Skip to song content

Shawn Mendes - Air Ukulele Chords

ChordsEm, G, C, A, Cm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmNeverGthoughtthatwewouldCenduphere,Emshould’veGknownitfromtheCstart
EmIknowyouGmeanitwhenyouCsayyouloveme,Embutwe’reGtryingwaytooChard
EmUsedtoGthinkthatwewouldClastforever,EmhowcouldGI’vebeensoCwrong
EmNeverGthoughtI’dbetheConetosaythis,EmbutifourGtimehascomeI’mCgone
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalong
And,Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
EmAlwaysGtry’naputyourCtwocentsinEmthenGexpectingmetoCchange
EmTriedtoGfixmeupbutCI’mnotbroken,EmallGyoudoisleavemeCstained
EmToldGyounottotiemeCdowntooquickly,EmtakeitGslowit’snotaCrace
EmAndyouGkeepontrynaCreelmein,EmbutallIGreallyneedisspace
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalongand
Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
GTryingto Choldmedown GButI’m Csurfacing
GIt’shardtoCletyougo,ButGIgottaCleave
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalongand
Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
GYou,youdon’tmeannoAharm,butyou’restringingmeCalongand
Idon’tCmhavethetimetoGspare,andI,I’mtryinghardtoAbreath
Butyou’resuffocatingCme,thistimeI’mCmcomingupforGair
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirEmAAGAirAir CAirAirAir
EmAirGAirAirCAirAirAirAAAirAirAirAirAir
AlbumHandwritten
GenresPop
Year2015
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Air on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - Air on ukulele requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Air uses these transitions most often: G → C (28), Em → G (25), and C → Em (21). 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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 25 times.

Em to G

2. G → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 28 times.

G to C

3. C → Em chord transition

Here's how 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 21 times.

C to Em

4. G → A chord transition

To move from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

G to A

5. A → C chord transition

Here's how to move from A to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

6. C → Cm chord transition

To move from C to Cm:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

7. Cm → G chord transition

Switching from Cm to G:

  1. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

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

  • Air includes 115 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Air contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Air 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 → Em: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Em: 8%