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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.

Charlie Puth - River Chords

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

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

AmDon’trunfrommeriver,Edon’trunfrommeriverriver
FNodon’trunfrommeriver,Ddon’trunfrommeriverriver
AmLook,youcanplayitEcool,Eactlikeyoudon’tFcare
FRiverdon’tmeanDcruel,Eyou’repushingmeAmaway
Don’twanttogetEhurt,sawyouhurtmeFfirst,withthewordsyouDsay
MaybeyoushouldDmfall,that’swhatriversG7doGG7
‘Causewhenyou’reinClove,youdon’tmindadifferentFview
ThingsareElookingup
OhAmriver(river,river),don’tErun(run,run)
Don’tFrun(river,river),don’tDrun(run,run)
OhAmriver(river,river),don’tErun(run,run)
Don’tFrun(river,river),fromourDlove(run,run)
AmLook,darlingdon’tgiveEup,whenthewater’sFrough
FWhereyougonnaDgo?MyheartisyourAmhome
NothingisasEcold,EasrunningonyourFown
FSoriverdon’tyouDrush
MaybeyoushouldDmfall,that’swhatriversG7doGG7
‘Causewhenyou’reinClove,youdon’tmindadifferentFview
ThingsareElookingup
OhAmriver(river,river),don’tErun(run,run)
Don’tFrun(river,river),don’tDrun(run,run)
OhAmriver(river,river),don’tErun(run,run)
Don’tFrun(river,river),fromourDlove(run,run)
AmDon’trunfrommeriver,Edon’trunfrommeriverriver
FNodon’trunfrommeriver,Ddon’trunfrommeriverriver
AmNodon’trunfrommeriver,Edon’trunfrommeriverriver
FNodon’trunfrommeDriver…
MaybeyoushouldDmfall,that’swhatriversG7doGG7
‘Causewhenyou’reinClove,youdon’tmindadifferentFview
ThingsareElookingup
OhAmriver(river,river),don’tErun(run,run)
Don’tFrun(river,river),don’tDrun(run,run)
OhAmriver(river,river),don’tErun(run,run)
Don’tFrun(river,river),fromourDlove(run,run)
AmDon’trunfrommeriver,Edon’trunfrommeriverriver
FNodon’trunfrommeriver,Ddon’trunfrommeriverriver
AmNodon’trunfrommeriver,Edon’trunfrommeriverriver
FNodon’trunfrommeDriver…
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.
ArtistCharlie Puth
AlbumNine Track Mind
GenresPop
Year2016
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Charlie Puth - River on guitar requires 8 chords and 10 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.

River uses these transitions most often: Am → E (15), E → F (15), and F → D (15). 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 Am - E chord transition.

1. Am → E chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

Switching from Am to E:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to 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 15 times.

Am to E

2. E → F chord transition

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

Here's how to move from E to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

E to F

3. F → D chord transition

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

Switching from F to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

F to D

4. D → Am chord transition

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

To move from D to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

D to Am

5. D → E chord transition

To move from D to E:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to 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 D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

6. D → Dm chord transition

To move from D to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

7. Dm → G7 chord transition

Switching from Dm to G7:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 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 3 and place it on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

8. G7 → G chord transition

To move from G7 to G:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 1 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

9. G7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to C:

  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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

10. C → F chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

River chord transition analysis

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

  • River includes 81 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • River contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how River connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → Am: 10%
    • E → F: 3%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → D: 1%
    • F → E: 1%
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.