Skip to song content
Chordier homepage
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.

Darius Rucker - For The First Time Chords

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

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

GEmCGEmC
YouGsayyouneverdancedtoadashboardsingingEmR.E.M.undersummer Cstars
GNeverleanedbackonajetblackChevy,blowingEmsmokeringsinthe Cdark
Youdon’tGwanttobearumor,girl,andEmIfeeljustthe Csame
Yeah,IGknowthatyoudon’tknowmewellbutEmwecanmakethatCchange
WhenwastheGlasttimeyoudidsomethingfortheEmfirstCtime?
Yeah,Gletyourselfgo,followthatfeeling,CmaybesomethingnewiswhatDyou’reneeding
LikeaGreallife,letyourhairdown,feelEmalive
WhenwastheClasttimeDyoudidsomethingfortheGfirsttime?EmC
SayyouneverGdrankfromthebottleofsometwodollarwine,runEmbarefootthroughtheCmud
GNeverhadtherightkissstolenfromyourlips,whileyouEmwatchedthesuncomeCup
Well,IGknowyourfriendsarewatchingandtheyEmprobablydisapproveC
ButGgivemejusthalfachance,Emgirl,I’mdaringCyou
WhenwastheGlasttimeyoudidsomethingfortheEmfirstCtime?
Yeah,Gletyourselfgo,baby,followthatfeeling,CmaybesomethingnewiswhatDyou’reneeding
LikeaGreallife,letyourhairdown,feelEmalive
WhenwastheClasttimeDyoudidsomethingfortheGfirsttime?
GEmCGCD
NowtheCwayyou’relookingGsaysyou’reliving,IAmhopeIain’treadingGwrong
CausetheCwayyou’reshiningIGthinkyou’rethinking,Dit’sbeenwaytoolong
WhenwastheGlasttimeyoudidsomethingfortheEmfirstCtime?
Yeahyeah,Gletyourselfgo,comeonfollowthatfeeling
CMaybesomethingnewiswhatDyou’reneeding
LikeaGreallife,letyourhairEmdown,feelalive,alive
WhenwastheClasttimeohDyoudidsomethingfortheGfirsttime,girl?
EmTellme,Cbaby
WhenwastheGlasttimeyeahEmyouCdidsomethingfortheGfirsttime?
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.
ArtistDarius Rucker
AlbumWhen Was the Last Time
GenresCountry
Year2017
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play For The First Time on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Darius Rucker - For The First Time on guitar requires 5 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.

For The First Time uses these transitions most often: Em → C (20), G → Em (20), and C → G (19). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. G → Em chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Switching 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, played 20 times.

G to Em

2. 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 20 times.

Em to C

3. C → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move 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 19 times.

C to G

4. 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 chorus, played 7 times.

C to D

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 chorus, played 7 times.

6. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

For The First Time chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in For The First Time.

  • For The First Time includes 82 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • For The First Time contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how For The First Time 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 → D: 24%
    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.