest acoustic tone as you are not shortening the fretboard.

Advanced Techniques and LSI Keywords for Depth

Once you are comfortable with the basic chord shapes and the strumming pattern, you can introduce advanced techniques to mimic the original recording's depth.

• Fingerpicking Pattern: The song lends itself beautifully to a simple fingerstyle arrangement. Try a pattern focusing on the bass note (Root) on beat 1, followed by the G, B, and high E strings. This technique adds an immediate layer of sophistication and intimacy.
• Chord Voicings: Experiment with open-string voicings. For example, use a G6 (320000) or Gsus4 (320013) in place of the standard G to add subtle harmonic color, a common trick in alternative rock and indie music.
• Dynamics: The song is all about dynamics. Play the verses very softly, almost whispered (low dynamic range), and then hit the chorus with a stronger, more aggressive strum (high dynamic range). This contrast is what makes the song so emotionally resonant.
• LSI Keywords to Explore: *Melophobia album*, *Jay Joyce production*, *Dmaj7 guitar chord*, *acoustic cover tutorial*, *Matt Shultz songwriting*, *alternative rock tabs*, *easy guitar songs*.

Mastering "Cigarette Daydreams" is a rite of passage for acoustic guitarists. By focusing on the essential Capo 2 position and the crucial Cmaj7 shape, you can quickly unlock the song's beautiful, wistful atmosphere and add a timeless classic to your repertoire.