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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.

Harry James - It’s Been a Long, Long Time Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, C7, Am, C#, G7, Dm, A, Dm7, Em7, Em, A7, Fm, Bb7, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

SoCkissmeonce
ThenC7kissmetwice,
ThenAmkissmeonce Cagain
It’sbeenalong,C#longG7time.
DmHaven’tfeltlikeAthis,mydear,
SinceDm7can’trememberG7when
It’sbeenaDm7long,G7longCtime.
You’llneverC7know
HowmanyEm7dreamsI’veEmdreamaboutA7you,
OrDmjusthowemptyFmtheyallseemed Bb7withoutyou,G7
SoCkissmeonce
ThenC7kissmetwice
ThenEm7kissmeonce A7again
It’sbeenaDm7long,G7longEm7time,A7
It’sbeenaD7long,G7longCtime
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.
ArtistHarry James
AlbumSingle
GenresJazz
Year1945
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play It's Been a Long, Long Time on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Harry James - It's Been a Long, Long Time on guitar requires 14 chords and 22 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.

It's Been a Long, Long Time uses these transitions most often: C → C7 (3), Dm7 → G7 (3), and G7 → C (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 C - C7 chord transition.

1. C → C7 chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram

To move from C to C7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

C to C7

2. C7 → Am chord transition

Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

Switching from C7 to Am:

  1. While playing C7, lift your pinky from G string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus.

C7 to Am

3. Am → C chord transition

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

Switching from Am to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

Am to C

4. C → C# chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-4-3-1-2-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram

Switching from C to C#:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

C to C#

5. C# → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C# to G7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

6. G7 → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

7. Dm → A chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

8. A → Dm7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A to Dm7:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

9. Dm7 → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm7 to G7:

  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. Place ring finger on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

10. G7 → C chord transition

Switching 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.

11. C7 → Em7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C7 to Em7:

  1. While playing C7, first lift your index finger, ring finger, and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

12. Em7 → Em chord transition

To move from Em7 to Em:

  1. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Place ring finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

13. Em → A7 chord transition

To move from Em to A7:

  1. While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

14. A7 → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

15. Dm → Fm chord transition

Switching from Dm to Fm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

16. Fm → Bb7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Fm to Bb7:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

17. Bb7 → G7 chord transition

Switching from Bb7 to G7:

  1. While playing Bb7, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
  2. Slide your index finger on A string from fret 1 to fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 3 to E string fret 1.
  4. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

18. Em7 → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Em7 to A7:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

19. A7 → Dm7 chord transition

To move from A7 to Dm7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

20. G7 → Em7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to Em7:

  1. While playing G7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus.

21. A7 → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

22. D7 → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from D7 to G7:

  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 1.

This transition appears in the verse.

It's Been a Long, Long Time chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in It's Been a Long, Long Time.

  • It's Been a Long, Long Time includes 31 chord transitions, 22 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • It's Been a Long, Long Time contains 2 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how It's Been a Long, Long Time connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%
    • G7 → Dm: 3%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → C7: 2%
    • C → C#: 0%
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.