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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.

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, F7, Bb, C7, D7, G, G7, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

FIhearthetrainacomin’,it’srollingroundthebend
AndIain’tseenthesunshinesinceF7Idon’tknowwhen
I’mBbstuckinFolsomprison,andtimekeepsdraggingFon
ButthatC7trainkeepsarollingondowntoSan FAnton
WhenFIwasjustababymymamatoldme,Son
alwaysbeagoodboy,don’tF7everplaywithguns
ButIBbshotamaninRenojusttowatchhimFdie
WhenIC7hearthatwhistleblowing,IhangmyheadandFcry
D7
IGbetthere’srichfolkseatinginafancydiningcar
They’reprobablydrinkingcoffeeandG7smokingbigcigars
WellICknowIhaditcoming,IknowIcan’tbeGfree
ButthoseD7peoplekeepamovin,
andthat’swhattorturesGme
WellGifthey’dfreemefromthisprison,
ifthatrailroadtrainwasmine
IGbetI’dmoveonoveralittleG7furtherdowntheline
CFarfromFolsomprison,that’sCwhereIwanttoGstay
AndI’dD7letthatlonesomewhistleblowmyblues Gaway
GIhearthetrainacomin’,it’srollingroundthebend
AndIain’tseenthesunshinesinceG7Idon’tknowwhen
I’mCstuckinFolsomprison,andtimekeepsdraggingGon
ButthatD7trainkeepsarollingondowntoSan GAnton
ButthatD7trainkeepsarollingondowntoSan GAnton
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.
ArtistJohnny Cash
AlbumJohnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!
GenresCountry
Year1957
KeyF
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Folsom Prison Blues on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues on guitar requires 8 chords and 9 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.

Folsom Prison Blues uses these transitions most often: D7 → G (5), G → D7 (4), and C → G (3). 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 - F7 chord transition.

1. F → F7 chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar F7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-1-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F7 chord diagram

Switching from F to F7:

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

F to F7

2. F7 → Bb chord transition

Guitar F7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-1-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F7 chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram

Switching from F7 to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

F7 to Bb

3. Bb → F chord transition

Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

Switching from Bb to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

Bb to F

4. F → C7 chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram

Switching from F to C7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

F to C7

5. F → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from F to D7:

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

This transition appears in the interlude.

6. D7 → G chord transition

To move from D7 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 G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

7. G → G7 chord transition

To move from G to G7:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. G7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

9. C → G chord transition

Switching from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Folsom Prison Blues chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Folsom Prison Blues.

  • Folsom Prison Blues includes 29 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Folsom Prison Blues contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Folsom Prison Blues 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 → G7: 2%
    • G → D7: 1%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C7: 1%
    • F → F7: 1%
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.