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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.

Taylor Swift - Cardigan Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, A, G, D, Bm
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmVintagetee,brandnewAphone,highheelson Gcobblestones
WhenyouareyoungtheyassumeyouknowAnothing
EmSequinedsmile,black Alipstick,sensual Gpolitics
Whenyouareyoung,theyassumeyouknowAnothing
DButIknewyou,dancin’inyourALevi’s.
Drunkunderastreetlight,GI…
Iknewyou,handundermyAsweatshirt.
ABaby,kissitbetter,I…
EmAndwhenIfeltlikeIwasanoldAcardigan.
Undersomeone’sGbed.
YouputmeonandsaidIwasyourAfavorite.
EmAfriendtoallisafriendtoAnone
Chasetwogirls,losetheGone
Whenyouareyoung,theyassumeyouknowAnothing
DButIknewyou.
PlayinghideandAseekand,
Givingmeyourweekends,GI,Iknewyou.
YourheartbeatontheAHighLine,Aonceintwentylifetimes,I.
GAndwhenIfeltlikeIwasanoldBmcardigan.
Undersomeone’sDbed.
DYouputmeonandsaidIwasyourAfavorite.
GBmAG
TokissinGcars,anddowntownbars,wasallweBmneeded
YoudrewAstarsaroundmyscars,butnowI’mGbleeding.
D’CauseIknewyou,steppingontheAlasttrain.
Markedmelikeabloodstain,GI,Iknewyou…
TriedtochangetheAending,PeterlosingWendy,I,DIknewyou
LeavinglikeaAfather,runninglikewater,GI.
GWhenyouareyoung,theyassumeyouknowAnothing
ButIknewyou’dDlingerlikeatattookiss.
Iknewyou’dAhauntallofmywhat-ifs.
ThesmellofGsmokewouldhangaroundthislong.
‘CauseIknewAeverythingwhenIwasyoung.
IknewI’dDcurseyouforthelongesttime.
ChasingAshadowsinthegroceryline.
Iknewyou’dGmissmeoncethethrillexpired.
Andyou’dbeAstandinginmyfrontporchlight.
AndIknewyou’dcomeEmbacktome.
Andyou’dcomeAbacktome.
Andyou’dcomeGbacktome.
Andyou’dcomeAback.
GAndwhenIfeltlikeIwasanoldBmcardigan.
DUndersomeone’sDbed.
DYouputmeonandsaidIwasyourAfavorite.
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.
ArtistTaylor Swift
AlbumFolklore
GenresAlternative, Indie
Year2020
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Cardigan on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Taylor Swift - Cardigan on ukulele requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Cardigan uses these transitions most often: A → G (16), G → A (11), and D → A (8). 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 Em - A chord transition.

1. Em → A chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram

Switching from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Em to A

2. A → G chord transition

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

To move from A to G:

  1. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 1 to 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 16 times.

A to G

3. A → D chord transition

Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram

To move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

A to D

4. G → Bm chord transition

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

Switching from G to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

G to Bm

5. Bm → D chord transition

Switching from Bm to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

6. Bm → A chord transition

Switching from Bm to A:

  1. While playing Bm, lift your ring finger from G string fret 4.
  2. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the section.

Cardigan chord transition analysis

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

  • Cardigan includes 58 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Cardigan contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Cardigan connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → G: 13%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → A: 6%
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.