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Britney Spears - Criminal Chords

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

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

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

[Opening]
[Am] [Em] [D] [Am] [Am] [Em] [D] [Am]
[Am]He is a hustler He’s [Em]no good at all, [D]he is a loser, he’s a [Am]bum, bum, bum, bum
[Am]He lies, he bluffs [Em]he’s unreliable, [D]he is a sucker with [Am]a gun, gun, gun, gun
[Am]I know you told me I [Em]should stay away, [D]I know you said he’s just [Am]a dog astray
[Am]He is a bad boy with [Em]a tainted heart, [D]and even I know [Am]this ain’t smart

[chorus]
[Am]But mama, I’m in love with [Em]a criminal
[D]And this type of love isn’t [Am]rational, it’s physical
[Am]Mama, please don’t cry, I will [Em]be alright
[D]All reason aside, I just [Am]can’t deny, love the guy

[verse 2]
[Am] [G] [Em] [Am]
[Am]He is a villain by the [Em]devil’s law, [D]he is a killer just [Am]for fun, fun, fun, fun
[Am]That man’s a snitch [Em]and unpredictable, [D]he’s got no conscience, he [Am]got none, none, none, none
[Am]Aoo, I [Em]know shoulda [D]let go, but [Am]no, [Am]’cause he’s a bad boy with [Em]a tainted heart
[D]And even I know [Am]this ain’t smart

[chorus]
[Am]But mama, I’m in love with [Em]a criminal
[D]And this type of love isn’t [Am]rational, it’s physical
[Am]Mama, please don’t cry, I will [Em]be alright
[D]All reason aside, I just [Am]can’t deny, love the guy

[Closing]
[F]And he’s got [Am]my name [G]tattooed on [Am]his arm His lucky charm
[F]So I guess it’s [Am]okay, He’s with [G]me
[F]And I hear [Am]people talk [G]Try to make [Am]remarks, keep us apart
[F]But I don’t even [Am]hear I don’t [G]care

[chorus]
[Am] [Em] [D] [Am]
[Am]But mama, I’m in love with [Em]a criminal
[D]And this type of love isn’t [Am]rational, it’s physical
[Am]Mama, please don’t cry, I will [Em]be alright
[D]All reason aside, I just [Am]can’t deny, love the guy
[Am]But mama, I’m in love with [Em]a criminal
[D]And this type of love isn’t [Am]rational, it’s physical
[Am]Mama, please don’t cry, I will [Em]be alright
[D]All reason aside, I just [Am]can’t deny, love the guy
[Am] [Em] [D] [Am]

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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.
ArtistBritney Spears
AlbumFemma Fatale
GenresPop
Year2011
KeyAm

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

Britney Spears - Criminal 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.

Criminal uses these transitions most often: Am → Em (20), D → Am (20), and Em → D (20). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. Am → Em chord transition

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

To move from Am to Em;

  1. While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
Am to Em

2. Em → D chord transition

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

To move from Em to D;

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

3. 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.
D to Am

4. Am → G chord transition

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

To move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
Am to G

5. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

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

6. 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.

7. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

Criminal chord transition analysis

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

  • Criminal includes 78 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Criminal contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Criminal connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → G: 21%
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → D: 17%
    • Em → Am: 12%
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.