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The Drifters - When My Little Girl Is Smiling Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsE, C#m, B, A
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 G,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

EEverytimemybabyandC#mIhaveaquarrel,C#mIBswearAIwon’tBgivein.
EThenmybabystartstoC#msmileatme,C#mandBIAknow,BIknowIjustcan’tEwin.
EE
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmiling,C#mthere’snothingmoreIcanSay.
AIseethosebigbrighteyesandthenIrealizeBthatgirlisgonnagetherway
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmiling,C#mIcan’tstaymadatherforlong.
AWhyshouldIwanttofightwhenIcanholdhertight?BIjustdon’tcarewho’srightorwrong.
EEC#mC#mAABB
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmiling,C#mit’sthegreatestthrilltherecanbe.
AShegetsherwayit’strue,butIknowIwon’tbeblue,Baslongasshejustsmilesforme
E
AShegetsherwayit’strue,butIknowIwon’tbeblue,Baslongasshejustsmilesforme
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmilingetc..
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.
ArtistThe Drifters
AlbumSave the Last Dance for Me
GenresRock
Year1962
KeyE
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play When My Little Girl Is Smiling on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Drifters - When My Little Girl Is Smiling on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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.

When My Little Girl Is Smiling uses these transitions most often: A → B (7), B → E (7), and E → C#m (6). 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 E - C#m chord transition.

1. E → C#m chord transition

Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram

Switching from E to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

E to C#m

2. C#m → B chord transition

Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-4-2-1-2-xGuitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

Switching from C#m to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

C#m to B

3. B → A chord transition

Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

Switching from B to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

B to A

4. B → E chord transition

Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

Here's how to move from B to E:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

B to E

5. C#m → A chord transition

To move from C#m to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

6. E → A chord transition

Switching from E to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

When My Little Girl Is Smiling chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in When My Little Girl Is Smiling.

  • When My Little Girl Is Smiling includes 29 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • When My Little Girl Is Smiling contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how When My Little Girl Is Smiling connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    • E → C#m: 6%
    After B, the most likely next chords across Chordier are E (21%), Em (16%), and A (16%).
    • B → E: 21%
    • B → A: 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.