Skip to song content
Ukulelearn homepage
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.

Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsAm, G, F, E, E7, C, Fmaj7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

AlltheleavesareAmbrown
G(leavesareFbrown)
AndtheGskyisEgray
(andtheskyisE7grey)
I’vebeenforaCwalk
(I’vebeenE7foraAmwalk)
OnaFwinter’sEday
(onawinter’sE7day)
I’dbesafeandAmwarm
(I’dbeGsafeandFwarm)
IfIGwasin EL.A.
(ifIwasin E7L.A.)
CaliforniaAmdreaming
(CaliGforniaFdreaming)
OnGsuchawinter’sEdayE7
StoppedintoaAmchurchGF
Ipassed GalongtheEwayE7
WellIFgotdownonmyCknees
(gotdownE7onmyAmknees)
AndI FpretendtoEpray
(IpretendtoE7pray)
YouknowthepreacherlikestheAmcold
(preacherGlikestheFcold)
HeknowsI’mGgonnaEstay
(knowsI’mgonnaE7stay)
CaliforniaAmdreaming
G(CaliforniaFdreaming)
OnGsuchawinter’sEdayE7
CaliforniaAmdreaming
G(CaliforniaFdreaming)
OnGsuchawinter’sAmday
G(CaliforniaFdreaming)
OnGsuchawinter’sAmday
G(CaliforniaFdreaming)
OnGsuchawinter’sFmaj7dayAm
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.
ArtistThe Mamas & The Papas
AlbumIf You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock, Classic Rock
Year1966
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play California Dreaming on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming on ukulele requires 7 chords and 12 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 Dreaming uses these transitions most often: Am → G (9), F → G (9), and G → F (9). 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 Am - G chord transition.

1. Am → G chord transition

Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

Here's how to move from Am to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

Am to G

2. G → F chord transition

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

Here's how to move from G to F:

  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 E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

G to F

3. 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 6 times.

G to E

4. E → E7 chord transition

Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram
Ukulele E7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-2-0-2Ukulele E7 chord diagram

Switching 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 8 times.

E to E7

5. E7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from E7 to C:

  1. While playing E7, 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.

6. E7 → Am chord transition

Switching from E7 to Am:

  1. While playing E7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

7. Am → F chord transition

Switching 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 2 times.

8. F → E chord transition

To move from F to E:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

9. E7 → F chord transition

Here's how to move 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.

10. F → C chord transition

Switching from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the section.

11. G → Fmaj7 chord transition

To move from G to Fmaj7:

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on C string fret 4.

This transition appears in the chorus.

12. Fmaj7 → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from Fmaj7 to Am:

  1. While playing Fmaj7, first lift your index finger, ring finger, and pinky.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus.

California Dreaming chord transition analysis

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

  • California Dreaming includes 62 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • California Dreaming contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how California Dreaming 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 → Am: 13%
    • G → F: 9%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → G: 21%
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.