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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.

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.

EmGDEmGD
EmWewerespeedingtogetherdowntheGdarkDavenues
EmButbesidesallthestardom,allweGgotwasDblues
EmButthroughallthesorrow,we’veGbeenridingDhigh
CAndthetruthofthematterisIneverEmletyougo,letDyougo
EmWewerescanningthecities,rockingGtopayDtheirdues
EmButbesidesalltheglamor,allweGgotwasDbruised
EmButthroughallthesorrow,we’veGbeenridingDhigh
CAndthetruthofthematterisIneverEmletyougo,letDyougo
C
GYougodownEmjustlikeHolyMary,BmMaryona,DMaryonaGcross
NotjustEmanotherbloodyMary,BmMaryona,DMaryonaCcross
IfyouGchoosetorunDawaywithme,EmIwilltickleDyouCinternally
AndIseeGnothingwrongDwiththat
EmGDEmGD
EmWeweresearchingforreasonstoplayGbytheDrules
EmButwequicklyfoundoutitwasjustGforDfools
EmNowthroughallthesorrow,we’llbeGridingDhigh
CAndthetruthofthematterisIneverEmletyougo,letDyougo
BmCG
YougodownjustlikeHolyMary,Maryona,Maryonacross
NotjustanotherbloodyMary,Maryona,DMaryona…
GYougodownEmjustlikeHolyMary,BmMaryona,DMaryonaGcross
NotjustEmanotherbloodyMary,BmMaryona,DMaryonaCcross
IfyouGchoosetorunDawaywithme,EmIwilltickleDyouCinternally
AndIseeGnothingwrongDwiththat
EmCG
G(Maryona,DMaryonaAmcross)EmNothingCwrongGwiththat
G(Maryona,DMaryonaAmcross)EmNothingCwrongGwiththat
G(Maryona,DMaryonaAmcross)EmCG
G(Maryona)DMaryonaGcross
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
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Here's how 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 13 times.

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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 22 times.

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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

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

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

D to C

5. C → Em chord transition

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 3 times.

6. C → G chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 10 times.

7. Em → Bm chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

8. Bm → D chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

9. Bm → C chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

10. D → Am chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

11. Am → Em chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

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.