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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.

Lewis Capaldi - Tough Chords

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

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

CEverylittlepartofmeisholdingontoEmeverylittlepieceyou
IsholdingontoFeverydropofbloodyoudrew
IsholdingontoCyou,andCeverywakinghourIspend
HoldingoutforEmreasonsnottogotobed
I’mholdingoutforFsomeoneelsetoholdinstead
IfeveryhopeofyouisCdead
‘CauseeveryAmnightsinceyoucutandrun
Ifeelliketheonlyonewho’sFeverbeenthelonelyone
TryingtomendaheartthatkeepsCbreaking
Witheverystepthatyou’reGtaking
‘CauseCyou’vebeenrunningcircles’round
MyEmmind,turningmeinsideout
AndIAmfellforyoubuthittheground
‘CausetheFonlyloveI’veGknownhasletme
CDownandIneedliftingup
NowEmyouain’thereI’msleepingrough
AndI’mAmprayingIcanprayenough
SoFwakingupGwithoutyouain’tsoCtough
CFindithardtofindmyfeet
WhenIkeeponEmstumblingoveryouandme
ButIkeeponFtrying’causeIknowIneed
TooutruntheCmemories
AndeveryAmdayI’mremindedof.ThewayIletitcomeundone
IFfeellikethelonelyone,theonlyonewithtimeworthCwasting
Well,Istillcan’tstopGchasing
‘CauseCyou’vebeenrunningcircles’round
MyEmmind,turningmeinsideout
AndIAmfellforyoubuthittheground
‘CausetheFonlyloveI’veGknownhasletme
CDownandIneedliftingup
NowEmyouain’thereI’msleepingrough
AndI’mAmprayingIcanprayenough
SoFwakingupGwithoutyouain’tsoCtough,oh
Tough,Emoh,Amtough
FWakingupGwithoutyou
AmSayI,thoughtIwastalkingtoyou
GSayI
IguessI’mtalkingtoFmyself
MeandnobodyDmelseG
‘CauseCyou’vebeenrunningcircles’round
MyEmmind,turningmeinsideout
AndIAmfellforyoubuthittheground
‘CausetheFonlyloveI’veGknownhasletme
CDownandIneedliftingup
NowEmyouain’thereI’msleepingrough
AndI’mAmprayingIcanprayenough
SoFwakingupGwithoutyouain’tsoCtough
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.
ArtistLewis Capaldi
AlbumBreach
GenresAlternative, Indie
Year2018
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Lewis Capaldi - Tough on guitar requires 6 chords and 11 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.

Tough uses these transitions most often: C → Em (10), Am → F (9), and G → C (9). 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 C - Em chord transition.

1. C → Em chord transition

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

Here's how 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 verse, played 10 times.

C to Em

2. 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

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Em to F

3. F → C chord transition

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

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 5 times.

F to C

4. C → Am chord transition

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

Switching from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

C to Am

5. Am → F chord transition

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 9 times.

6. C → G chord transition

Here's how 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 2 times.

7. Em → Am chord transition

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 chorus, played 7 times.

8. F → G chord transition

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 chorus, played 7 times.

9. G → Am chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

10. F → Dm chord transition

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.

11. Dm → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

Tough chord transition analysis

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

  • Tough includes 59 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Tough contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Tough connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Am: 10%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
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.