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Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time Chords

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

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

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

[Opening]
[F] [G] [Em] [F]
[Dm]Lying [C]in my [Dm]bed, [C]I hear the [Dm]clock [C]tick and [Dm]think of [C]you.
[Dm]Caught [C]up in [Dm]circ[C]les, [Dm]confu[C]sion is [Dm]nothing [C]new.
[F]Flash [G]back, [Em]warm [F]nights, almost [G]left [Em]behind.
[F]Suit[G]case of [Em]memor[F]ies, time [G]after…

[verse 2]
[Dm]Some [C]times you [Dm]picture [C]me, I’m [Dm]walk[C]ing too [Dm]far [C]ahead.
[Dm]You’re [C]calling [Dm]to [C]me, I [Dm]can’t [C]hear what [Dm]you’ve [C]said.
Then [F]you [G]say, [Em]go [F]slow, I [G]fall be[Em]hind.
[F]The [G]second [Em]hand un[F]winds.

[chorus]
If you’re [G]lost, you can look and you [Am]will find me,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.
If you [G]fall I will catch you, I’ll [Am]be waiting,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.

[chorus]
If you’re [G]lost, you can look and you [Am]will find me,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.
If you [G]fall I will catch you, I’ll [Am]be waiting,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.

[interlude]
[F] [G] [Em] [F]

[verse 3]
[Dm]Af[C]ter my [Dm]picture [C]fades and [Dm]dark[C]ness has [Dm]turned to [C]grey,
[Dm]Watch[C]ing through [Dm]win[C]dows, you’re [Dm]wonder[C]ing if [Dm]I’m ok[C]ay.
[F]Sec[G]rets [Em]stol[F]en from [G]deep in[Em]side,
[F]The [G]drum beats [Em]out of [F]time.

[chorus]
If you’re [G]lost, you can look and you [Am]will find me,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.
If you [G]fall I will catch you, I’ll [Am]be waiting,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.

[interlude]
[G] [Am] [F] [G] [C]

[Closing]
[F]You [G]say, [Em]go [F]slow, I [G]fall be[Em]hind.
[F]The [G]second [Em]hand un[F]winds.

[chorus]
If you’re [G]lost, you can look and you [Am]will find me,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.
If you [G]fall I will catch you, I’ll [Am]be waiting,
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.
[F]Time [G]after [C]time.

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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.
ArtistCyndi Lauper
AlbumShe's So Unusual
GenresRock
Year1983
KeyF

How to play Time After Time on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.

Time After Time uses these transitions most often: F → G (28), Dm → C (24), and C → Dm (21). 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 F - G chord transition.

1. 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

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.
F to G

2. 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

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.
G to Em

3. Em → F chord transition

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

To move from Em to F;

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
Em to F

4. 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

To move 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.
F to Dm

5. Dm → C chord transition

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.

6. C → F chord transition

To move from C 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. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

7. G → Dm chord transition

To move 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.

8. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am;

  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 G string fret 2.

9. Am → F chord transition

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.

10. G → C chord transition

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.

Time After Time chord transition analysis

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

  • Time After Time includes 144 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Time After Time contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Time After Time 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 → Am: 13%
    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.