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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.

Fairport Convention - Sailor’s Alphabet Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G, F
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 A,D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

CGC
CA’sfortheanchorthatFliesatourCbow;
FB’sforthebowspritandtheCjibsallGlieClow
CC’sfortheGcapstanweFallrunCaround;
D’sforthedavitstoGlowertheboatCdown
CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe
NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea
CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong
Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong
CE’sfortheensignthatFatourpeakCflew;
FF’sfortheforecastle,whereClivesourGwildCcrew
CG’sfortheGgalleywheretheFsaltjunksmellsCstrong;
AndHistheGhalyards,wehoistwithaCsong
CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe
NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea
CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong
Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong
CI’sfortheeyebolts,FnogoodfortheCfeet;
FJ’sforthejibshoist,standsCbytheGleeCsheet
CK’sfortheGknightheadswheretheFpettyofficerCstands;
L’sfortheleeside,GnotmannedbynewChands
CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe
NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea
CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong
Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong
CM’sforthemainmast,it’sFstoutandit’sCstrong;
N’sGfortheneedlethatneverpointsCwrong
CO’sfortheGoarsofourFoldjollyCboats;
AndP’sfortheGpinnacethatlivelydoCfloat
CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe
NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea
CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong
Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong
CQ’sforthequarterdeckwhereFofficersCstand;
AndGR’sfortherudder-keepstheshipin Ccom-mand
CSisfortheGstuns’lsthatFdriveherCalong;
CT’sforthetops’ls,toGgettheretakesClong
CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe
NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea
CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong
Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong
CU’sfortheuniform,FmostlywornCaft;
GV’sforthevangsrunningfromthemainCgap
CW’sforGwater,we’reonaFpintandaCpound;
CAndXmarksthespotwhereoldGStormywasCdrowned
CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe
NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea
CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong
Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong
CY’sforyardarm,needsaFgoodsailorCman;
GZisforZoë,I’mherfancyCman
Z’salsoforGzerointheFcoldwinterCtime;
AndnowwehavebroughtalltheGlettersinCrhyme
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.
ArtistFairport Convention
AlbumBabbacombe" Lee
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1971
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Sailor's Alphabet on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Fairport Convention - Sailor's Alphabet on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.

Sailor's Alphabet uses these transitions most often: C → G (40), F → C (29), and G → C (27). 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

Switching 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 40 times.

C to G

2. C → F chord transition

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

To move from C to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

C to F

3. G → F chord transition

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

Switching from G to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  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 A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

G to F

Sailor's Alphabet chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Sailor's Alphabet.

  • Sailor's Alphabet includes 125 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Sailor's Alphabet contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Sailor's Alphabet 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 → F: 16%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → F: 9%
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.