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Loudon Wainwright III - The Ukulele Song Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsBb, F7, C, Eb, Ebmaj7, Bb7, C7
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar F7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-1-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F7 chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar D#maj7 | E♭maj7 chord diagram Fingering: x-1-1-3-3-3 Barre at fret 1.Guitar D#maj7 | E♭maj7 chord diagram
  • Guitar A#7 | B♭7 chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-1-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A#7 | B♭7 chord diagram
  • Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram

[Opening]
[Bb] [F7] [Bb] [F7] [Bb]
[Bb]Got a ukulele, [C]now I’m not afraidee
[F7]Cat in case I get a bout of [Bb]blues [F7]
[Bb]In the event I get ’em, [C]there’s no way that I’ll let ’em
[F7]Bring me down, no way, I’ll just [Bb]refuse, [F7]believe me

[verse 2]
[Bb]Cos a ukulele [C]is like a little baby
[F7]You cradle it in your arms and you [Bb]sing [F7]
A [Bb]lullaby or ditty, [C]when you’re feeling shitty
[F7]it will cheer you up it’s just the [Bb]thing.

[verse 3]
Life [Eb]could [Ebmaj7]be [Eb]bright [Ebmaj7]and [Eb]breezy
[Bb]When it should be light and easy
[F7]There’s nothing hard or heavy about a [Bb]uke [Bb7]
[Eb]I [Ebmaj7]don’t [Eb]play [Ebmaj7]bull [Eb]fiddle
[Bb]No mystery, no riddle
[C7]Shlepping that thing, you look like a [F7]kook, gotta’ believe me!

[verse 4]
[Bb]Four strings made of nylon [C]always put a smile on
[F7]Anybody’s face who’s feeling [Bb]blue [F7]yeah
[Bb]When your mind starts slumming [C]start a little strumming
[F7]On your uke and your gonna feel brand [Bb]new [F7]you gotta’ believe me!

[verse 5]
[Bb]Even though it’s raining [C]quit all your complaining
[F7]your roof’s not leaking, nothings getting [Bb]in [F7]
[Bb]Yeah this axe is a hatchet, [C]there’s magic you can catch it
[F7]on your uke you can’t lose you just [Bb]win

[verse 6]
Life [Eb]could [Ebmaj7]be [Eb]bright [Ebmaj7]and [Eb]breezy
[Bb]when it should be light and easy
[F7]there’s nothing hard or heavy about a [Bb]uke [Bb7]
[Eb]I [Ebmaj7]don’t [Eb]play [Ebmaj7]the [Eb]tuba
[Bb]tubas do it to ya’
[C7]just the thought of tubas makes me [F7]puke

[verse 7]
Kind [Bb]sirs and gentle ladies, [C]grab your ukuleles
[F7]I suspect by now you know my [Bb]song [F7]
[Bb]And the next time that I do it [C]get down and get into it
[F7]I trust you all will sing and strum a [Bb]long [F7]you gotta’ believe me

[verse 8]
I [Bb]Got a ukulele, [C]now I’m not afraidee
[F7]Cat in case I get a bout of [Bb]blues [F7]
[Bb]In the event I get ’em, [C]there’s no way I’ll let ’em
[F7](1 strum and stop) Bring me down, no way, I’ll just refuse.

[Closing]
[Bb]Be [C7]lee [F7]eeve [Bb7]me.

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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.
ArtistLoudon Wainwright III
AlbumSingle
GenresFolk
Year2010
KeyBb

How to play The Ukulele Song on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Loudon Wainwright III - The Ukulele Song on guitar requires 7 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.

The Ukulele Song uses these transitions most often: F7 → Bb (27), Bb → F7 (13), and Bb → C (12). 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 Bb - F7 chord transition.

1. Bb → F7 chord transition

Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
Guitar F7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-1-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F7 chord diagram

To move from Bb to F7;

  1. While playing Bb, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
Bb to F7

2. Bb → C chord transition

Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from Bb to C;

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

3. C → F7 chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-1-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F7 chord diagram

To move from C to F7;

  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.
C to F7

4. Bb → Eb chord transition

Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram

To move from Bb to Eb;

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

5. Eb → Ebmaj7 chord transition

To move from Eb to Ebmaj7;

  1. While playing Eb, first lift your middle finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on G string fret 3.

6. Bb → Bb7 chord transition

To move from Bb to Bb7;

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

7. Bb7 → Eb chord transition

To move from Bb7 to Eb;

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

8. Bb → C7 chord transition

To move from Bb to C7;

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

9. C7 → F7 chord transition

To move from C7 to F7;

  1. While playing C7, lift your pinky from G string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

10. F7 → Bb7 chord transition

To move from F7 to Bb7;

  1. While playing F7, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on B string fret 3.

The Ukulele Song chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Ukulele Song.

  • The Ukulele Song includes 97 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Ukulele Song connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Bb, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).
    • Bb → C: 20%
    • Bb → Eb: 5%
    After F7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are Bb (51%), C (10%), and C7 (8%).
    • F7 → Bb: 51%
    • F7 → Bb7: 0%
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.