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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.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsAm, G, C, D, F, Am7, Em, Dsus2, Cadd9
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

AmGCDFGAm
CDFAmCGD
AmThere’saladywho’sGsure
AllthatCglittersisDgold
Andshe’sFbuyingastairwaytoGheaven
AmWhenshegetstheresheGknows
IftheCstoresareallDclosed
WithaFwordshecangetwhatsheGcameAmfor
COohDoohFoohAmooh
Andshe’sCbuyingaGstairwaytoDheaven
There’saCsignontheDwall
ButsheFwantstobeAmsure
‘CauseyouCknowsometimesDwordshavetwoFmeanings
InaAmtreebytheGbrook
There’saCsongbirdwhoDsings
SometimesallofherFthoughtsareGmisgiven
AmGCDFGAm
Am7Oh,DitDmakesmeAm7wonderEmDCD
Am7Oh,DitDmakesmewonderAm7EmDCD
There’saCfeelingIGget
WhenIAmlooktothewest
AndmyCspiritisGcryingforFleaving
InmyCthoughtsIhaveGseen
RingsofAmsmokethroughthetrees
AndtheCvoicesofthosewhoGstandFlooking
Am7Oh,DandDitmakesmewonderAm7EmDCD
Am7Oh,DitDreallymakesmewonderAm7EmDCD
Andit’sCwhisperedthatGsoon
IfweallAmcallthetune
AndtheCpiperwillGleadustoFreason
AndtheCnewdaywillGdawn
ForAmthosewhostandlong
AndtheCforestwillGechowithFlaughter
(Doesanyonerememberlaughter?)
CGAmD
AmOhDhoAmhoDAmD
CIfthere’saGbustleinyourAmhedgerow,
Don’tbealarmednow
CIt’sjustaGspringcleanfortheFMayAmqueen
CYes,thereareGtwopathsyoucanAmgoby
Butinthelongrun
CThere’sstillGtimetochangetheFroadyou’reAmon
CGAmD
AnditmakesmeAmwonderDOhAmhoDhoAmD
CYourheadisGhumminganditAmwon’tgo
Incaseyoudon’tknow
CThepiper’sGcallingyoutoFjoinAmhim
CDearladyGcanyouheartheAmwindblow
Anddidyouknow
CYourstairwayGliesintheFwhisperingAmwind?
DDsus2DDDDsus2DDCCadd9C
AmAndasweGwindondowntheFroadG
AmOurshadowsGtallerthenourFsoulG
AmTherewalkstheGladyweallFknowG
AmWhoshineswhitelightandGwantstoFhow
GHowAmeverythingGstillturnstoFgoldG
AmAndifyoulistenGveryFhardG
AmThetruthwillcometoGyouatFlastG
AmWhenallareoneandGoneisFallG
AmTobearockandGnottoFrollG
Andshe’sFbuyingastairwaytoGheaven
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.
ArtistLed Zeppelin
AlbumThe Song Remains the Same
GenresHard Rock, Rock, Classic Rock
Year1971
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Stairway to Heaven on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven on guitar requires 9 chords and 15 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.

Stairway to Heaven uses these transitions most often: G → Am (24), C → G (20), and Am → C (19). 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 Am - G chord transition.

1. Am → G chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

Am to G

2. G → C chord transition

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

Here's how to move from G to C:

  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 A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

G to C

3. C → D chord transition

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

Here's how to move from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

C to D

4. D → F chord transition

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

Here's how to move from D to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B 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 9 times.

D to F

5. F → G chord transition

Here's how to move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

6. Am → C chord transition

Switching from Am to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 19 times.

7. F → Am chord transition

Switching from F to Am:

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

8. G → D chord transition

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 2 times.

9. D → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

10. Am → Am7 chord transition

Switching from Am to Am7:

  1. While playing Am, lift your ring finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

11. Am7 → D chord transition

Here's how to move from Am7 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. Place ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

12. Am7 → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Am7 to Em:

  1. While playing Am7, 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. Place ring finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

13. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

14. D → Dsus2 chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Dsus2:

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the interlude, played 2 times.

15. C → Cadd9 chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Cadd9:

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

This transition appears in the interlude.

Stairway to Heaven chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Stairway to Heaven.

  • Stairway to Heaven includes 204 chord transitions, 15 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.05% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Stairway to Heaven contains 7 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Stairway to Heaven connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → G: 21%
    • Am → C: 16%
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.