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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.

Flanders and Swann - Hippopotamus Song Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD7, G, Am, Em, A7, B7, Dm, E7, D, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

D7AGboldhippopotamuswasAmstandingoneD7day
OntheEmbanksoftheA7cool D7Shalimar.
HeGgazedatthebottomasheAmpeacefullyB7lay
BytheEmlightoftheA7eveningD7star.
DmAwayontheEmhilltopsatDmcombingherE7hair
HisDmfair E7hippopotamiAmmaidD
TheEmHippopotamusEmwasnoDignoramus
AndAmsangherthisA7sweetD7serenade.
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
TheGfairhippopotamaheAmaimedto D7entice
FromherEmseatonthatA7hilltopD7above
AsGshehadn’tgotamatoAmgiveher B7advice
CameEmtiptoeingA7downtoherD7love.
LikeDmthundertheE7forest DmreechoedtheE7sound
OftheDmsongthattheyE7sangwhentheyAmmetD
HisEminamorata EmadjustedherDgarter
AndAmliftedherA7voicein D7duet.
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
NowGmorehippopotamiAmbegantoD7convene
OntheEmbanksofthatA7riversoD7wide
IGwondernowwhatamItoAmsayoftheB7scene
ThatEmensuedbytheA7ShalimarD7side.
TheyDmdivedallatE7oncewithanDmearsplittingE7splosh
ThenDmrosetotheE7surfaceAmagainD
AEmregularDarmyofEmhippopotami
AllAmsingingthisA7hauntingDrefrain.
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
D7TheGamoroushippopotamuswhoseAmlovesongweD7know
IsnowEmmarriedandA7fatherofD7ten,
HeGmurmurs,“Godrot’em!”asheAmwatchesthemB7grow,
AndheEmlongstobeA7singleD7again!
He’llDmgambolnoE7moreontheDmbanksoftheE7Nile,
WhichDmNaserisE7floodingnextAmSpring,D
WithEmhippopotamasinEmsilken Dpyjamas
NoAmmorewillheA7teachthemtoD7sing
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
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.
ArtistFlanders and Swann
AlbumSingle
GenresPop
Year1964
KeyD
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Hippopotamus Song on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Flanders and Swann - Hippopotamus Song on guitar requires 10 chords and 19 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.

Hippopotamus Song uses these transitions most often: G → Am (20), D7 → G (19), and A7 → D7 (15). 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 D7 - G chord transition.

1. D7 → G chord transition

Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Switching 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 19 times.

D7 to G

2. G → Am chord transition

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

Switching 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, played 20 times.

G to Am

3. Am → D7 chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram

Switching from Am to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Am to D7

4. D7 → Em chord transition

Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Here's how to move from D7 to Em:

  1. While playing D7, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

D7 to Em

5. Em → A7 chord transition

Here's how 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, played 12 times.

6. A7 → D7 chord transition

Switching 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, played 15 times.

7. Am → B7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to B7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

8. B7 → Em chord transition

To move from B7 to Em:

  1. While playing B7, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

9. D7 → Dm chord transition

Switching from D7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

10. Dm → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to Em:

  1. While playing Dm, lift your index finger from E string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G 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.

11. Dm → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

12. E7 → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from E7 to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

13. Am → D chord transition

Switching from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

14. 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 8 times.

15. Am → A7 chord transition

Switching from Am to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

16. Am → C chord transition

To move 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, played 4 times.

17. 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 chorus, played 4 times.

18. A7 → D chord transition

Switching from A7 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 B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

19. D → G chord transition

Here's how 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.

Hippopotamus Song chord transition analysis

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

  • Hippopotamus Song includes 164 chord transitions, 19 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Hippopotamus Song contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Hippopotamus Song connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    • D7 → Em: 1%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Am: 13%
    • G → D7: 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.