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James Taylor - Bartender’s Blues Ukulele Chords

ChordsD, Em7, G, G7, C, Am7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

DEm7D
Now,GI’mjusta G7bartender,andICdon’tlikemyAm7work.
ButIDdon’tmindthemoneyatGall.DIEm7see
GlotsofsadG7facesandClotsofbadAm7casesof
DfolkswiththeirbackstotheGwall.DButEm7IDneed
Gfourwalls G7aroundmetoCholdmyAm7life;
toDkeepmefromgoing Gastray;DandEm7a
Ghonky-tonkG7angeltoCholdmeAm7tight
toDkeepmefromslipping Gaway.DIEm7can
GlightupyourG7smokes.IcanClaughatyourAm7jokes.
IcanDwatchyoufalldownonyourGknees.DIEm7can
GclosedownthisG7bar.IcanCgasupmyAm7car.Ican
DpackupandmailintheGkey.DButEm7IDneed
Gfourwalls G7aroundmetoCholdmyAm7life;
toDkeepmefromgoing Gastray;DandEm7a
Ghonky-tonkG7angeltoCholdmeAm7tight
toDkeepmefromslipping Gaway.DNow,Em7the
GsmokefillstheG7airinthisChonky-tonkAm7bar,
andI’mDthinking’boutwhereI’dratherGbe.DButEm7I
GburnedallmyG7bridges;andICsankallAm7ships;andI’m
DstrandedattheedgeoftheGsea.DButEm7IDneed
Gfourwalls G7aroundmetoCholdmyAm7life;
toDkeepmefromgoing Gastray;DandEm7a
Ghonky-tonkG7angeltoCholdmeAm7tight
toDkeepmefromslipping Gaway.DandEm7a
Ghonky-tonkG7angeltoCholdmeAm7tight
toDkeepmefromslipping Caway.GAm7G
AlbumBartender's Blues
GenresCountry
Year1978
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Bartender's Blues on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

James Taylor - Bartender's Blues on ukulele requires 6 chords and 9 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.

Bartender's Blues uses these transitions most often: D → G (25), Am7 → D (13), and C → Am7 (13). 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 D - Em7 chord transition.

1. D → Em7 chord transition

To move from D to Em7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

D to Em7

2. 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 section, played 25 times.

D to G

3. G → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move 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 13 times.

G to G7

4. G7 → C chord transition

Switching 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 13 times.

G7 to C

5. C → Am7 chord transition

Switching from C to Am7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

6. Am7 → D chord transition

Here's how to move from Am7 to D:

  1. Place index finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

7. D → C chord transition

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 chorus.

8. C → G chord transition

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 chorus.

9. G → Am7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G to Am7:

  1. While playing G, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.

This transition appears in the chorus.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Bartender's Blues.

  • Bartender's Blues includes 119 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Bartender's Blues contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Bartender's Blues connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 28%
    • D → C: 14%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → G7: 2%