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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.

Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, C, D, G, Gm, Eb, F, Bb
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

EmTommyusedtoworkonthedocks
EmUnion’sbeenonstrike,he’sdownonhisluck
It’sCtough…DSoEmtough
EmGinaworksthedinerallday
EmWorkingforhermanshebringshomeherpay
ForClove…DHmmm…ForEmlove
Shesayswe’vegottoCholdDontowhatwe’veEmgot
ItCdoesn’tmakeaDdifferenceifwemakeitorEmnot
WeCgoteachDotherandthat’saEmlot
ForClovewe’llDgiveitashot!
EmWhoaah…We’reDhalfwaythere
GWoahCoh…DLivingonaprayer
EmTakemyChand…We’llDmakeitIswear
GWhoahCoh…DLivingonaprayer
EmTommy’sgothisfourstringinhock
EmNowhe’sholdinginwhatheusedtomakeittalk
SoCtough…DMmm…It’sEmtough
EmGinadreamsofrunningaway
EmWhenshecriesinthenightTommywhispers
“Babyit’sCokay…DsomeEmday”
Shesayswe’vegottoCholdDontowhatwe’veEmgot
ItCdoesn’tmakeaDdifferenceifwemakeitorEmnot
WeCgoteachDother…andthat’saEmlot
ForClove…We’llDgiveitashot!
EmWhoaCah…We’reDhalfwaythere
GWoahCoh…Dlivingonaprayer
EmTakemyChand…we’llDmakeitIswear
GWhoahCoh…DLivingonaprayer,Clivingonaprayer
EmOooohh…WegottaCholdDonreadyorEmnot
YouCliveforthefightwhenit’sDallthatyou’vegot
GmWhoaEbah…We’reFhalfwaythere
BbWoahEboh…FLivingonaprayer
GmTakemyEbhand…We’llFmakeitIswear
BbWhoahEboh,FlivingonaprayerEblivingonaprayer
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.
ArtistBon Jovi
AlbumRock Star
GenresRock, Metal
Year1986
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Living on a Prayer on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer on guitar requires 8 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.

Living on a Prayer uses these transitions most often: C → D (22), Em → C (18), and D → Em (16). 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 - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

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

To move from Em to C:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

Em to C

2. C → D chord transition

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

To move from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 22 times.

C to D

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

Switching 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 16 times.

D to Em

4. D → G chord transition

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

Switching from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

D to G

5. G → C chord transition

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 4 times.

6. D → Gm chord transition

To move from D to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

7. Gm → Eb chord transition

To move from Gm to Eb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

8. Eb → F chord transition

Switching from Eb to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 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 G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from B string fret 4 to D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

9. F → Bb chord transition

Switching from F to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. Bb → Eb chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to Eb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

11. F → Gm chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

Living on a Prayer chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Living on a Prayer.

  • Living on a Prayer includes 79 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Living on a Prayer contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Living on a Prayer connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → 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.