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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.

Taylor Swift - Cardigan Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, A, G, D, Bm
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmVintagetee,brandnewAphone,highheelson Gcobblestones
WhenyouareyoungtheyassumeyouknowAnothing
EmSequinedsmile,black Alipstick,sensual Gpolitics
Whenyouareyoung,theyassumeyouknowAnothing
DButIknewyou,dancin’inyourALevi’s.
Drunkunderastreetlight,GI…
Iknewyou,handundermyAsweatshirt.
ABaby,kissitbetter,I…
EmAndwhenIfeltlikeIwasanoldAcardigan.
Undersomeone’sGbed.
YouputmeonandsaidIwasyourAfavorite.
EmAfriendtoallisafriendtoAnone
Chasetwogirls,losetheGone
Whenyouareyoung,theyassumeyouknowAnothing
DButIknewyou.
PlayinghideandAseekand,
Givingmeyourweekends,GI,Iknewyou.
YourheartbeatontheAHighLine,Aonceintwentylifetimes,I.
GAndwhenIfeltlikeIwasanoldBmcardigan.
Undersomeone’sDbed.
DYouputmeonandsaidIwasyourAfavorite.
GBmAG
TokissinGcars,anddowntownbars,wasallweBmneeded
YoudrewAstarsaroundmyscars,butnowI’mGbleeding.
D’CauseIknewyou,steppingontheAlasttrain.
Markedmelikeabloodstain,GI,Iknewyou…
TriedtochangetheAending,PeterlosingWendy,I,DIknewyou
LeavinglikeaAfather,runninglikewater,GI.
GWhenyouareyoung,theyassumeyouknowAnothing
ButIknewyou’dDlingerlikeatattookiss.
Iknewyou’dAhauntallofmywhat-ifs.
ThesmellofGsmokewouldhangaroundthislong.
‘CauseIknewAeverythingwhenIwasyoung.
IknewI’dDcurseyouforthelongesttime.
ChasingAshadowsinthegroceryline.
Iknewyou’dGmissmeoncethethrillexpired.
Andyou’dbeAstandinginmyfrontporchlight.
AndIknewyou’dcomeEmbacktome.
Andyou’dcomeAbacktome.
Andyou’dcomeGbacktome.
Andyou’dcomeAback.
GAndwhenIfeltlikeIwasanoldBmcardigan.
DUndersomeone’sDbed.
DYouputmeonandsaidIwasyourAfavorite.
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.
ArtistTaylor Swift
AlbumFolklore
GenresAlternative, Indie
Year2020
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Cardigan on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Taylor Swift - Cardigan on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Cardigan uses these transitions most often: A → G (16), G → A (11), and D → A (8). 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 Em - A chord transition.

1. Em → A chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

To move from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

Em to A

2. A → G chord transition

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

To move from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

A to G

3. A → D chord transition

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

To move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A to D

4. G → Bm chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram

To move from G to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

G to Bm

5. Bm → D chord transition

To move from Bm to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

6. Bm → A chord transition

To move from Bm to A:

  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 D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. G → D chord transition

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.

Cardigan chord transition analysis

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

  • Cardigan includes 58 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Cardigan contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Cardigan connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → G: 13%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → A: 6%
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.