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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.

John Denver - Rocky Mountain High Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD, Em, G, A7, C, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

DEmGDEmGA7
HewasDborninthesummer,ofhisEmtwentyCseventhAyear;
ComingDhometoaplacehe’dneverEmbeen Gbefore
HeDleftyesterdaybehindhim,
youmightEmsayhewasCborn Aagain
YoumightDsayhefoundakeyforEmeveryGdoor
WhenheDfirstcametothemountains,hisEmlifewasCfar Aaway;
OntheDroadandhangingEmbyaGsong
ButtheDstring’salreadybroken,andheEmdoesn’tCreallyAcare;
ItkeepsDchangingfast,anditdon’tEmlastforGlongA
ButtheGColoradoARockyMountainDhigh
I’veGseenitrainingAfireintheDsky
TheGshadowfromtheAstarlightisDsofterthanaGlullaby
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColorado
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColoradoA7
HeDclimbedcathedralmountains,hesawEmsilverCclouds Abelow;
hesawDeverythingasfarasEmyoucanGsee
AndtheyDsaythathegotcrazyonce,
andheEmtriedtoCtouchtheAsun;
AndheDlostafriendbutEmkepttheCmemory
NowheDwalksinquietsolitude,theEmforestsCandtheAstreams;
seekingDgraceineveryEmstepheGtakes
HisDsighthasturnedinsidehimselftoEmtryandCunderstand;
the DserenityofaEmclearblueCmountainGlake
AndtheGColoradoARockyMountainDhigh
I’veGseenitrainingAfireintheDsky
GtalktoGodandAlistentotheDcasualAreply
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColorado
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColoradoA7
NowhisDlifeisfullofwonder,
buthisEmheartstillCknowssomeAfear;
ofaDsimplethingheEmcannotCcomprehend
WhytheyDtrytotearthemountainsdown,
ToEmbringinaCcoupleAmore;
moreDpeople,moreEmscars CupontheGland
AndtheGColoradoARockyMountainDhigh
I’veGseenitrainingAfireintheDsky
IGknowhe’dbeaApoorermanifheDneversawanGeagleGfly
RockyAMountainDhigh
AndtheGColoradoARockyMountainDhigh
I’veGseenitrainingAfireintheDsky
GFriendsaroundtheAcampfireandDeveryAbody’sGhigh
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColorado
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColorado
ARocky DMountainEmhigh,GColorado
RockyAMountainDhigh,EmColorado
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.
ArtistJohn Denver
AlbumRocky Mountain High
GenresFolk
Year1972
KeyD
DifficultyEasy

How to play Rocky Mountain High on Guitar (Step-by-step)

John Denver - Rocky Mountain High on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.

Rocky Mountain High uses these transitions most often: A → D (31), D → Em (30), and G → A (25). 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 D - Em chord transition.

1. D → Em chord transition

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

Here's how to move from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 30 times.

D to Em

2. 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

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 verse, played 16 times.

Em to G

3. G → D chord transition

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

To move 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 verse, played 8 times.

G to D

4. G → A7 chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram

Switching from G to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

G to A7

5. A7 → D chord transition

Switching from A7 to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. Em → C chord transition

Switching 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.

7. C → A chord transition

Here's how 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 10 times.

8. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 31 times.

9. G → A chord transition

To move from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 25 times.

10. C → G chord transition

Here's how 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 verse, played 4 times.

Rocky Mountain High chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Rocky Mountain High.

  • Rocky Mountain High includes 162 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Rocky Mountain High contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Rocky Mountain High connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → A: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → A: 6%
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.