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Ry Cooder - Across The Borderline Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G7, F, Am, Dm
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

[Opening]
[C]There’s a place where [G7]I’ve been [C]told
[F]Every street is [G7]paved with [C]gold
And it’s just [Am]across the border [G7]line
[C]And when it’s time to [G7]take your [C]turn
Here’s a lesson that [F]you must [Dm]learn
[C]You could lose more [G7]than you’ll ever [C]find

[chorus]
When you [Am]reach the [G7]broken [C]promised land
[F]And every dream slips [C]through your hands
Then you’ll know that it’s too [Am]late to change your [G7]mind [F] [G7]
Cause you’ve [F]paid the [G7]price to [C]come so far
[F]Just to [G7]wind up [Am]where you [F]are
And you’re [C]still just a[G7]cross the border [C]line

[verse 2]
Up and down the [G7]Rio [C]Grande
[F]A thousand footprints [G7]in the [C]sand
Reveal a secret [Am]no one can de[G7]fine [F] [G7]

[Closing]
[C] [G7] [C] [F] [G7] [C] [Am] [G7]
[C] [G7] [C] [F] [Dm] [C] [G7] [C]
Hope remains [G7]when pride is [C]gone
And it keeps you [F]moving [Dm]on
[C]Calling you a[G7]cross the [Am]border[C]line

[chorus]
When you [Am]reach the [G7]broken [C]promised land
[F]And every dream slips [C]through your hands
Then you’ll know that it’s too [Am]late to change your [G7]mind [F] [G7]
Cause you’ve [F]paid the [G7]price to [C]come so far
[F]Just to [G7]wind up [Am]where you [F]are
And you’re [C]still just a[G7]cross the border [C]line
[Am]And you’re [C]still [G7]just across the border [C]line

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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.
ArtistRy Cooder
AlbumGet Rhythm
GenresR&B, Rock, Soul
Year1987
KeyC

How to play Across The Borderline on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ry Cooder - Across The Borderline on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 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.

Across The Borderline uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (21), C → G7 (12), and C → F (10). 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 C - G7 chord transition.

1. C → G7 chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

To move from C to G7;

  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 1.
C to G7

2. C → F chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from C to F;

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

3. F → G7 chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

To move from F to G7;

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
F to G7

4. C → Am chord transition

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

To move from C to Am;

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

5. Am → G7 chord transition

To move from Am to G7;

  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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.

6. F → Dm chord transition

To move from F to Dm;

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

7. Dm → C chord transition

To move from Dm to C;

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

8. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F;

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

Across The Borderline chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Across The Borderline.

  • Across The Borderline includes 90 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Across The Borderline contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Across The Borderline connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → F: 16%
    • C → Am: 10%
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%
    • G7 → F: 5%
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.