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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.

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang Ukulele Chords

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

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

EmIhearsomethingsaying
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
That’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
Alldaylongthey’resinging
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
Gooh,Emaah,Cooh,Daah,
(Well,don’tyouGknow)
That’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
GAlldaylongtheyEmworksohard,
’tilltheCsunisgoingDdown
GWorkingontheEmhighwayandbywaysand
Cwearing,wearingaDfrown
GYouhearthemmoaningtheirEmlivesaway
CthenyouhearDsomebodysay
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
NCCan’tyouhearthemsaying
GMmmEmI’mgoinghomeoneofCthesedays
DI’mgoinghomeseemyGwomanwhomIEmlovesodear
ButCmeanwhileIgottoDworkrighthere
(Well,don’tyouGknow)
That’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheGchainEmgang
GThat’sthesoundoftheCmenworkingontheDchainGgang
Alldaylongthey’resinging
GHmmmyEmmy,my,my,my,Cmy,mymyDworkissohard
GivemeGwater,I’mEmthirsty
CMymyDworkissohard
GWoohmyEmmy,my,my,my,Cmy,mymyDworkissohard
GivemeGwater,I’mEmthirsty
CMymyDworkissohardG
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.
ArtistSam Cooke
AlbumSwing Low
GenresBlues, Soul
Year1960
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Chain Gang on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang on ukulele requires 4 chords and 5 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.

Chain Gang uses these transitions most often: C → D (17), G → Em (17), and D → G (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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

To move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Em to G

2. Em → C chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram

Here's how to move from Em to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

Em to C

3. C → D chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 17 times.

C to D

4. D → G chord transition

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

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 16 times.

D to G

5. C → G chord transition

Here's how to move 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, played 4 times.

Chain Gang chord transition analysis

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

  • Chain Gang includes 80 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Chain Gang contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Chain Gang 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 → C: 25%
    • G → Em: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
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.