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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.

Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsG, C, D, A, G7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

G
There’saGhouseonahill
ByaCworndownweatheredoldGmill
Inthevalley Dbelowwheretheriverwinds
There’snosuchthingasbadGtimes
GAndasoftsouthernflame
OhCCottonJenny’sherGname
AndshewakesmeDupwhenthesungoesdown
AndthewheelsoflovegoGround
GWheelsoflovegoCround
LovegoGround,lovegoAround
WhatajoyfulDsound
Iain’tGgotapennyforCCottonJennytoDspend
ButthenthewheelsgoGround
GCG7C
WhenaGnewdaybegins
IgoCdowntothecottonGgin
AndImakemyDtimeworthwhiletothem
ThenIclimbbackup Gagain
GAndshewaitsbythedoor
OhCCottonJennyI’mGsore
AndsherubsmyDfeetwhilethesungoesdown
AndthewheeloflovegoesGround
GWheelsoflovegoCround
LovegoGround,lovegoAround
WhatajoyfulDsound
Iain’tGgotapennyforCCottonJennytoDspend
ButthenthewheelsgoGround
GCG7C
IntheGhot,sicklysouth
WhentheyCsaywe’llshutmyGmouth
IcanneverbeDfreefromthecottongrind
ButIknowIgotwhat’sGmine
GShe’sasoftsouthernflame
OhCCottonJenny’sherGname
ShewakesmeDupwhenthesungoesdown
AndthewheelsoflovegoGround
GWheelsoflovegoCround
LovegoGround,lovegoAround
WhatajoyfulDsound
Iain’tGgotapennyforCCottonJennytoDspend
ButthenthewheelsgoGround
GCG7C
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.
ArtistGordon Lightfoot
AlbumSummer Side of Life
GenresCountry
Year1971
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Cotton Jenny on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny on ukulele requires 5 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.

Cotton Jenny uses these transitions most often: G → C (15), D → G (12), and C → G (11). 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

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

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 15 times.

G to C

2. G → D chord transition

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

Switching 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, played 6 times.

G to D

3. G → A chord transition

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

Switching from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

G to A

4. 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

Switching 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 chorus, played 3 times.

A to D

5. C → D chord transition

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 chorus, played 3 times.

6. C → G7 chord transition

Switching from C to G7:

  1. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the interlude, played 3 times.

Cotton Jenny chord transition analysis

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

  • Cotton Jenny includes 59 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Cotton Jenny contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Cotton Jenny 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 → 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.