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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.

Katy Perry - California Gurls Chords

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

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to E key to play this song with easier chords.

CIFknowaGplaceAmwheretheCgrassisreallyFgreener
CWarm,FwetandGwildAmtheremustbeCsomethingintheFwater
CSippingFginandGjuiceAmlayingCunderneaththeFpalmGtreesAm
TheCboysFbreaktheirGnecksAmtryingtoCcreepaFlittlesneakGpeekAm
GYoucouldtraveltheAmworld,butFnothingcomesclosetothegoldencoast
GOnceyoupartywithAmus,you’llbeFfallinginloveohOhohohohoh
CCaliforniaFgirls,Gwe’reAmunforgettable
CDaisyDukes, Gbikinis Amontop
CSun-kissedskin,so Ghotwillmelt Amyourpopsicle
COhohohohoh,
CCaliforniaFgirls,Gwe’reAmundeniable
CFine, Ffresh,fierce,we Ggot Amitonlock
CWestcoastFrepresent,nowGput Amyourhandsup
COhohohohoh,oh GOhohohohoh
CSexFonaGbeachAmwegetCsandinourFstilettos
WeCfreakFinmyjeepGSnoopAmDoggyCDoggontheFstereo
GYoucouldtraveltheAmworld,butFnothingcomesclosetothegoldencoast
GOnceyoupartywithAmus,you’llbeFfallinginloveohOhohohohoh
CCaliforniaFgirls,Gwe’reAmunforgettable
CDaisyDukes, Gbikinis Amontop
CSun-kissedskin,so Ghotwillmelt Amyourpopsicle
COhohohohoh,
Toned,tan,fitandready,turn
itupcauseitsgettin’heavy
Wildwildwestcoast,thesearethegirlsIlovethemost
Imeantheones,Imeanlikeshe’sthe
one,kissher,touchher,squeezeherbuns
Thegirlsafreak,shedrivesajeepthemenonthebeach,
I’mokay,Iwon’tplay,IlovethebayJustlikeIloveLA
VeniceBeachandPalmSpringssummertimeiseverything
Comeonboys,hangingoutallthatasshangingout
Bikinis,tankinis,martinis,no
weeniesjusttogetinbetweeny
Katymylady(yeah)youlookingherebaby(uhhuh)
I’malluponyoucauseyourepresentingCalifornia
CCaliforniaFgirls,Gwe’reAmunforgettable
CDaisyDukes, Gbikinis Amontop
CSun-kissedskin,so Ghotwillmelt Amyourpopsicle
COhohohohoh,
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.
ArtistKaty Perry
AlbumTeenage Dream
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2010
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play California Gurls on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Katy Perry - California Gurls on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 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.

California Gurls uses these transitions most often: G → Am (32), F → G (30), and C → F (28). 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 - F chord transition.

1. 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

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 28 times.

C to F

2. F → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from F to G:

  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 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 30 times.

F to G

3. G → Am chord transition

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

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 verse, played 32 times.

G to Am

4. Am → C chord transition

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

Here's how to move from Am to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 25 times.

Am to C

5. Am → F chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

California Gurls chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in California Gurls.

  • California Gurls includes 123 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • California Gurls contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how California Gurls connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Am: 13%
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.