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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.

Duran Duran - Rio Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, C, A, A7, E, B, D, C#m, F#
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmCAC
EmMovingontheCfloornowbabeyou’reaA7birdof Cparadise
EmCherryicecreamCsmileI A7supposeit’sveryniceC
WithaEmsteptoyourleftandaCflicktotheright
youA7catchthatmirrorwayoutCwest
EmYouknowyou’reCsomethingspecialandyouAlooklikeyou’retheCbest
EHernameisBRioandsheDdancesontheAsand
EJustlikethatBrivertwistingDthroughadustyAland
EAndwhensheBshinesshereallyDshowsyouallsheAcan
EOhRio,BRiodanceDacrosstheRioAGrande
EmCA7C
EmI’veseenyouontheCbeachandI’veA7seenyouonCTV
EmTwoofaCbillionA7starsitCmeanssoEmmuchtome
CLikeabirthdayoraprettyCview
EmButthenI’mCsurethatAyouknowit’sjustforCyou
EHernameisBRioandsheDdancesontheAsand
EJustlikethatBrivertwistingDthroughadustyAland
EAndwhensheBshinesshereallyDshowsyouallsheAcan
EOhRio,BRiodanceDacrosstheRioAGrande
C#mAF#A
EmHeynowCwoolookatthatdidsheA7nearlyrunyouCdown
EmAttheendofthedriveCthelawmenarrive
YouA7makemefeelCalive,aliveEmalive
CI’lltakemyA7chanceC‘causeluckisonmyEmsideorsomething
ICknowwhatyou’rethinkingIAtellyousomethingICknowwhatyou’rethinking
EHernameisBRioandsheDdancesontheAsand
EJustlikethatBrivertwistingDacrossadustyAland
EAndwhensheBshinesshereallyDshowsyouallsheAcan
EOhRio,BRiodanceDacrosstheRioAGrande
EHernameisBRioshedon’tDneedto Aunderstand
EAndImightBfindherifI’mlookingDlikeIAcan
EOhRio,RioBhearthemDshoutacrosstheAland
EFrommountainsBinthenorthDdowntotheRioAGrande
EBDA
EDododododododoBdododododo
DdododododododoAdododododo
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.
ArtistDuran Duran
AlbumRio
GenresAlternative, Rock
Year1982
KeyEm
DifficultyAdvanced

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

Duran Duran - Rio on guitar requires 9 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.

Rio uses these transitions most often: B → D (18), D → A (18), and E → B (18). 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 - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

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

To move from Em to C:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

Em to C

2. C → A chord transition

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

To move from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

C to A

3. C → A7 chord transition

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

Here's how to move from C to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

C to A7

4. C → E chord transition

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

Switching from C to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C to E

5. E → B chord transition

To move from E to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

6. B → D chord transition

Here's how to move from B to D:

  1. While playing B, lift your pinky from B 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 D string fret 4 to E string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

7. D → A chord transition

Switching from D to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

8. A → E chord transition

Here's how to move from A to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

9. A → Em chord transition

Switching from A to Em:

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

This transition appears in the interlude, played 2 times.

10. A → C#m chord transition

Here's how to move from A to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the interlude.

11. A → F# chord transition

To move from A to F#:

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

This transition appears in the interlude.

Rio chord transition analysis

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

  • Rio includes 129 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Rio contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Rio 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 → Em: 8%
    • C → A: 1%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → E: 12%
    • A → Em: 7%
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.