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Louis Armstrong - Down by the Riverside Ukulele Chords

ChordsD, A, A7, G7, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑

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

I’mgonnaDlaydownmyburdenLord,downbytheriverside,
ADownbytheriverside,Ddownbytheriverside,
I’mgonnaDlaydownmyburdenLord,downbytheriverside,
Ain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Ain’tagonnaAstudywarnoDmore,
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Iain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore.
I’mgonnaDlaydownmysword&shield,downbytheriverside,
ADownbytheriverside,Ddownbytheriverside,
I’mgonnaDlaydownmysword&shield,downbytheriverside,
Ain’tgonnaAstudywarnoDmore
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Ain’tagonnaAstudywarnoDmore,
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Iain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore.
I’mgonnaDmeetmydearfatherLord.downbytheriverside,
ADownbytheriverside,Ddownbytheriverside,
I’mgonnaDmeetmydearfatherLord.downbytheriverside,
Ain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Ain’tagonnaAstudywarnoDmore,
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Iain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore.
I’mgonnaDmeetmydearmotherLord.downbytheriverside,
ADownbytheriverside,Ddownbytheriverside,
I’mgonnaDmeetmydearmotherLord.downbytheriverside,
Ain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Ain’tagonnaAstudywarnoDmore,
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Iain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore.
I’mgonnaDputonmystarrycrown,..downbytheriverside,
ADownbytheriverside,Ddownbytheriverside,
I’mgonnaDputonmystarrycrown,..downbytheriverside,
Ain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Ain’tagonnaAstudywarnoDmore,
Ain’tagonnaG7studywarnomore,ain’tagonnaDstudywarnomore.
Iain’tgonnaAstudyA7warnoDmore.
AlbumLouis and the Good Book
GenresJazz
Year1958
KeyD
DifficultyEasy

How to play Down by the Riverside on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Louis Armstrong - Down by the Riverside 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.

Down by the Riverside uses these transitions most often: D → A (20), A → D (11), and G7 → D (10). 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 D - A chord transition.

1. D → A chord transition

Switching from D to A:

  1. While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 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 20 times.

D to A

2. A → A7 chord transition

Switching from A to A7:

  1. While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on C string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

A to A7

3. A7 → D chord transition

Switching from A7 to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

A7 to D

4. D → G7 chord transition

Switching from D to G7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

D to G7

5. D → D7 chord transition

Switching from D to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

6. D7 → G7 chord transition

To move from D7 to G7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Down by the Riverside.

  • Down by the Riverside includes 74 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Down by the Riverside contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Down by the Riverside connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → D7: 1%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → A7: 3%