Harry Belafonte - Day-O (Banana Boat Song) Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
How to play Banana Boat Song on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Harry Belafonte - Banana Boat Song on ukulele requires 3 chords and 2 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.
Banana Boat Song uses these transitions most often: C → G7 (24), G7 → C (24), and C → F (16). 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
Here's how to move from C to F:
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
This transition appears in the section, played 16 times.
2. C → G7 chord transition
Switching from C to G7:
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
This transition appears in the section, played 24 times.
Banana Boat Song chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Banana Boat Song.
- Banana Boat Song includes 80 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Banana Boat Song contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Banana Boat Song 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 → F: 16%
- C → G7: 2%
After G7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).- G7 → C: 69%