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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.

Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Am, A, A7, Dm, F, G, D, Em
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

HeCpaintedSalford’ssmokeytops
OnAmcardboardboxesfromtheshop
AndApartsofAncoatsA7whereIusedtoDmplay
I’mFsureheoncewalkeddownourstreet
ForheCpaintedkidswithnowtontheirfeet
TheGclothestheyworehadallseenbetterCdays.
Nowtheysaidhisworksofartweredull,
NoAmroomandallthewallswerefull,
ButALowrydidn’tA7caremuch Dmanyway,
TheyFsaidhejustpaintscatsanddogs
AndCmatchstalkmeninbootsandclogs
AndGLowrysaidthat’sjustthewaythey’llCstay.G
AndhepaintedCmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandFdogs,
HepaintedGkidsonthecornerofthestreetwhoweresparkingCclogs,G
NowheCtakeshisbrushandhewaits Foutsidethosefactorygates
TopainthisGmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandCdogs.
CNowcanvasandbrusheswerewearingthin
WhenAmLondonstartedcallinghim
ToAcomeondownandA7weartheoldflatDmcap,
TheysaidFtellusallaboutyourwaysandall CaboutthoseSalforddays
IsitGtrueyou’rejustanordinaryCchap?G
AndhepaintedCmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandFdogs,
HepaintedGkidsonthecornerofthestreetwhoweresparkingCclogs,G
NowheCtakeshisbrushandhewaits Foutsidethosefactorygates
TopainthisGmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandCdogs.
NowCLowryshangupontheAmwall Fbesidethegreatestofthemall
AndA7eventheMonaLisatakesaDmbow,
ThisFtiredoldmanwithhairlikesnowtoldCnorthernfolkit’stimetogo,
TheGfevercameandthegoodLordmoppedhisCbrow.G
AndhepaintedCmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandFdogs,
HepaintedGkidsonthecornerofthestreetwhoweresparkingCclogs,G
NowheCtakeshisbrushandhewaits Foutsidethosefactorygates
TopainthisGmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandCdogs.
DAndheleftusmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandEmdogs,
AndheleftusAkidsonthecornerofthestreetwhoweresparkingDclogs,A
NowheDtakeshisbrushandhewaits Emoutsidethosepearlygates
TopainthisAmatchstalkmenandmatchstalkcatsandDdogs.
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.
ArtistBrian and Michael
AlbumSingle
GenresPop
Year1978
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs on guitar requires 9 chords and 14 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.

Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs uses these transitions most often: G → C (16), C → G (10), and C → F (6). 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 C - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

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

To move from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

C to Am

2. Am → A chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

Switching from Am to A:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  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 B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Am to A

3. A → A7 chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram

Switching from A to A7:

  1. While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

A to A7

4. A7 → Dm chord transition

Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

Switching from A7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

A7 to Dm

5. Dm → F chord transition

To move from Dm to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

6. 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. 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 verse, played 10 times.

8. F → G chord transition

Switching from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

9. 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

10. F → A7 chord transition

To move from F to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

11. C → D chord transition

Switching 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.

12. D → Em chord transition

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 2 times.

13. Em → A chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

14. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs.

  • Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs includes 71 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs contains 7 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
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.