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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.

Neil Young - Rockin’ In The Free World Chords

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

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

EmDC
EmColorsonthestreetDC
RedEmwhiteandblueDC
PeopleEmshufflingtheirfeetDC
PeopleEmsleepingintheirshoesDC
There’saEmwarningsignontheDroad Cahead
There’saEmlotofpeoplesayingwe’dbeDbetteroffCdead
Don’tEmfeellikeSatanbutIDamtoCthem
SoIEmtrytoforgetitanyDwayICcan
GKeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
GKeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
KeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
KeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
AAEmDC
IseeaEmwomaninthenightDC
WithaEmbabyinherhandDC
UnderanEmoldstreetlightDC
NearaEmgarbagecanDC
NowsheEmputsthekidawayandshe’sDgonetogetaChit
SheEmhatesherlifeandwhatshe’sDdonetoCit
That’sEmonemorekidthatwillDnevergotoCschool
NeverEmgettofallinlove,neverDgettobeCcool
GKeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
GKeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
KeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
KeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
AAEmDC
WegotaEmthousandpointsoflightDC
FortheEmhomelessmanDC
WegotaEmkinder,gentler,DMachinegunChand
EmDC
WegotEmdepartmentstoresandDtoiletCpaper
GotEmstyrofoamboxesfortheDozoneClayer
GotaEmmanofthepeople,saysDkeephopeCalive
GotEmfueltoburn,gotDroadstoCdrive
GKeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
GKeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
KeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
KeeponDrockin’inthefreeworldCEm
AAEmDC
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.
ArtistNeil Young
AlbumFreedom
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1989
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Rockin' In The Free World on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Neil Young - Rockin' In The Free World 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.

Rockin' In The Free World uses these transitions most often: D → C (40), C → Em (36), and Em → D (34). 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 - D chord transition.

1. Em → D chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

Here's how to move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 34 times.

Em to D

2. D → C chord transition

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

To move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 40 times.

D to C

3. 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 36 times.

C to Em

4. C → G chord transition

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

To move 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 chorus, played 3 times.

C to G

5. G → D chord transition

Switching from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

6. Em → G chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

7. 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 3 times.

Rockin' In The Free World chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Rockin' In The Free World.

  • Rockin' In The Free World includes 128 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Rockin' In The Free World contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Rockin' In The Free World 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 (18%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → D: 18%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → C: 14%
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.