Skip to song content
Chordier homepage
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.

Peter, Paul and Mary - Puff the Magic Dragon Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Em, F, Am, D7, G7, Am7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea,
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7landcalledHonahG7Lee,
CLittleJackieEmPaperFlovedthatrascalCPuff,
AndFboughthimstringsandCsealingAmwaxand
D7OtherG7fancyCstuff.G7Oh!
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7Landcalled G7HonahLee,
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledG7HonahCLee.
CTogethertheywouldEmtravelonaFboatwithbillowedCsail,
FJackiekeptaClookoutAm7perchedonD7Puff’sgiganticG7tail,
CNoblekingsandEmprinceswouldFbowwhene’retheyCcame,
FPirateshipswouldClow’rtheirAm7flagwhen
D7PuffroaredG7outhisCname.G7Oh!
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledHonahG7Lee,
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledG7HonahCLee.
CADragonLivesforEmeverbutFnotsolittleCboys.
FPaintedwingsandCgiantAm7ringsmakeD7wayforotherG7toys,
COnegreynightitEmhappened,JackieFPapercamenoCmore.And
FPuffthatmightyCdragon,Am7he
D7CeasedhisG7fearlessCroar.G7
HisCheadwasbentinEmsorrowgreenFscalesfelllikeCrain,
FPuffnolongerCwenttoAm7playD7alongthecherryG7lane
CWith-outhislifelongEmfriendFPuffcouldnotbeCbrave.So
FPuffthatmightyCdragonAm7sadlyD7slippedinG7tohisCcave.G7Oh!
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledHonahG7Lee,
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledG7HonahCLee.
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.
ArtistPeter, Paul and Mary
AlbumMoving
GenresFolk, Pop
Year1962
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Puff the Magic Dragon on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Peter, Paul and Mary - Puff the Magic Dragon on guitar requires 7 chords and 9 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.

Puff the Magic Dragon uses these transitions most often: F → C (28), G7 → C (18), and C → Em (14). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. C → Em chord transition

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

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 14 times.

C to Em

2. Em → F chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

Switching from Em to F:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

Em to F

3. F → C chord transition

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

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 28 times.

F to C

4. 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 8 times.

C to Am

5. Am → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

6. D7 → G7 chord transition

Switching from D7 to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

7. G7 → C chord transition

To move from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

8. C → Am7 chord transition

To move from C to Am7:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

9. Am7 → D7 chord transition

To move from Am7 to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Puff the Magic Dragon chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Puff the Magic Dragon.

  • Puff the Magic Dragon includes 134 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Puff the Magic Dragon contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Puff the Magic Dragon 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 → F: 16%
    • C → Am: 10%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
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.