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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.

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away Chords

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

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

The Emoooone,the Amoooone
The Foooone,theonethatgotGaway
CSummerafterhighschoolwhenwefirstmet
We’dGmakeoutinyourMustangtoEmRadiohead
AndDmonmy18thBirthdayweAmgotmatchingFtattoos
CUsedtostealyourparents’liquorandclimbtotheroof
WeGtalkaboutourfuturelikeEmwehadaclue
AmNeverplannedthatonedayI’dbelosingFyou
InanotherClife,IwouldbeyourEmgirl
We’dkeepallourAmpromises,beusagainsttheFworld
InanotherClife,IwouldmakeyouEmstay
SoIdon’thavetoAmsayyouweretheonethatgot Faway
TheonethatgotCawayF
CIwasJuneandyouweremyJohnnyCash
NeverEmonewithouttheother,wemadeapact
AmSometimeswhenImissyou,IputthoserecordsFon(Whoa)
CSomeonesaidyouhadyourtattooremoved
IEmsawyoudowntownsingingtheBlues
It’sAmtimetofacethemusic,I’mnolongeryourFmuse
ButinanotherClife.IwouldbeyourEmgirl
We’dkeepallourAmpromises.beusagainsttheFworld
InanotherClife.IwouldmakeyouEmstay
SoIdon’thavetoAmsay.Youweretheonethatgot Faway
TheonethatgotCaway
The Emoooone,the Amoooone
The Foooone,theonethatgotGaway
Allthismoneycan’tbuymeaCtime FmachineGno
Can’treplaceyouwithaCmillionFringsGno
Ishould’vetoldyouwhatyouCmeanttoFmeGWhoa
‘CausenowIpaytheFprice
ButinanotherClife.IwouldbeyourEmgirl
We’dkeepallourAmpromises.beusagainsttheFworld
InanotherClife.IwouldmakeyouEmstay
SoIdon’thavetoAmsay.Youweretheonethatgot Faway
TheonethatgotCaway
The Emoooone,the Amoooone
The Foooone,theonethatgotGaway
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.
ArtistKaty Perry
AlbumTeenage Dream
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2010
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play The One That Got Away on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 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 One That Got Away uses these transitions most often: Am → F (13), Em → Am (12), and F → C (12). 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 Em - Am chord transition.

1. Em → Am chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

To move from Em to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Em to Am

2. Am → F chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am 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 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.

Am to F

3. F → G chord transition

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

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 6 times.

F to G

4. 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 4 times.

G to C

5. G → Em chord transition

Switching 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 2 times.

6. Em → Dm chord transition

To move from Em to Dm:

  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 B string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse.

7. Dm → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to Am:

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

8. F → C chord transition

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 12 times.

9. C → Em chord transition

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 chorus, played 10 times.

The One That Got Away chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The One That Got Away.

  • The One That Got Away includes 68 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The One That Got Away contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The One That Got Away connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 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.