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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.

James Arthur - Fade Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Em, Am, F, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CEmAmF
COneday,oneEmday,Amoneday,itallwillFfade
COneday,oneEmday,Amoneday,itallwillFfade
CEmptymoments,sleeplessnights,Emthinkaboutyoueverynight
AmWonderinginwhatwentFwrong,Cwhatwehadonceseemedsoright
EmJustasquickyou’reoutofsight,AmyoutalktomewithwordslikemovingFon
AmDiditseemsosimpletoGyou?AmWasIjustanotherthingforyoutoGdo?
AmDidyouevermeanthethingsyouGsaid?AmWasIjustanothernotchonyourGbed?
IthoughtyouCneededmetoo,IthoughtyourEmfeelingsweretrue
IthoughtAmyourheadwasinmyGspace,butnowyou’veCprovenmewrong
ButIwillEmriseandbestrong,andonedayAmsoonthispainwillGfade
COneday,oneEmday,Amoneday,itallwillFfade
CIjustwantedthingstobesogood,Emsimplelivesjustsimplelove
AmSomethinghardtofindtheseFdays,Cbutyouthoughtlifeowesyoumorethanthis
EmWithyourmagazinesandshoppingtrips,AmonedayyourbeautywillFfade
AmDiditseemsosimpletoGyou?AmWasIjustanotherthingforyoutoGdo?
AmDidyouevermeanthethingsyouGsaid?AmWasIjustanothernotchonyourGbed?
IthoughtyouCneededmetoo,IthoughtyourEmfeelingsweretrue
IthoughtAmyourheadwasinmyGspace,butnowyou’veCprovenmewrong
ButIwillEmriseandbestrong,andonedayAmsoonthispainwillGfade
COneday,oneEmday,Amoneday,itallwillFfade
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.
ArtistJames Arthur
AlbumSingle
GenresPop
Year2019
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Fade on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Arthur - Fade 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.

Fade uses these transitions most often: C → Em (13), Em → Am (13), and Am → G (12). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. C → Em chord transition

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

Switching 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 13 times.

C to Em

2. 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

Switching 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 13 times.

Em to Am

3. Am → F chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from Am to F:

  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 A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

Am to F

4. F → C chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

Switching from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

F to C

5. Am → G chord transition

Switching 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 chorus, played 12 times.

6. G → C chord transition

Here's how 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 chorus, played 6 times.

Fade chord transition analysis

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

  • Fade includes 67 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Fade contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Fade connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → G: 21%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → Em: 8%
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.