Ed Sheeran - One Life Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
How to play One Life on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Ed Sheeran - One Life 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.
One Life uses these transitions most often: G → D (10), G → Em (8), and Em → G (7). 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 - D chord transition.
1. G → D chord transition
Switching from G to D:
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.
2. D → Em chord transition
Switching from D to Em:
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.
3. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C:
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 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 4 times.
5. C → Am chord transition
Here's how to move from C to Am:
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.
6. D → C chord transition
To move from D to C:
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.
7. G → Em chord transition
Switching from G to Em:
- While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.
One Life chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in One Life.
- One Life includes 63 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- One Life contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how One Life 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%