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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.

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang Chords

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

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

EmIhearsomethingsaying
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
That’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
Alldaylongthey’resinging
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
(Well,don’tyouGknow)
That’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
GAlldaylongtheyEmworksohard,
’tilltheCsunisgoingDdown
GWorkingontheEmhighwayandbywaysand
Cwearing,wearingaDfrown
GYouhearthemmoaningtheirEmlivesaway
CthenyouhearDsomebodysay
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
NCCan’tyouhearthemsaying
GMmmEmI’mgoinghomeoneofCthesedays
DI’mgoinghomeseemyGwomanwhomIEmlovesodear
ButCmeanwhileIgottoDworkrighthere
(Well,don’tyouGknow)
That’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
Alldaylongthey’resinging
GHmmmyEmmy,my,my,my,Cmy,mymyDworkissohard
GivemeGwater,I’mEmthirsty
CMymyDworkissohard
GWoohmyEmmy,my,my,my,Cmy,mymyDworkissohard
GivemeGwater,I’mEmthirsty
CMymyDworkissohardG
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.
ArtistSam Cooke
AlbumSwing Low
GenresBlues, Soul
Year1960
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Chain Gang on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang 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.

Chain Gang uses these transitions most often: C → D (17), G → Em (17), and D → G (16). 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 - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

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 5 times.

Em to G

2. 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 13 times.

Em to C

3. C → D chord transition

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

Switching from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 17 times.

C to D

4. D → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

D to G

5. C → G chord transition

Switching 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 chorus, played 4 times.

Chain Gang chord transition analysis

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

  • Chain Gang includes 80 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Chain Gang contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Chain Gang 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 → Em: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
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.