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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.

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Module: Chords & Progressions

D - C Chord Changes

Practice the D and C ukulele shapes and learn to move between a three-finger and a one-finger chord.

Lesson objectives

  • Fret the D chord with three fingers on the 2nd fret.
  • Switch cleanly to the C chord using one finger.
  • Build accuracy and timing for this core transition.
Progress2/17 completed

D to C: Building Your Core Shapes

Next we add two very common ukulele chords: D and C. This change teaches your hand to move between a compact three-finger shape and a single-finger shape.

Ukulele D chord diagramFingering: 2-2-2-0D123
Ukulele C chord diagramFingering: 0-0-0-3C3

D Fingering

  • Index finger: G string, 2nd fret.
  • Middle finger: C string, 2nd fret.
  • Ring finger: E string, 2nd fret.

C Fingering

  • Ring finger: A string, 3rd fret.

Switch between D and C slowly. Keep your fingers curved and lift them as a group when you move to C.

Next chords:Am - F - Dm Chord Changes

Questions and Answers

How do I play the D chord on ukulele?
The D chord aligns three fingers across the 2nd fret: index finger on the C string, middle finger on the G string, and ring finger on the E string. The A string is played open.
What is the key technique when switching between D and C on ukulele?
When moving from D to C, lift all three fingers as a group rather than one at a time. This keeps the transition clean and reduces hesitation between the chords.

Next up: Am - F - Dm Chord Changes

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Em - G Chord Changes

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Am - F - Dm Chord Changes

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.