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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.

Paramore - The Only Exception Chords

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

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D key to play this song with easier chords.

GDmCGDmC
GWhenIwasyoungerIsawmydaddyDmcryandcurseattheCwind
HeGbrokehisownheartandIwatchedashetriedtoDmre-assembleCit
AndGmymamasworethatshewouldneverletDmherself Cforget
AndGthatwasthedaythatIpromisedI’dneversingofDmlove
IfitdoesnotCexist,butdarling…
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexception.
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexceptionG
MaybeIknowsomewheredeepinmyDmsoulthatloveneverClasts
AndGwe’vegottofindotherwaystomakeitDmaloneorkeepastraightCface
AndGI’vealwayslivedlikethis,keepingaDmcomfortableCdistance
AndGupuntilnowIhadsworntomyselfthatI’mDmcontentwith Cloneliness
BecauseCnoneofitwaseverworththerisk
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexception.
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexceptionG
GDAmGD
I’vegotaAmtightgriponreality,butIcan’t
LetGgoofwhat’sinfrontofmeDhere
Iknowyou’reAmleavinginthemorningwhenyouwakeup
LeavemeGwithsomekindofproofit’snotaDdream,Cwhoa
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexception.
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexceptionG
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexception.
GYouaretheonlyexception,DmyouaretheConlyexceptionG
AndF#I’monmyCwaytobelievingG
Oh,andF#I’monmyCwaytobelievingG
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.
ArtistParamore
AlbumBrand New Eyes
GenresAlternative, Indie
Year2009
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play The Only Exception on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Paramore - The Only Exception 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 Only Exception uses these transitions most often: C → G (21), Dm → C (18), and G → Dm (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 - Dm chord transition.

1. G → Dm chord transition

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

Switching from G to Dm:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 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 E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

G to Dm

2. Dm → C chord transition

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

To move from Dm to C:

  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 A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

Dm to C

3. C → G chord transition

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

To move from C 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 A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 21 times.

C to G

4. 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

Switching 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 4 times.

G to D

5. D → Am chord transition

Switching 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 3 times.

6. Am → G chord transition

Switching 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 3 times.

7. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C:

  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 A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

8. G → F# chord transition

Switching from G to F#:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

9. F# → C chord transition

To move from F# to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

The Only Exception chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Only Exception.

  • The Only Exception includes 72 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Only Exception contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Only Exception 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 → D: 24%
    • G → Dm: 2%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
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.