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Ghost - Mary on a Cross Chords

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

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

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

[Opening]
[Em] [G] [D] [Em] [G] [D]
[Em]We were speeding together down the [G]dark [D]avenues
[Em]But besides all the stardom, all we [G]got was [D]blues
[Em]But through all the sorrow, we’ve [G]been riding [D]high
[C]And the truth of the matter is I never [Em]let you go, let [D]you go

[verse 2]
[Em]We were scanning the cities, rocking [G]to pay [D]their dues
[Em]But besides all the glamor, all we [G]got was [D]bruised
[Em]But through all the sorrow, we’ve [G]been riding [D]high
[C]And the truth of the matter is I never [Em]let you go, let [D]you go

[chorus]
[C]
[G]You go down [Em]just like Holy Mary, [Bm]Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [G]cross
Not just [Em]another bloody Mary, [Bm]Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [C]cross
If you [G]choose to run [D]away with me, [Em]I will tickle [D]you [C]internally
And I see [G]nothing wrong [D]with that

[interlude]
[Em] [G] [D] [Em] [G] [D]

[verse 3]
[Em]We were searching for reasons to play [G]by the [D]rules
[Em]But we quickly found out it was just [G]for [D]fools
[Em]Now through all the sorrow, we’ll be [G]riding [D]high
[C]And the truth of the matter is I never [Em]let you go, let [D]you go

[verse 4]
[Bm] [C] [G]
You go down just like Holy Mary, Mary on a, Mary on a cross
Not just another bloody Mary, Mary on a, [D]Mary on a…

[chorus]
[G]You go down [Em]just like Holy Mary, [Bm]Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [G]cross
Not just [Em]another bloody Mary, [Bm]Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [C]cross
If you [G]choose to run [D]away with me, [Em]I will tickle [D]you [C]internally
And I see [G]nothing wrong [D]with that

[Closing]
[Em] [C] [G]
[G](Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [Am]cross) [Em]Nothing [C]wrong [G]with that
[G](Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [Am]cross) [Em]Nothing [C]wrong [G]with that
[G](Mary on a, [D]Mary on a [Am]cross) [Em] [C] [G]
[G](Mary on a) [D]Mary on a [G]cross

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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.
ArtistGhost
AlbumSeven Inches of Satanic Panic
GenresAlternative, Hard Rock, Indie, Rock, Metal
Year2019
KeyEm

How to play Mary on a Cross on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ghost - Mary on a Cross on guitar requires 6 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.

Mary on a Cross uses these transitions most often: G → D (22), D → Em (15), and Em → G (13). 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 - G chord transition.

1. 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.
Em to G

2. G → D chord transition

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

To move from G to D;

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

To move 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.
D to Em

4. D → C chord transition

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

To move from D to C;

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

5. C → Em chord transition

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.

6. C → G chord transition

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.

7. Em → Bm chord transition

To move from Em to Bm;

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

8. Bm → D chord transition

To move from Bm to D;

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

9. Bm → C chord transition

To move from Bm to C;

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

10. D → Am chord transition

To move from D to Am;

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

11. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em;

  1. While playing Am, 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 G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.

Mary on a Cross chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Mary on a Cross.

  • Mary on a Cross includes 104 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Mary on a Cross contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Mary on a Cross 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 → D: 24%
    • G → Em: 9%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
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.