Skip to song content

John Prine - Dear Abby Ukulele Chords

ChordsA, D, B7, E7, E
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D,G,C,F keys to play this song with easier chords.

DearAAbby,DearAbby,myDfeetaretooAlong
MyAhair’sfallingoutandmyB7rightsareallE7wrong
MyAfriendstheyalltellme,thatareDnofriendsatAall
Won’tyouAwritemealetter,won’tyouEgivemeaAcall
DSigned ABewildered
ABewildered,BewilderedyouDhaveno Acomplaint
YouAarewhatyouareandyouB7ain’twhatyouE7ain’t
SoAlistenupbusterandDlistenupAgood
StopAwishingforbadluckandEknockingonAwood
DEA
DearAAbby,DearAbby,myDfountainpenAleaks
MyAwifehollersatmeandmyB7kidsareallE7freaks
EveryAsideIgetuponistheDwrongsideofAbed
IfitAweren’tsoexpensiveI’dEwishIwereAdead
DSigned AUnhappy
AUnhappy,Unhappy,youDhaveno Acomplaint
YouAarewhatyouareandyouB7ain’twhatyouE7ain’t
SoAlistenupbusterandDlistenupAgood
StopAwishingforbadluckandEknockingonAwood
DEA
DearAAbby,DearAbby,youDwon’tbelieveAthis
ButmyAstomachemakesnoises B7wheneverIE7kiss
MyAgirlfriendtellsmeit’sDallinmyAhead
ButmyAstomachetellsmetoEwriteyou Ainstead
DSigned ANoisemaker.
ANoisemaker,Noisemaker,youDhaveno Acomplaing
YouAarewhatyouareandyouB7ain’twhatyouE7ain’t
SoAlistenupbusterandDlistenupAgood
StopAwishingforbadluckandEknockingonAwood
DEA
DearAAbby,DearAbby,wellDIneverAthought
ThatAmeandmygirlfriendwouldB7evergetE7caught
WewereAsittinginthebackseatjustDshootingtheAbreeze
WithherAhairupincurlersandherEpantstoherAknees
DSignedJustAMarried
AJustMarried,JustMarried,youDhaveno Acomplaing
YouAarewhatyouareandyouB7ain’twhatyouE7ain’t
SoAlistenupbusterandDlistenupAgood
StopAwishingforbadluckandEknockingonAwood
DSignedDearAAbby
AlbumOld Grey Whistle
GenresFolk
Year1973
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Dear Abby on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

John Prine - Dear Abby 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.

Dear Abby uses these transitions most often: A → D (24), D → A (16), and E → A (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 A - D chord transition.

1. A → D chord transition

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 section, played 24 times.

A to D

2. A → B7 chord transition

Switching from A to B7:

  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 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

A to B7

3. B7 → E7 chord transition

Switching from B7 to E7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

B7 to E7

4. E7 → A chord transition

Switching from E7 to A:

  1. While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

E7 to A

5. A → E chord transition

Here's how to move from A to E:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

6. D → E chord transition

Here's how to move from D to E:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

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

  • Dear Abby includes 96 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Dear Abby contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Dear Abby 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 → E: 12%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → E: 3%