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Olivia Newton-John - Xanadu Chords

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

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

  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram
  • Guitar Cm chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-0-1-3Guitar Cm chord diagram
  • Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar F# | G♭ chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F# | G♭ chord diagram

[Opening]
[G] A place, where nobody [C] dared to [G] go
The [B] love that we came to [Em] know
They call it [F#m] Xanaduu[Am]uuu [D]

[verse 2]
And [G] now, open [C] your [G] eyes and see
[B] What we have made is [Em] real
They call it [F#m] Xanaduu[Am]uuu [D]

[chorus]
[G] A million [Bm] lights are dancing and [C] there you are,
a [Cm] shooting star
[G] An ever[Bm]lasting world and you’re [C] here with me, etern[Cm]lly

[chorus]
[Eb] [D] [G]
[G] Xanadu, [A] Xanadu, (now we are [C] here) in Xana[D]du
[C] [G] [Eb] [F]

[verse 3]
[G] Xanadu, [A] Xanadu, (now we are [C] here) in Xana[D]du
[C] Xanadu, [Bm] your [D] neon lights will [F#m] shine
For [D] you, Xana[G]du

[verse 4]
The love, the [C] echoes of long a[G]go
You [B] needed the world to [Em] know
They are in [F#] Xanaduu[Am]uuu [D]

[verse 5]
[G] The dream that [C] came through a million [G] years
That [B] lived on through all the [Em] tears
[G] It came to [F#m] Xanaduu[Am]uuu [D]

[chorus]
[G] A million [Bm] lights are dancing and [C] there you are,
a [Cm] shooting star
[G] An ever[Bm]lasting world and you’re [C] here with me, etern[Cm]ally

[chorus]
[Eb] [D] [G]
[G] Xanadu, [A] Xanadu, (now we are [C] here) in Xana[D]du

[chorus]
[C] [G] [Eb] [F]
[G] Xanadu, [A] Xanadu, (now we are [C] here) in Xana[D]du

[Closing]
[G] Now that I’m [A] here, now that you’re [Cm] near, in [D] Xana[G]du
[G] Now that I’m [A] here, now that you’re [Cm] near, in [G] Xa[Bm]na[D]du
Xana[Eb]du[G]uu[G]uu!

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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.
ArtistOlivia Newton-John
AlbumXanadu Soundtrack
GenresCountry, Pop
Year1980
KeyG

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

Olivia Newton-John - Xanadu on guitar requires 13 chords and 27 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.

Xanadu uses these transitions most often: D → G (9), C → G (6), and G → A (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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

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

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.
G to C

2. G → B chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

To move from G to B;

  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 D string fret 4.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on B string fret 4.
G to B

3. B → Em chord transition

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

To move from B to Em;

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

4. Em → F#m chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram

To move from Em to F#m;

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

5. F#m → Am chord transition

To move from F#m to Am;

  1. While playing F#m, 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 ring finger from A string fret 4 to G string fret 2.
  4. Place middle finger on D string fret 2.

6. Am → D chord transition

To move from Am to D;

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

7. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

8. G → Bm chord transition

To move from G to Bm;

  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 B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

9. Bm → C chord transition

To move from Bm to C;

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

10. C → Cm chord transition

To move from C to Cm;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.

11. Cm → G chord transition

To move from Cm to G;

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

12. Cm → Eb chord transition

To move from Cm to Eb;

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

13. Eb → D chord transition

To move from Eb to D;

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

14. G → A chord transition

To move from G to A;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  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 2.

15. A → C chord transition

To move from A to C;

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

16. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D;

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

17. G → Eb chord transition

To move from G to Eb;

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

18. Eb → F chord transition

To move from Eb to F;

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

19. F → G chord transition

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.

20. Bm → D chord transition

To move from Bm to D;

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

21. D → F#m chord transition

To move from D to F#m;

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

22. Em → F# chord transition

To move from Em to F#;

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

23. F# → Am chord transition

To move from F# to Am;

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 2.

24. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

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

25. G → F#m chord transition

To move from G to F#m;

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

26. A → Cm chord transition

To move from A to Cm;

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

27. Cm → D chord transition

To move from Cm to D;

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

Xanadu chord transition analysis

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

  • Xanadu includes 93 chord transitions, 27 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Xanadu contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Xanadu 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 → A: 6%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
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.