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Green Day - Holiday Chords

ChordsEm, C, G, D, B, E, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

EmCGD
EmHeartheCsoundoftheGfallingDrain
EmComingCdownlikeanGArmageddonEmflame(Hey!)
TheCshame,theGoneswhoDdied Bwithoutaname
EmHeartheCdogshowlingGoutofDkey
EmToaChymncalled G“FaithandBMisery”(Hey!)
AndCbleed,theGcompanyDlosttheBwartoday
EmIbegtoCdreamanddifferGfromthehollowDlies.
EmThisistheCdawningoftheGrestofour Blives.
OnEmholiday…CGDEmCGD
EmHeartheCdrumpoundingGoutofDtime
EmAnotherCprotestorhasGcrossedtheEmline(Hey!)
ToCfind,theGmoney’sonDtheotherBside
EmCanIgetCanotherGAmen?D(Amen!)
EmThere’sCaflag GwrappedaroundBaEmscoreofmen(Hey!)
Agag,CaGplasticbagonDaBmonument
EmIbegtoCdreamanddifferGfromthehollowDlies
EmThisistheCdawningoftheGrestofour Blives
Onholiday
CGBEmDCGBBBB
EGCADBEGDBE
EZiegGHeiltotheCpresidentDgasBman
EBombsGawayisyourDpunishEment
EPulverizeGtheCEiffelAtowersDB
EWhoGcriticizeyourDgovernment
EBangGbanggoestheCbrokenAglassDand
EKillalltheGfagsthatDdon’tBagree
ETrialsbyGfire,CsettingAfire
EIsnotaGwaythat’sDmeantBforEme
BJustcause,justcause,becausewe’reoutlawsyeah!
EmIbegtoCdreamanddifferGfromthehollowDlies.
EmThisistheCdawningoftheGrestofour Blives.
EmIbegtoCdreamanddifferGfromthehollowDlies.
EmThisistheCdawningoftheGrestofour Blives.
ThisisourlivesonEmholiday…CGD
EmCGDEmCGDEmCDBE
ArtistGreen Day
AlbumAmerican Idiot
Year2004
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Green Day - Holiday on guitar requires 7 chords and 13 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.

Holiday uses these transitions most often: C → G (28), Em → C (27), and G → D (23). 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 Em - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

Switching 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 27 times.

Em to C

2. 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 verse, played 28 times.

C to G

3. G → D chord transition

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 23 times.

G to D

4. D → Em chord transition

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 verse, played 14 times.

D to Em

5. G → B chord transition

Switching from G to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

6. B → Em chord transition

To move from B to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

7. D → B chord transition

Switching from D to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

8. B → C chord transition

To move from B to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

9. D → C chord transition

Here's how to move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

10. B → E chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

11. E → G chord transition

Switching from E to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

12. C → A chord transition

Here's how to move from C to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

13. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

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

  • Holiday includes 172 chord transitions, 13 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.05% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Holiday contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Holiday 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%