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ABBA - SOS Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsDm, A7, F, C, Gm, Bb, Db, Eb
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
  • Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram
  • 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
  • Guitar Gm chord diagram Fingering: 3-1-0-0-3-3Guitar Gm chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-4-3-1-2-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram

[intro]
[Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]

[Opening]
[Dm]Where are those happy [A7]days?
They seem so hard to [Dm]find
[Dm]I tried to reach for [A7]you,
But you have closed your [Dm]mind

[verse 2]
[F]Whatever happened [C]to our love?
[Gm]I wish I under[Dm]stood
[Dm]It used to be so [A7]nice,
It used to be so [Dm]good?

[chorus]
[F]So when you’re [C]near me [Gm]darling can’t you [Bb]hear me [F]SOS
[F]The love you [C]gave me [Gm]nothing else can [Bb]save me [F]SOS

[chorus]
When you’re [Bb]gone, though I [Db]try
How can [Eb]I carry [F]on?
When you’re [Bb]gone, though I [Db]try
How can [Eb]I carry [F]on?

[verse 3]
[Dm]You seemed so far a[A7]way,
Though you were standing [Dm]near
[Dm]You made me feel a[A7]live,
But something died I [Dm]fear

[Closing]
[F]I really tried to [C]make it out [Gm]I wish I under[Dm]stood
[Dm]What happened to our [A7]love, it used to be so [Dm]good?
[F]So when you’re [C]near me [Gm]darling can’t you [Bb]hear me [F]SOS
[F]The love you [C]gave me [Gm]nothing else can [Bb]save me [F]SOS

[chorus]
When you’re [Bb]gone,
Though I [Db]try how can [Eb]I carry [F]on?
When you’re [Bb]gone,
Though I [Db]try how can [Eb]I carry [F]on?

[interlude]
[Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]

[interlude]
[Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]

[chorus]
[F]So when you’re [C]near me [Gm]darling can’t you [Bb]hear me [F]SOS
[F]The love you [C]gave me [Gm]nothing else can [Bb]save me [F]SOS

[chorus]
When you’re [Bb]gone,
Though I [Db]try how can [Eb]I carry [F]on?
When you’re [Bb]gone,
Though I [Db]try how can [Eb]I carry [F]on?

[chorus]
When you’re [Bb]gone,
Though I [Db]try how can [Eb]I carry [F]on?
When you’re [Bb]gone,
Though I [Db]try how can [Eb]I carry [F]on?

[outro]
[Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]

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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.
ArtistABBA
AlbumABBA
GenresEuropop, Pop
Year1975
KeyDm

How to play SOS on Guitar (Step-by-step)

ABBA - SOS on guitar requires 8 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.

SOS uses these transitions most often: A7 → Dm (10), Dm → A7 (10), and Bb → Db (8). 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 Dm - A7 chord transition.

1. Dm → A7 chord transition

Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram

To move from Dm to A7;

  1. While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from B string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
Dm to A7

2. Dm → F chord transition

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

To move from Dm to F;

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

To move 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.
F to C

4. C → Gm chord transition

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

To move from C to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  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 B string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.
C to Gm

5. Gm → Dm chord transition

To move from Gm to Dm;

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

6. Gm → Bb chord transition

To move from Gm to Bb;

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

7. Bb → F chord transition

To move from Bb to F;

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

8. Bb → Db chord transition

To move from Bb to Db;

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

9. Db → Eb chord transition

To move from Db to Eb;

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

10. Eb → F chord transition

To move from Eb to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 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 G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from B string fret 4 to D string fret 3.

SOS chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in SOS.

  • SOS includes 90 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • SOS contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how SOS connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → F: 14%
    • Dm → A7: 2%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → Dm: 5%
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.