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Madonna - Like A Prayer Chords

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ChordsAm, G, C, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to E,B,F# keys to play this song with easier chords.

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

[Opening]
[Am]Life is a [G]myste[Am]ry, everyone must [G]stand a[Am]lone
I hear you [G]call my [Am]name and it [G]feels like [Am]home

[chorus]
[C]When you call my [G]name its like a little [F]prayer
I’m down on my [C]knees, I wanna [G]take you [C]there
In the midnight [G]hour I can feel your [F]power
Just like a [C]prayer you know I’ll [G]take you [F]there

[verse 2]
[F]I hear your [C]voice, [G]it’s like an [Am]angel sighing
[F]I have no [C]choice, I hear your [G]voice
[G]Feels like flying
[F]I close my [C]eyes, [G]oh God I [Am]think I’m falling
[F]Out of the [C]sky, I close my [G]eyes
[G]Heaven help me

[chorus]
[C]When you call my [G]name its like a little [F]prayer
I’m down on my [C]knees, I wanna [G]take you [C]there
In the midnight [G]hour I can feel your [F]power
Just like a [C]prayer you know I’ll [G]take you [F]there

[verse 3]
[F]Like a[C]child [G]you whisper [Am]softly to me [F]
You’re in [C]control just like a [G]child
Now I’m dancing
[F]It’s like a [C]dream, [G]no end and [Am]no beginning
[F]You’re here with [C]me, its like a [G]dream
Let the choir sing

[chorus]
[C]When you call my [G]name its like a little [F]prayer
I’m down on my [C]knees, I wanna [G]take you [C]there
In the midnight [G]hour I can feel your [F]power
Just like a [C]prayer you know I’ll [G]take you [F]there

[chorus]
[C]When you call my [G]name its like a little [F]prayer
I’m down on my [C]knees, I wanna [G]take you [C]there
In the midnight [G]hour I can feel your [F]power
Just like a [C]prayer you know I’ll [G]take you [F]there

[Closing]
[Am]Life is a [G]myste[Am]ry, everyone must [G]stand a[Am]lone
I hear you [G]call my [Am]name and it [G]feels like [Am]home

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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.
ArtistMadonna
AlbumLike a Prayer
GenresPop
Year1989
KeyAm

How to play Like A Prayer on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Madonna - Like A Prayer on guitar requires 4 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.

Like A Prayer uses these transitions most often: C → G (24), F → C (17), and G → F (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 Am - G chord transition.

1. 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

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.
Am to G

2. Am → C chord transition

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

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.
Am to C

3. 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.
C to G

4. G → F chord transition

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

To move from G to F;

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

5. F → C chord transition

To move 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.

6. Am → F chord transition

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.

Like A Prayer chord transition analysis

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

  • Like A Prayer includes 87 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Like A Prayer contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Like A Prayer 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 C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
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.