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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.

Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’olee - Somewhere Over the Rainbow Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Em, F, G, Am, E7, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFwayupChigh
FAndtheCdreamsthatyoudreamofGonceina AmlullabyF
CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFbluebirdsCfly
FAndtheCdreamsthatyoudaretodream,GreallydocomeAmtrueF
CSomedayI’llwishuponastar,Gwakeupwherethecloudsarefar AmbehindFme
WhereCtroublemeltslikelemondrops
WayGhighabovethechimneytopsisAmwhereyou’llFfindme
CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFbluebirdsCfly
FBirdsflyCovertherainbow,Gwhythen,ohwhyAmcan’tI?F
WellIseeCtreesofGgreenandFredrosesCtoo,
FI’llwatchthenCbloomforE7meandAmyou
AndIFthinktomyself,GwhatawonderfulAmworldF
WellIseeCskiesofGblueandIseeFcloudsofCwhite
TheFbrightblessedtheCday,theE7darksacredAmnight
AndIFthinktomyself,GwhatawonderfulCworldFC
TheGcoloursoftherainbowsoCprettyinthesky
AreGalsoonthefacesofCpeoplepassingby
IseeFfriendsshakingChandssaying,F‘HowdoyouCdo?’
FThey’rereallyCsaying,Dm‘I,IloveGyou’
IhearCbabiesGcryandIFwatchthemCgrow,
FThey’lllearnCmuchmoreE7thanwe’llAmknow
AndIFthinktomyself,GwhatawonderfulAmworldF
CSomedayI’llwishuponastar,Gwakeupwherethecloudsarefar AmbehindFme
WhereCtroublemeltslikelemondrops
WayGhighabovethechimneytopsisAmwhereFyou’llfindme
CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFblueCbirdsfly
FBirdsflyCovertherainbow,Gwhythenohwhycan’tAmIF
CEmFC
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.
ArtistIsrael IZ Kamakawiwo'olee
AlbumKa 'Ano'i
GenresPop, Hawaii
Year1990
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'olee - Somewhere Over the Rainbow on guitar requires 7 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.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow uses these transitions most often: F → C (29), Am → F (13), and C → G (13). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. 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

To move 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 5 times.

C to Em

2. Em → F chord transition

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

To move from Em to F:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

Em to F

3. F → C chord transition

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

Switching from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 29 times.

F to C

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

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 13 times.

C to G

5. G → Am chord transition

To move 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 10 times.

6. Am → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Am 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. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 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.

7. G → F chord transition

Here's how to move 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 3 times.

8. C → E7 chord transition

To move from C to E7:

  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 G string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

9. E7 → Am chord transition

To move from E7 to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

10. C → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Dm:

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

11. Dm → G chord transition

To move from Dm to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow includes 104 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Somewhere Over the Rainbow 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 F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
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.