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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.

Pogues - The Irish Rover Chords

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

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

OntheGFourthofJuly,eighteenhundredandCsix,wesetGsailfromthesweetCobhofDCork
WewereGsailingawaywithacargoofCbricks,fortheGGrandCityDHallinNewGYork
‘TwasaGwonderfulcraft,shewasDriggedforeandaft
AndGoh,howthewildwindDdroveher,shestoodGseveralblasts
ShehadEmtwentysevenCmasts,andtheyGcalledherTheIrishDRover
WehadGonemillionbagsofthebestSligoCrags,wehadGtwomillionbarrelsofDstone
WehadGthreemillionsidesofoldblindhorsesChides,wehadGfourmillionDbarrelsofGbones
WehadGfivemillionhogs,andDsixmilliondogs,GsevenmillionbarrelsofDporter
WehadGeightmillionbailsofoldEmnanny-goats’Ctails,intheGholdoftheIrishDRover
ThereGwasawlMickeyCoote,whoplayedhardonhisCflute,whentheGladieslinedupforaDset
HewasGtootingwithskill,foreachCsparklingquadrille,GthoughthedancerswereDflutheredandGbet
WithGhissmartwittytalk,hewasDcockofthewalk,andheGrolledthedamesunderandDover
TheyallGknewataglance,whenheEmtookuphisCstance,thatheGsailedinTheIrishDRover
ThereGwasBarneyMcGee,fromthebanksoftheCLee,therewasGHoganfromCountyDTyrone
TherewasGJohnnyMcGirr,whowasscaredstiffofCwork,andaGmanfrom DWestmeathcalledGMalone
ThereGwasSluggerO’Toole,whowasDdrunkasarule,andFightingGBillTreacyfromDDover
AndyourGman,MickMacCann,fromtheEmbanksoftheCBann,wastheGskipperoftheIrishDRover
ForaGsailorit’salwaysabotherinClife,it’ssoGlonesomebynightandDday
ThatheGlongsfortheshore,andacharmingyoungCwhore,whowillGmeltallhisDtroublesGaway
Oh,theGnoiseandtherout,swillingDpoitingandstout,forGhimsoonthetorment’sDover
OftheGloveofamaid,heisEmneverCafraid,anoldGsaltfromtheIrishDRover
WehadGsailedsevenyears,whenthemeaslesbrokeCout,andtheGshiplostitswayintheDfog
AndGthatwhaleofacrew,wasCreduceddowntotwo,justGmyselfandtheDCaptain’soldGdog
ThentheGshipstruckarock,ohDLordwhatashock,theGbulkheadwasturnedrightDover
TurnedGninetimesaround,andtheEmpoorolddogwasCdrowned,I’mtheGlastofTheIrishDRover
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.
ArtistThe Pogues
AlbumThe Irish Rover
GenresPop
Year1987
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play The Irish Rover on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Pogues - The Irish Rover 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 Irish Rover uses these transitions most often: D → G (30), G → D (30), and C → G (18). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. 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 12 times.

G to C

2. G → D chord transition

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

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 30 times.

G to D

3. G → Em chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Here's how to move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

G to Em

4. Em → C chord transition

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

Switching from Em to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Em to C

The Irish Rover chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Irish Rover.

  • The Irish Rover includes 102 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Irish Rover contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Irish Rover 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 D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
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.