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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.

Joni Mitchell - The Circle Game Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsA, D, E7, F#m
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

AYesterdayaDchildcameouttoAwonder
ACaughtadragonDflyinsideaE7jar
AFearfulwhentheDskywasfullofF#mthunder
AndDtearfulattheAfallingE7ofaAstar
AAndtheseasons,theygoE7aroundandAaround
AAndthepaintedponiesgoE7upandAdown
We’reDcapturedonacarouselofAtime
DWecan’treturn,wecanonlylook F#mbehindfromwhereweDcame
DAndgoF#maroundandaroundandDaroundintheE7circleAgame
AThenthechildmovedDtentimesaroundtheAseasons
ASkatedoverDtenclearfrozenE7streams
AWordslike,whenyou’reDolder,mustF#mappeasehim
AndDpromisesofAsomedayE7makehisAdreams
AAndtheseasons,theygoE7aroundandAaround
AAndthepaintedponiesgoE7upandAdown
We’reDcapturedonacarouselofAtime
DWecan’treturn,wecanonlylook F#mbehindfromwhereweDcame
DAndgoF#maroundandaroundandDaroundintheE7circleAgame
ASixteenspringsandDsixteensummersgoneAnow
ACartwheelsturntoDcarwheelsthroughtheE7town
AAndtheytellhim,takeyourDtimeitwon’tbeF#mlongnow
TillyouDdragyourfeettoAslowtheE7circlesAdown
AAndtheseasons,theygoE7aroundandAaround
AAndthepaintedponiesgoE7upandAdown
We’reDcapturedonacarouselofAtime
DWecan’treturn,wecanonlylook F#mbehindfromwhereweDcame
DAndgoF#maroundandaroundandDaroundintheE7circleAgame
ASotheyearsspinbyandDnowtheboyisAtwenty
AThoughhisdreamshavelostsomeDgrandeurcomingE7true
AThere’llbenewdreams,maybeDbetterdreamsandF#mplenty
DBeforethelast ArevolvingE7yearisAthrough
AAndtheseasons,theygoE7aroundandAaround
AAndthepaintedponiesgoE7upandAdown
We’reDcapturedonacarouselofAtime
DWecan’treturn,wecanonlylook F#mbehindfromwhereweDcame
DAndgoF#maroundandaroundandDaroundintheE7circleAgame
DAndgoF#maroundandaroundandDaroundintheE7circleAgame
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.
ArtistJoni Mitchell
AlbumLadies of the Canyon
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Pop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year1970
KeyA
DifficultyEasy

How to play The Circle Game on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Joni Mitchell - The Circle Game on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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.

The Circle Game uses these transitions most often: A → D (21), E7 → A (21), and D → F#m (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 A - D chord transition.

1. A → D chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

Switching from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 21 times.

A to D

2. D → E7 chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram

Switching from D to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

D to E7

3. E7 → A chord transition

Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

Switching from E7 to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 21 times.

E7 to A

4. D → F#m chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram

Switching from D to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

D to F#m

The Circle Game chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Circle Game.

  • The Circle Game includes 101 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Circle Game contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Circle Game connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E7: 4%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → F#m: 2%
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.