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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.

Jackson Browne - Running On Empty Chords

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

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to G,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

CCCGGEmCGD
CLookingoutattheGroadrushingundermyCwheelsG
CLookingbackattheGyearsgoingbylikeCsomanysummerfieldsG
CInsixty-fiveIwasGseventeenCrunningup101G
CIdon’tknowwhereI’mGrunningnow,I’mjustDrunningon
RunningCon,runningonGempty
RunningCon,runningGblind
RunningCon,runningintotheGsun
butI’mrunning Embehind
CGottadowhatyouGcanjusttokeepyourClovealiveG
CTryingnotto Gcon-fuseitwithwhatyouCdoto Gsurvive
CInsixty-nineIwasGtwenty-oneandICcalledtheroadmyGown
CIdon’tknowwhenthatGroadturnedontotheDroadI’mon
RunningCon,runningonGempty
RunningCon,runningGblind
RunningCon,runningintotheGsun
butI’mrunning Embehind
CCCGGEmCGD
EmEveryoneICknowDeverywhereIGgo
EmpeopleneedsomeDreasonto Cbelieve
Idon’tknowaboutGanyonebutme
EmIfittakesallCnightDthat’llbeallGright
EmifIcangetyoutoDsmilebeforeICleaveAmEmCD
CLookingoutattheGroadrushingundermyCwheelsG
CIdon’tknowhowtoGtellyoualljusthowCcrazythislifefeelsG
CLookaroundforthefriendsthatGIusedtoturntotopullmeCthroughG
CLookingintotheirGeyesIseethemDrunningtoo
RunningCon,runningonGempty
RunningCon,runningGblind
RunningCon,runningintotheGsun
butI’mrunning Embehind
CHoneyyoureallyGtemptme,
YouknowtheCwayyoulooksoGkind
CI’dlovetostickaroundDbutI’mrunning CbehindAmG
CYouknowIdon’tevenDknowwhatI’mhopingtoCfindGAm
RunningintotheDsunbutI’mrunning CbehindGAmG
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.
ArtistJackson Browne
AlbumRunning On Empty
GenresRock
Year1977
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Running On Empty on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Jackson Browne - Running On Empty on guitar requires 5 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.

Running On Empty uses these transitions most often: C → G (41), G → C (27), and D → C (10). 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 - G chord transition.

1. 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

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 41 times.

C to G

2. G → Em chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Here's how to move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

G to Em

3. 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

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 8 times.

Em to C

4. 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 5 times.

G to D

5. D → C chord transition

Here's how 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 10 times.

6. D → Em chord transition

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.

7. G → Am chord transition

Switching from G to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

8. Am → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Em:

  1. While playing Am, 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 G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

9. Am → D chord transition

Switching from Am to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

Running On Empty chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Running On Empty.

  • Running On Empty includes 117 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Running On Empty contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Running On Empty 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 → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
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.