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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.

AmEmDAmAmEmDAm
AmHeisahustlerHe’sEmnogoodatall,Dheisaloser,he’saAmbum,bum,bum,bum
AmHelies,hebluffsEmhe’sunreliable,DheisasuckerwithAmagun,gun,gun,gun
AmIknowyoutoldmeIEmshouldstayaway,DIknowyousaidhe’sjustAmadogastray
AmHeisabadboywithEmataintedheart,DandevenIknowAmthisain’tsmart
AmButmama,I’minlovewithEmacriminal
DAndthistypeofloveisn’tAmrational,it’sphysical
AmMama,pleasedon’tcry,IwillEmbealright
DAllreasonaside,IjustAmcan’tdeny,lovetheguy
AmGEmAm
AmHeisavillainbytheEmdevil’slaw,DheisakillerjustAmforfun,fun,fun,fun
AmThatman’sasnitchEmandunpredictable,Dhe’sgotnoconscience,heAmgotnone,none,none,none
AmAoo,IEmknowshouldaDletgo,butAmno,Am’causehe’sabadboywithEmataintedheart
DAndevenIknowAmthisain’tsmart
AmButmama,I’minlovewithEmacriminal
DAndthistypeofloveisn’tAmrational,it’sphysical
AmMama,pleasedon’tcry,IwillEmbealright
DAllreasonaside,IjustAmcan’tdeny,lovetheguy
FAndhe’sgotAmmynameGtattooedonAmhisarmHisluckycharm
FSoIguessit’sAmokay,He’swithGme
FAndIhearAmpeopletalkGTrytomakeAmremarks,keepusapart
FButIdon’tevenAmhearIdon’tGcare
AmEmDAm
AmButmama,I’minlovewithEmacriminal
DAndthistypeofloveisn’tAmrational,it’sphysical
AmMama,pleasedon’tcry,IwillEmbealright
DAllreasonaside,IjustAmcan’tdeny,lovetheguy
AmButmama,I’minlovewithEmacriminal
DAndthistypeofloveisn’tAmrational,it’sphysical
AmMama,pleasedon’tcry,IwillEmbealright
DAllreasonaside,IjustAmcan’tdeny,lovetheguy
AmEmDAm
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
DifficultyEasy

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

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

Here's how 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 20 times.

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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse.

6. Am → F chord transition

Switching 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 verse, played 3 times.

7. G → F chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

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 (18%).
    • Em → D: 18%
    • 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.