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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.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird Chords

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

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

GDEmFCD
GIfIDleavehere Emtomorrow
FWouldyouCstillrememberDme?
GForImustDbetravelingEmonnow
FCosthere’stoomanyCplacesImustDsee
GIfIDstayherewithEmyougirl
FThingsjustCcouldn’tbetheDsame
GCosI’masDfreeasaEmbirdnow
FAndthisCbirdyoucannotDchange
FAndthisCbirdyoucannotDchange
FAndthisCbirdyoucannotDchange
FLordCknowsIcan’tDchange
GByeDbye,itsbeenaEmsweetlove
FThoughthisCfeelingIcan’tDchange
GButpleasedontDtakeitsoEmbadly
FCostheLordCknowsI’mtoDblame
GButIfIDstayherewithEmyougirl
FThingsjustCcouldn’tbetheDsame
GCosI’masDfreeasaEmbirdnow
FAndthisCbirdyoucannotDchangeohohoh
FAndthisCbirdyoucannotDchange
FAndthisCbirdyoucannotDchange
FLordCknowsIcan’tDchange
FLordChelpmeIcan’tDchange
GLordBbIcan’tCchange,won’tyou
GFlyBbhighCfreebird,yeah
GLordBbIcan’tCchange,won’tyou
GFlyBbhighCfreebird,yeah
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.
ArtistLynyrd Skynyrd
Album(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
GenresRock, Classic Rock
Year1973
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Free Bird on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird on guitar requires 6 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.

Free Bird uses these transitions most often: C → D (16), F → C (16), and D → Em (9). 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 - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

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

To move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

G to D

2. 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

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 verse, played 9 times.

D to Em

3. Em → F chord transition

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

Here's how to move from Em to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

Em to F

4. F → C chord transition

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

Switching from F to C:

  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. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

F to C

5. C → D chord transition

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 16 times.

6. D → F chord transition

Here's how to move from D to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 7 times.

7. G → Bb chord transition

Switching from G to Bb:

  1. Slide your index finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E 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 4 times.

8. Bb → C chord transition

To move from Bb to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

9. C → G chord transition

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 chorus, played 3 times.

Free Bird chord transition analysis

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

  • Free Bird includes 86 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Free Bird contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Free Bird connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
    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.