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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Queen - ’39 Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsG, D, Em, C, B7, Bm, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

GIntheDyearof’39assembledEmheretheVolunteers
IntheCdayswhenGlandswereDfew
HeretheEmshipsailedGoutintotheCblueandsunnymorn
TheEmsweetestDsighteverGseen.
AndtheDnightfollowedday,andtheB7storytellerssay
ThattheEmscorebraveBmsouls Cinside
ForGmanyalonelydaysailed Dacrossthemilkyseas
NeverlookedEmback,neverDfeared,neverGcried.D
Don’tyouGhearmycallthoughyou’reCmanyyears Gaway
Don’tyouhearmecallingDyou
WriteyourEmlettersBmintheCsand
GFortheCdayIGtakeyourAmhand
IntheGlandthatourDgrandchildrenGknew.
GIntheDyearof’39cameaEmshipinfromtheblue
The CvolunteerscameGhomethatDday
AndtheyEmbringgoodGnewsofaCworldsonewlyborn
ThoughtheirEmheartssoDheavilyGweigh
FortheDearthisoldandgrey,littleB7darlingwe’llaway
ButmyEmlovethisBmcannotCbe
ForsoGmanyyearshavegonethoughI’mDolderbutayear
Yourmother’sEmeyesfromyourDeyescrytoGme.D
Don’tyouGhearmycallthoughyou’reCmanyyears Gaway
Don’tyouhearmecallingDyou
WriteyourEmlettersBmintheCsand
GFortheCdayIGtakeyourAmhand
IntheGlandthatourDgrandchildrenGknew.
DDon’tyouGhearmycallthoughyou’reCmanyyears Gaway
Don’tyouhearmecallingDyou
AllEmyourlettersBmintheCsand
GcannotChealmeGlikeyourAmhand
FormyEmlife,still Dahead
PityGMe.
GDEmCGDG
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistQueen
AlbumA Night at the Opera
GenresRock
Year1975
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play '39 on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Queen - '39 on guitar requires 7 chords and 11 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

'39 uses these transitions most often: G → D (18), C → G (14), and D → G (11). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

To move from G to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

G to D

2. D → Em chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Switching from D to Em:

  1. While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

D to Em

3. Em → C chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from Em to C:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Em to C

4. C → G chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

C to G

5. Em → G chord transition

Switching from Em to G:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. D → B7 chord transition

Switching from D to B7:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. B7 → Em chord transition

To move from B7 to Em:

  1. While playing B7, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

8. Em → Bm chord transition

To move from Em to Bm:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 4.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 2.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

9. Bm → C chord transition

To move from Bm to C:

  1. While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

10. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

11. Am → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Em:

  1. While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

'39 chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in '39.

  • '39 includes 93 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • '39 contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how '39 connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.