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James Arthur - Prisoner Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, G, C, B, 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 C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

[Opening]
[Em]
If I’m [Em]underneath the table, then [G]pour me another drink
Oh, [C]I don’t want to remember, I don’t [B]even want to think
I’m a [Em]slave to my addiction, I’m a [G]hazard to myself
On a [C]fast ride to prediction, oh, I’m [B]heading straight to hell

[verse 2]
When I [C]throw up at your window, you should [G]confiscate my key
I would [C]drive you off the fucking wall, [Am]to late to [B]believe

[chorus]
[Em]I tried so hard to [G]change, but the devil locked my [C]door
I’ll wear these heavy [B]chains around my neck like a [Em]prisoner
I just wanna [G]love, but he won’t let me [C]go
Loosen up my [B]chains, oh, I’m a condemned [Em]prisoner

[verse 3]
I’m [Em]sober in the spotlight, with the [G]city at my feet
But [C]I was a dead man walking, nothing [B]ever comes for free
So I [Em]moved on down to London, where I [G]traded in my soul
I [C]could not fill my heart, with other’s [B]one night stands and gold

[verse 4]
So [C]throw me out your mom’s house, I’ll be [G]living there too long
Well she [C]never liked me anyway, ’cause she [Am]knows I’m not that [B]strong

[chorus]
[Em]I tried so hard to [G]change, but the devil locked my [C]door
I’ll wear these heavy [B]chains around my neck like a [Em]prisoner
I just wanna [G]love, but he won’t let me [C]go
Loosen up my [B]chains, oh, I’m a condemned [Em]prisoner

[Closing]
[Am]Pour me another [B]drink, it always ends the [Em]same [G] [C]
[B]I’m a condemned prisoner

[chorus]
[Em]I tried so hard to [G]change, but the devil locked my [C]door
I’ll wear these heavy [B]chains around my neck like a [Em]prisoner
I just wanna [G]love, but he won’t let me [C]go
Loosen up my [B]chains, oh, I’m a condemned [Em]prisoner

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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.
ArtistJames Arthur
AlbumBack from the Edge
GenresPop
Year2016
KeyEm

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

James Arthur - Prisoner 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.

Prisoner uses these transitions most often: G → C (13), B → Em (12), and C → B (11). 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 → 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

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.
G to C

3. C → B chord transition

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

To move from C to B;

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

4. B → Em chord transition

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

To move from B to Em;

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

5. C → Am chord transition

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.

6. Am → B chord transition

To move from Am to B;

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

7. 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.

Prisoner chord transition analysis

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

  • Prisoner includes 57 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Prisoner contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Prisoner connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → Am: 12%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Am: 10%
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.