Roy Orbison - California Blue Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
How to play California Blue on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Roy Orbison - California Blue 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.
California Blue uses these transitions most often: A → D (11), D → G (10), and A7 → D (6). 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 - G chord transition.
1. D → G chord transition
Switching from D to G:
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.
2. G → A chord transition
Switching from G to A:
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.
3. A → D chord transition
Switching from A to D:
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
This transition appears in the section, played 11 times.
4. G → Em chord transition
Switching from G to Em:
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 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 2 times.
5. Em → A7 chord transition
To move from Em to A7:
- While playing Em, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.
This transition appears in the section.
6. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D:
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.
7. Em → A chord transition
Switching from Em to A:
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from C string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.
8. D → Em chord transition
Switching from D to Em:
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 4.
This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.
California Blue chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in California Blue.
- California Blue includes 53 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- California Blue contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how California Blue 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 → A: 17%
After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).- A → D: 29%