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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.

The Fray - How To Save a Life Chords

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

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

GDGBm
GSteponeyousayweDneedtotalk.
HeEmwalksyousaysitDdownit’sjustaGtalk.
HesmilesDpolitelybackatEmyou.
YoustareDpolitelyrightonGthrough.
SomesortofDwindowtoyourEmright.
AshegoesDleftandyoustayGright.
BetweentheDlinesoffearandEmblame.
AndyoubegintoDwonderwhyyoucame.
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DEmD
GLethimknowthatDyouknowbest
CauseEmafterallyouDdoknowbest
GTrytoslippastDhisdefense
EmWithoutgrantingDinnocence
GLaydownaDlistofwhatisEmwrong
ThethingsDyou’vetoldhimallalong
GAndpraytoGodheDhearsyou
AndEmpraytoGodheDhearsyou
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DEmD
AsGhebeginstoDraisehisvoice
YouEmloweryoursandDgranthimonelastGchoice
DriveuntilyouDlosetheroad
OrEmbreakwiththeDonesyou’vefollowed
GHewilldoDoneoftwothings
EmHewilladmitDtoeverything
GOrhe’llsayhe’sjustDnotthesame
AndEmyou’llbegintoDwonderwhyyoucame
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife.
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife.DGBmG
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.
ArtistThe Fray
AlbumHow to Save a Life
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2005
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play How to Save a Life on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Fray - How to Save a Life 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.

How to Save a Life uses these transitions most often: G → D (36), D → G (27), and D → Em (26). 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

Here's how 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 36 times.

G to D

2. G → Bm chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram

To move from G to Bm:

  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 B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

G to Bm

3. 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 26 times.

D to Em

4. D → C chord transition

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

Switching 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 chorus, played 9 times.

D to C

5. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

6. G → C chord transition

Switching from G 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

How to Save a Life chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in How to Save a Life.

  • How to Save a Life includes 143 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • How to Save a Life contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how How to Save a Life 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 G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
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.