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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.

Ed Sheeran - First Times Chords

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

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

GC
GIthoughtI’dfeelCdifferent,playingWembley
G80,000Csingingwithme
GIt’swhatI’vebeenCchasing
‘CausethisistheEmdreamC
GWhenitwasallCover,Iclearedouttheroom
GGrabbedacoupleCbeers,justmeandyou
GAndthenwestartedCtalking,thewaythatweEmdoC
CAin’titfunnyhowtheDsimplestthingsinlifecanmakeaEmman
LittlemomentsEmthatGpassusby
GOhbutCI Dremember
GThefirstkiss,thefirstEmnight
ThefirstCsongthatmadeyoucry
GThefirstdancein Emmoonlight
InyourCparentsgarden
GIstillfeelthefirstEmfight
ButwebothCmadeitoutalive
GAndIcan’twaittomakeaCmillionmorefirsttimes
GHmm,Emmmm,Ghmm,Emmmm
GThegreatestthingCthatIhaveachieved
GIt’sfourlittleCwordsdownononeknee
GYousaid“Darling,areyouCjoking”andIjustsaidEm”Please,Cshh”
CAin’titfunnyhowtheDsimplestthingsinlifecanmakeaEmman.
LittlemomentsEmthatGpassusby,GohbutCI Dremember.
GThefirstkiss,thefirstEmnight
ThefirstCsongthatmadeyoucry
GThefirstlookinyourEmeyes
WhenICsaidIloveyou
GIstillfeelthe Embutterflies
WhenweCstumbledhomethatnight
GIcan’twaittomakeaCmillionmorefirsttimes
CAin’titfunnyhowthesimplestthingsinlifecanmakeaEmman
LittlemomentsEmthatGpassusby, G​ohbutCI Dremember.
GThefirstkiss,thefirstEmnight
ThefirstCsongthatmadeyoucry
GThefirstdrink,redEmwine
OnaCstepinBrooklyn
GIcan’twaittoEmsee
CEverythingthat’syettoGbe
OurfirstGchildandaCmillionmorefirsttimes
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.
ArtistEd Sheeran
Album=
GenresPop
Year2021
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play First Times on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ed Sheeran - First Times on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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.

First Times uses these transitions most often: C → G (18), G → C (16), and Em → C (12). 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

Switching 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 16 times.

G to C

2. C → Em chord transition

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

Switching from C to Em:

  1. While playing C, 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 A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

C to Em

3. 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

Switching 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 chorus, played 5 times.

C to D

4. 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

Here's how to move 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 chorus, played 2 times.

D to Em

5. Em → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

6. D → G chord transition

Here's how 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 3 times.

First Times chord transition analysis

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

  • First Times includes 76 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • First Times contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how First Times connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Em: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
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.