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The Lumineers - Charlie Boy Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, C, Em, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GGCGCEmDCG
GCharlieboy,don’tCgotoGwar,CfirstEmbornDinCforty-four
GKennedymadeChimGbelieveweCcouldEmdoDmuchCmore
GOohohEmoohohCoohohGooh,GoohohEmoohohCoohohGooh
GLillian,don’tChangyourGhead,CloveEmshouldDmakeyouCfeel Ggood
InGuniformyouCraisedaGman,whoCvolunteeredEmtoCstand
GOohohEmoohohCoohohGooh,GoohohEmoohohCoohohGooh
CPlaytheEmbugle,GplaythetapsDand,CmakeyourEmmothersGproud.
CRaiseyourEmriflesGtotheDskyboys,CfirethatEmvolleyGloud.
GNewswasbadonCUplandGAve,CmetuchenEmandDmournCourGloss
GSonsrebelled,whileCfathers,Gyelled,andCmothersEmclutchedDtheCcross
GOohohEmoohohCoohohGooh,GoohohEmoohohCoohohGooh
CPlaytheEmbugle,GplaythetapsDand,CmakeyourEmmothersGproud.
CRaiseyourEmriflesGtotheDskyboys,CfirethatEmvolleyGloud.
AlbumThe Lumineers
Year2012
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Charlie Boy on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Lumineers - Charlie Boy on ukulele requires 4 chords and 6 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.

Charlie Boy uses these transitions most often: C → G (20), G → C (18), and C → Em (15). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 18 times.

G to C

2. C → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 15 times.

C to Em

3. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

Em to D

4. D → C chord transition

Here's how to move 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 section, played 11 times.

D to C

5. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

6. 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 chorus, played 4 times.

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

  • Charlie Boy includes 95 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Charlie Boy contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Charlie Boy 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 → D: 24%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Em: 8%