Skip to song content
Chordier homepage
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.

Miley Cyrus - Malibu Chords

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

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

GCGC
GInevercametothebeachorCstoodbyGtheoceanC
BmIneversatbytheEmshoreundertheBmsunwithmyfeetintheEmsand
ButyoubroughtGmehereandI’mChappythatyouGdid
‘CauseCnowI’masGfreeasbirdscatchingthewindC
GIalwaysthoughtIwouldsink,soICneverGswamC
BmIneverwentboating,don’tgetEmhowtheyarefloating
AndBmsometimesIgetsoEmscaredofwhatIcan’t EmunderstandAm
ButhereIGamBmnexttoEmyouAmtheskyismoreGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
GWewatchedthesungodownasCwewereGwalkingC
GI’dspendtherestofmylifejustCstandinghereGtalkingC
GYouwouldexplainthecurrent,asCIjustGsmileC
BmHopingIjuststaytheEmsameandnothingwillBmchange
Andit’llbeEmus,justforaGwhile,doweCevenGexist?
That’swhenCImaketheGwish,toswimAmawaywiththeGfish
GIsitsupposedtobethishotallCsummerGlong?
BmIneverwould’veEmbelievedyou,ifthreeyears Bmagoyoutoldme
I’dbeEmherewritingthisEmsongAm
ButhereIGamBmnexttoEmyouAmtheskyismoreGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
NexttoEmyouAmtheskyissoGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
GAh…
GAh…
NexttoEmyouAmtheskyissoGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
GWearejustlikethewavesthatCflowbackandGforth
BmSometimesIfeellikeI’mEmdrowningandyou’retheretoBmsaveme
AndIwannaEmthankyouwithallofmyGheart
It’saCbrandnewGstart,aCdreamcomeGtrue,inAmMalibu
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.
ArtistMiley Cyrus
AlbumYounger Now
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock, Soft Rock
Year2017
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Miley Cyrus - Malibu on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Malibu uses these transitions most often: G → C (25), Bm → Em (21), and C → G (20). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. 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

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 verse, played 25 times.

G to C

2. C → Bm chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram

Here's how to move from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

C to Bm

3. Bm → Em chord transition

Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Switching from Bm to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 21 times.

Bm to Em

4. Em → G chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

Em to G

5. Em → Am chord transition

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 12 times.

6. Am → G chord transition

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 chorus, played 14 times.

7. G → Bm chord transition

To move from G to Bm:

  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 B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 14 times.

Malibu chord transition analysis

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

  • Malibu includes 127 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Malibu contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Malibu 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%
    • C → Bm: 1%
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.