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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?We analyzed 14,015 chord transitions and ranked the 100 most repeated ones. Even the first 10 will transform your practice routine. The top transition appears in 23% of all songs.

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G, Em, D, Em7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CHeartbeatsfast,colorsandGpromises
HowtobeEmbrave,
HowcanIDlovewhenI’mCafraidCtofall
ButwatchingyouGstandalone,allofmyEmdoubt
SuddenlyDgoesawayCsomehow,onestepEmcloser
GIhavediedeverydayGwaitingforyou.
EmDarlin’don’tbeafraid,Em7Ihavelovedyoufora.
CThousandyears,CI’llloveyouforaDthousandmore.
CTimestandsstillbeautyinGallsheis
IwillbeEmbrave,IwillnotDletanything
CTakeaway,what’sstandinginGfrontofme
EveryEmbreath,everyDhourhascometoCthis
OnestepEmcloser
GIhavediedeverydayGwaitingforyou.
EmDarlin’don’tbeafraid,Em7Ihavelovedyoufora.
CThousandyears,CI’llloveyouforaDthousandmore.
AndGallalongIbelieved,IGwouldfindyou.
EmTimehasbroughtEmyourhearttome.
Em7IhavelovedyouforaCthousandyears
CI’llloveyouforaDthousandmore
COnestepEmcloser
COnestepEmcloser
GIhavediedeveryday,Gwaitingforyou
EmDarlin’don’tbeafraid,Em7Ihavelovedyoufora
CThousandyears,CI’llloveyoufora
DThousandmore,andGallalongIbelieved
IGwouldfindyouEmtimehasbrought
EmYourhearttome,Em7Ihavelovedyoufora
CThousandyears,CI’llloveyoufora
DThousandmoreG
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on the ukulele.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master ukulele today with the 100 most repeated chord transitions from 14,015 analyzed.
ArtistChristina Perri
AlbumThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1: The Score
GenresPop
Year2011
KeyC
DifficultyEasy

How to play A Thousand Years on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years on ukulele requires 5 chords and 8 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.

A Thousand Years uses these transitions most often: G → Em (9), Em → D (8), and D → C (7). 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

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

Switching 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 4 times.

C to G

2. G → Em chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Switching from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

G to Em

3. Em → D chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram

Switching from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

Em to D

4. D → C chord transition

Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram

Switching from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

D to C

5. C → Em chord transition

To move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

6. D → G chord transition

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

7. Em → Em7 chord transition

To move from Em to Em7:

  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 C string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

8. Em7 → C chord transition

Switching from Em7 to C:

  1. While playing Em7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

A Thousand Years chord transition analysis

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

  • A Thousand Years includes 53 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • A Thousand Years contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how A Thousand Years connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Em: 9%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains extracted from real songs. See which songs use each chain, learn the finger transitions, and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.