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The Lumineers - Donna Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF#m, E, A, C#m, B
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

[Opening]
[F#m] [E] [F#m] [E]
[E]It’s not the words you say but [A]how you say it
[E]I saved the picture where your [A]hair was braided
[E]They found your wallet in the [A]cemetery
[E]You told your daughter she was [A]ordinary

[verse 2]
[C#m]You hate the name [B] [E]Junior, your husband loved [A]his computers
[C#m]Your mother never [B]was [E]one, the eldest of [A]seven children

[verse 3]
[F#m] [E] [F#m] [E]
[E]If you don’t have it then [A]you’ll never give it
[E]And I don’t blame you for the [A]way you living
[E]The little boy was born in [A]February
[E]You couldn’t sober up to hold [A]a baby

[verse 4]
[C#m]You hate the name [B] [E]Donna, you love to judge [A]strangers’ karma
[C#m]You drove from [B]New [E]Jersey, the trucks always [A]made you worry

[verse 5]
[C#m]Oh, my [B]henna [E] [A]tattoo, [C#m]go to [B]bed it’s [E]way too [A]late

[verse 6]
[C#m]You hate the name [B] [E]Donna, you love to judge [A]strangers’ karma
[C#m]You drove from [B]New [E]Jersey, the trucks always [A]made you worry
[C#m]You raised a [B]saint, [E]Donna

[verse 7]
You love to judge strangers’ karma, [C#m]you’re praying [B]for a [E]funeral
You’re singing [A]like Hallelujah

[Closing]
[E]You’re singing like [A]Hallelujah, [E]you’re singing like [A]Hallelujah
[E]You’re singing like [A]Hallelujah, [E]you’re singing like [A]Hallelujah

[outro]
[F#m] [E] [F#m] [E]

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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.
ArtistThe Lumineers
AlbumGloria Sparks
GenresAlternative, Indie
Year2019
KeyF#m

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

The Lumineers - Donna 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.

Donna uses these transitions most often: E → A (21), A → E (10), and B → E (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 F#m - E chord transition.

1. F#m → E chord transition

Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

To move from F#m to E;

  1. While playing F#m, lift your pinky from D string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to D string fret 2.
  4. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
F#m to E

2. E → A chord transition

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

To move from E to A;

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

3. A → C#m chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram

To move from A to C#m;

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

4. C#m → B chord transition

Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

To move from C#m to B;

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

5. B → E chord transition

To move from B to E;

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

6. A → F#m chord transition

To move from A to F#m;

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

7. E → C#m chord transition

To move from E to C#m;

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

Donna chord transition analysis

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

  • Donna includes 72 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Donna contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Donna 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 → A: 25%
    • E → F#m: 9%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → E: 12%
    • A → F#m: 6%
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.