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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.

John Hiatt - Crossing Muddy Waters Chords

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

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

GCDEmCDG
GBaby’sgoneandidon’tknowCwhy,sheDheadedoutthisEmmorning
LikearustyshotinahollowCsky,sheDleftmewithoutGwarning
GSoonerthanthedogscouldCbark,DfasterthantheEmsunrose
DowntothebanksinanoldCmulecart,sheDtookaflatboatGacrosstheshallows
LeftmeinmyCtearstodrown,sheDleftababyEmdaughter
Nowtheriver’swideanddeepandCbrown,she’sDcrossingmuddyGwaters
GTobaccostandingintheCfields,beDrottencomeEmNovember
AndabitterheartwillnotCreveal,aDspringthatloveGremembers
GWhenthatsweetbrowngirlofCmine,hairDblackasaEmraven
WebrokethebreadanddranktheCwine,fromaDjugthatshe’dbeenGsaving
LeftmeinmyCtearstodrown,sheDleftababyEmdaughter
Nowtheriver’swideanddeepandCbrown,she’sDcrossingmuddyGwaters
GBaby’scryingandthedaylight’sCgone,thatDbigoaktreeisEmgroaning
InarushofwindandariverCsong,icanDhearmytrueloveGmoaning
GCryingforherbabyCchild,ohDcryingforherEmhusband
CryingforthatriversCwild,totakeDherfromherlovedGones
LeftmeinmyCtearstodrown,sheDleftababyEmdaughter
Nowtheriver’swideanddeepandCbrown,she’sDcrossingmuddyGwaters
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.
ArtistJohn Hiatt
AlbumCrossing Muddy Waters
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock, Bluegrass
Year2000
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Crossing Muddy Waters on Guitar (Step-by-step)

John Hiatt - Crossing Muddy Waters 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.

Crossing Muddy Waters uses these transitions most often: C → D (20), D → Em (10), and D → G (10). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

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

Here's how to move from G 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

G to C

2. 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

Here's how to move 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 20 times.

C to D

3. D → Em chord transition

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

Switching from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

D to Em

4. 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 10 times.

Em to C

5. D → G chord transition

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 10 times.

Crossing Muddy Waters chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Crossing Muddy Waters.

  • Crossing Muddy Waters includes 60 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Crossing Muddy Waters contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Crossing Muddy Waters connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → D: 11%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
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.