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Doc Watson - Deep River Blues Ukulele Chords

ChordsA, F#, D7, E7
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 F,C,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

ALetitrain,F#letitpour
ALetitrainaD7wholelotmore,
‘CauseAIgotthemdeepriverE7blues,E7
ALettherainF#driverighton,
ALetthewavesD7sweepalong,
‘CauseAIgotthemE7deepriverAblues.
AMyoldgal’saF#goodoldpal,
AShelookslikeaD7waterfowl,
WhenAIgetthemdeepriverE7blues,E7
AAin’tnoonetoF#cryforme,AThefisheshaveD7agrandoldspree
WhenAIgetthemE7deepriverAblues.
AI’mgoin’backF#toMussellShoals,AtimesarebetterD7thereI’mtold,
‘CauseAIgotthemE7deepriverAblues.
ANowI’mgonnaF#saygoodbye,andAifIsink,justD7letmedie,
‘CauseAIgotthemE7deepriverAblues.
ALetitrain,F#letitpour,AletitrainaD7wholelotmore,
‘CauseAIgotthemdeepriverE7blues,E7
ALettherainF#driverighton,AletthewavesD7sweepalong,
‘CauseAIgotthemE7deepriverAblues.
‘CauseAIgotthemE7deepriverAblues.
AlbumSingle
GenresBlues, Pop
Year1991
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Deep River Blues on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Doc Watson - Deep River Blues on ukulele requires 4 chords and 3 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.

Deep River Blues uses these transitions most often: A → E7 (9), E7 → A (9), and A → D7 (8). 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 - F# chord transition.

1. A → F# chord transition

Switching from A to F#:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

A to F#

2. A → D7 chord transition

Switching from A to D7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

A to D7

3. A → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A to E7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

A to E7

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Deep River Blues.

  • Deep River Blues includes 50 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Deep River Blues 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 → E7: 4%
    • A → F#: 1%
    After E7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are A (31%), Am (28%), and A7 (7%).
    • E7 → A: 31%