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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.

Sabrina Carpenter - Thumbs Chords

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

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

AmSomewhereintheworldthereisafatherandamother
Andthefatherisasonwhohasamother
ThemotherhasaFdaughterwhogetsmarriedtothebrotherofamother
AndtheyDmalljusttrytoEmmultiplywithoneanother
‘CauseAmthat’sjustthewayoftheworld,itneverendstilltheend,thenyoustartagain
FThat’sjustthewayoftheworld,Dmthat’sjustthewayoftheEmworld
AmSomewhereintheworldtheythinktheyworkallforthemselves
Theygetupeverydaytogotoworkforsomeoneelse
FSomebodyworksforthemandsotheythinkthey’vegotitmade
ButDmthey’realljustworkingtogetEmpaidtheverysame
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,Dmskiddly-dee-da-dum-dumEm
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,Dmskiddly-dee-da-dum-dumEm
AmSomewhereintheworldyougotarobberatabank
Andthebankrobbedthepeoplesothepeoplerobthebank
AndtheFpolicecametogethim,buttheylethimgetaway
‘CauseDmthey’realljustworkingtogetEmpaidtheverysame
‘CauseAmthat’sjustthewayoftheworld,itneverendstilltheend,thenyoustartagain
FThat’sjustthewayoftheworld,Dmthat’sjustthewayoftheEmworld
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,Dmskiddly-dee-da-dum-dumEm
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,Dmskiddly-dee-da-dum-dumEm
AmDon’tbelieveeverythingthatyouhear,letitgothroughyourleftandrightear
FDon’tjustmarchtothebeatofthatdrum,don’tbeDmoneofthempeoplejustEmtwiddlingthemthumbs
‘CauseAmthat’sjustthewayoftheworld,itneverendstilltheend,thenyoustartagain
FThat’sjustthewayoftheworld,Dmthat’sjustthewayoftheEmworld
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,Dmskiddly-dee-da-dum-dumEm
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,Dmskiddly-dee-da-dum-dumEm
AndsotheyAmkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs,skiddly-dee-da-dum
TheygonnaFkeepontwiddlingthemthumbs(skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum)
‘CauseDmthat’sjustthewayoftheEmworld
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.
ArtistSabrina Carpenter
AlbumEvolution
GenresPop
Year2016
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Thumbs on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Sabrina Carpenter - Thumbs 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.

Thumbs uses these transitions most often: Am → F (14), Dm → Em (14), and F → Dm (14). 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 - F chord transition.

1. 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

Switching 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 14 times.

Am to F

2. F → Dm chord transition

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

Switching from F to Dm:

  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 E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  4. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

F to Dm

3. Dm → Em chord transition

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

Switching from Dm to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

Dm to Em

4. 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

Switching 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 chorus, played 13 times.

Em to Am

Thumbs chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Thumbs.

  • Thumbs includes 55 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Thumbs contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Thumbs connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Dm: 5%
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.