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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.

Redgum - I Was Only 19 Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsA, C, G, D, E, F#m, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

ACGDAGA
AMumandDadandCDenny
sawtheGpassingout Dparadeat APuckapunyal
ItwasaGlongmarchfrom Acadets
AThesixthbattalionwastheCnexttotour,
anditwasGmewhodrewtheDcard
Wedid ACanungra,ShoalGwaterbeforeweAleft
AndETownsvillelinedthefootpathsasweDmarcheddowntotheAquay
ThisEclippingfromthepapershowsusDyoungandstrongandAclean
AndF#mthere’smeinmeEslouchhatwithmeDSLRandAgreens
GodEhelpme,Iwasonly Dnineteen
FromAVungTau,ridingCChinooks,totheGdustatNuiDDat
I’dbeenAinandoutofGchoppersnowforAmonths
ButweAmadeourtentsaChome,VBandGpinupsontheDlockers
AndanAAsianorangeGsunsetthroughtheAscrub
AndEcanyoutellme,doctor,whyIDstillcan’tgettoAsleep?
AndEnighttime’sjustajungledarkandaDbarkingMsixAteen?
AndF#mwhat’sthisrashthatEcomesandgoes,
canyouDtellmewhatitAmeans?
GodEhelpme,IwasonlynineDteen
AAfourweeks Amoperation
wheneachGstepcouldmeanyourDlastoneontwoAlegs
ItwasGwarwithin Ayourself
Butyouwouldn’tletyourCmatesdowntiltheyAhadyoudustedDoff
SoyouAclosedyoureyesandGthoughtaboutsomethingAelse
ThenEsomeoneyelledout“Contact!”andtheDblokebehindmeAswore
WeEhookedinthereforhours,thenaDgodallmightyAroar
F#mFrankiekickedaEminethedaythatmanDkindkickedtheAmoon
GodEhelpme,hewasgoinghomeinDJune
AIcanstillseeCFrankie,drinkingGtinniesintheDGrandHotel
OnaAthirtysixhourGrecleaveinVungATau
AndAIcanstillhearCFrankie,lyingGscreamingintheDjungle
TiltheAmorphinecameandGkilledthebloodyArow
AndtheEAnzaclegendsdidn’tmentionDmudandbloodandAtears
AndtheEstoriesthatmyfathertoldmeDneverseemedquiteAreal
IF#maughtsomepiecesEinmybackthatIDdidn’tevenAfeel
GodEhelpme,IwasonlyDnineteen
AndEcanyoutellme,doctor,whyIDstillcan’tgetto Aisleep?
AndEwhytheChannelSevenchopperDchillsmetomyAfeet?
AndF#mwhat’sthisrashthatEcomesandgoes,canyouDtellmewhatitAmeans?
GodEhelpme,Iwasonly Dnineteen
ACGDAGA
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.
ArtistRedgum
AlbumCaught in the Act
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1983
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play I Was Only 19 on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Redgum - I Was Only 19 on guitar requires 7 chords and 11 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.

I Was Only 19 uses these transitions most often: D → A (29), E → D (20), and A → E (14). 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 A - C chord transition.

1. A → C chord transition

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

To move from A to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

A to C

2. C → G chord transition

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

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 9 times.

C to G

3. 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

Switching 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

4. D → A chord transition

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

Switching from D to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 29 times.

D to A

5. A → G chord transition

Switching from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

6. A → E chord transition

Here's how to move from A to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

7. E → D chord transition

Here's how to move from E to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

8. A → F#m chord transition

Switching from A to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

9. F#m → E chord transition

Here's how to move from F#m to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

10. A → Am chord transition

Switching from A to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

11. 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 verse.

I Was Only 19 chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I Was Only 19.

  • I Was Only 19 includes 125 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • I Was Only 19 contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how I Was Only 19 connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → G: 13%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → E: 3%
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.