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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 Beatles - I’m Only Sleeping Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, Am, G, C, B, Bm, D, E, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑

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

EmWhenIwakeupearlyintheAmmorning,
GLiftmyCheadGI’mstillByawning.
EmWhenI’minthemiddleofaAmdream,
GStayinCbedGfloatCupstream.
GPleasedon’twakemeAmnodon’tshakeme
BmleavemewhereIAmam
I’monlyCsleeping
EmEverybodyseemstothinkI’mAmlazy,
GIdon’tCmindIGthinkthey’reBcrazy
EmRunningeverywhereatsuchaAmspeed
GTilltheyCfindGthere’snoCneed
GPleasedon’tspoilmyAmday
I’mmilesBmawayandafterAmall
I’monlyCsleepingEm
DKeepinganeyeonthe
EWorldgoingbymyAmwindow,
DmTakingmytime
EmLyingthereandstaringattheAmceiling,
GWaitingCforaGsleepyBfeeling
EmAmGCGC
GPleasedon’tspoilmyAmday
I’mmilesBmawayandafterAmall
I’monlyCsleepingEm
DKeepinganeyeontheEworldgoingbymyAmwindow,
DmTakingmytime
EmWhenIwakeupearlyintheAmmorning,
GLiftmyCheadGI’mstillByawning.
EmWhenI’minthemiddleofaAmdream,
GStayinCbedGfloatCupstream.
GPleasedon’twakemeAmnodon’tshakeme
BmLeavemewhereIAmam
I’monlyCsleeping
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 Beatles
AlbumYesterday and Today
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year1966
KeyEm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play I'm Only Sleeping on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Beatles - I'm Only Sleeping on guitar requires 9 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.

I'm Only Sleeping uses these transitions most often: C → G (12), G → C (12), and Am → G (8). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. Em → Am chord transition

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

Here's how to move from Em to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Em to Am

2. Am → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Am to G

3. G → C chord transition

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

To move 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 verse, played 12 times.

G to C

4. G → B chord transition

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

Here's how to move 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 4 times.

G to B

5. B → Em chord transition

Switching 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 4 times.

6. Am → Bm chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. Am → C chord transition

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 verse, played 4 times.

8. C → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

9. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. D → E chord transition

Here's how to move from D to E:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

11. E → Am chord transition

To move from E 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. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

12. Am → Dm chord transition

Switching from Am to Dm:

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

13. 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, played 2 times.

I'm Only Sleeping chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I'm Only Sleeping.

  • I'm Only Sleeping includes 77 chord transitions, 13 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • I'm Only Sleeping contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how I'm Only Sleeping 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 → Am: 13%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → G: 21%
    • Am → C: 16%
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.