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Electric Light Orchestra - 21st Century Man Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, G, Am, Em, C7, F, Dm, Bb, Bb7, G7, Fm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CApennyinyourGpocketGAm
AmSuitcaseinyourEmhandC7F
FTheywon’tgetyouCveryfar
Nowyou’reaDm21stcenturyFmanGG
CFlyacrosstheGcityGAm
AmRiseabovetheEmlandC7F
FYoucando‘mostCanything
Nowyou’reaDm21stcenturyBbmanBbBb7
GThoughyouG7rideontheCwheelsofFtomorrowDmAm
GYoustillG7wandertheCfieldsofyourFsorrow
WhatwillitFmbring?
COnedayyou’reaGheroGAm
AmNextdayyou’reaEmclownC7F
FThere’snothingthatisCinbetween
Nowyou’reaDm21stcenturyFmanGG
CYoushouldbesoGhappyGAm
AmYoushouldbesoEmgladC7F
FSowhyareyousoClonely
YouDm21stcenturyBbmanBbBb7
GYousteppedG7outofadream
CBelievingeveryFthingwasgoneDmAm
GReturnwithG7whatyou’velearned
They’llCkissthegroundyouwalkFuponFm
Dm21stcenturyFmanGG
CThingsain’thowyouthoughttheyGwere,GAm
AmNothinghaveyouEmplannedC7F
FSopickupyourpennyandyourCsuitcase,
You’renotaDm21stcenturyBbmanBbBb7
GThoughyouG7rideontheCwheelsof FtomorrowDmtomorrow
GYoustillG7wandertheCfieldsFofyoursorrowTomorrowFm
F21stcenturyCman DmMaaaaan
F21stcenturyCman DmMaaaaan
F21stcenturyCman DmMaaaaan
AlbumTime
GenresPop
Year1981
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play 21st Century Man on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Electric Light Orchestra - 21st Century Man on ukulele requires 11 chords and 20 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.

21st Century Man uses these transitions most often: C → Dm (8), F → C (8), and C → F (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 C - G chord transition.

1. C → G chord transition

Here's how to move from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

C to G

2. G → Am chord transition

Switching from G to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

G to Am

3. Am → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Am to Em

4. Em → C7 chord transition

Switching from Em to C7:

  1. While playing Em, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Slide your index finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Em to C7

5. C7 → F chord transition

Here's how to move from C7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

6. F → C chord transition

Switching from F to C:

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

7. C → Dm chord transition

To move from C to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

8. Dm → F chord transition

To move from Dm to F:

  1. While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from C string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

9. F → G chord transition

Here's how to move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

10. Dm → Bb chord transition

To move from Dm to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

11. Bb → Bb7 chord transition

Switching from Bb to Bb7:

  1. While playing Bb, lift your ring finger from G string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

12. Bb7 → G chord transition

To move from Bb7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

13. G → G7 chord transition

Switching from G to G7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

14. G7 → C chord transition

To move from G7 to C:

  1. While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

15. Dm → Am chord transition

Switching from Dm to Am:

  1. While playing Dm, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

16. F → Fm chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Fm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

17. Fm → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Fm to C:

  1. While playing Fm, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and pinky.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section.

18. Fm → Dm chord transition

To move from Fm to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

19. Dm → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to Em:

  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. Slide your ring finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 4.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

20. Em → F chord transition

Switching from Em to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in 21st Century Man.

  • 21st Century Man includes 97 chord transitions, 20 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • 21st Century Man contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how 21st Century Man connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Am: 13%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%