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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.

Paul Simon - American Tune Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, F, Dm, G, E, Am, E7, D
Strumming↓-↓↓↑

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

CMany’sCtheFtimeCI’veDmbeenCmistaken,
AndAmmanyE7times Amconfused.
CYes,andI’veFoftenDmfeltCforsaken,
AmAnd E7certainly Ammisused.
Oh,butFI’m Galright,I’mFalright,
I’mjustFwearyGtoEmyE7bones.
FStill,youGdon’texpecttobeCbrightandDbonvivant,
SofarFawayGfromEhome,
DmSoCfar GawayfromChome
CIdon’tknowFasoulCwhoseDmnotCbeenGbattered,
Idon’thaveaAmfriendwhoE7feelsatAmease,
CIdon’tknowaFdreamCwhoseDmnotCbeenGshattered,
OrAmdrivenE7toitsAmknees.
Oh,butIt’sFalright,It’sFalright,
ForweFlivedGsoEwellsoE7long.
FStillGwhenIthinkoftheCroadGwe’reDtravelingGon,
IFwonderCwhat’sGgoneEwrong.
IDmcan’thelpbutCwonderGwhat’sgoneCwrong
AndICdreamIwasdying,
IdreamedthatmyGsoulrose Amunexpectedly,
AndGlookingbackFdownatCmesmiled Greassuringly.
AndICdreamedIwasflying,
AndhighupaboveGmyeyescouldAmclearlysee
TheStatueofGLiberty,Fsailing CawaytoGsea,
AndIdreamedIwasCflying.
WecomeontheFshipCtheyDmcallCthe GMayflower,
WecomeontheAmshipthatE7sailedtheAmmoon.
CWecomeintheFage’sDmmostCunccertainAmhours,
AndsinganE7AmericanAmTune.
Oh,andit’sFalright,it’sFalright,
YoucanFbe GforeverE7blessed.
FStill Gtomorrow’sgonnabe CanotherDworkingGday,
AndI’mFtryingtoCgetGsomeErest,
DmThat’sallI’mCtrying,toGgetsomeCrest.
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.
ArtistPaul Simon
AlbumThere Goes Rhymin' Simon
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1973
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play American Tune on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Paul Simon - American Tune on ukulele requires 8 chords and 15 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.

American Tune uses these transitions most often: C → G (18), F → C (14), and G → E (11). 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 - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

Switching from C to F:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  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 9 times.

C to F

2. C → Dm chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram

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 6 times.

C to Dm

3. 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

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 18 times.

C to G

4. G → E chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram

Switching from G to E:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 11 times.

G to E

5. E → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from E to Am:

  1. While playing E, lift your index finger from G string fret 4.
  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.

6. Am → E7 chord transition

To move from Am to E7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

7. Am → C chord transition

To move from Am to C:

  1. While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

8. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F:

  1. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.

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 9 times.

10. E → E7 chord transition

To move from E to E7:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 4 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

11. E7 → F chord transition

Switching from E7 to F:

  1. While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

12. C → D chord transition

Here's how to move from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the section.

13. D → G chord transition

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 section, played 3 times.

14. E → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from E to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

15. 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 3 times.

American Tune chord transition analysis

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

  • American Tune includes 135 chord transitions, 15 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • American Tune contains 7 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how American Tune 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 → F: 16%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
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.