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Dobie Gray - Drift Away Ukulele Chords

ChordsD, A, E, Bm
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 C,F,G,A# keys to play this song with easier chords.

DDayafterdayI’mmore Aconfused
DYetIlookfortheElightthroughthepouringArain
DYouknowthat’sagamethatIhatetoAlose
BmAndI’mfeelin’thestrain,Dain’titashame
Oh,Agivemethebeatboysandfreemysoul
IEwannagetlostinyourrockandrollandDdriftaway
Oh,Agivemethebeatboysandfreemysoul
IEwannagetlostinyourrockandrollandDdriftaway
DBeginningtothinkthatI’mwastin’Atime
DIdon’t EunderstandthethingsIAdo
DTheworldoutsidelooksso Aunkind
BmAndI’mcountin’onyoutoDcarrymethrough
Oh,Agivemethebeatboysandfreemysoul
IEwannagetlostinyourrockandrollandDdriftaway
Oh,Agivemethebeatboysandfreemysoul
IEwannagetlostinyourrockandrollandDdriftaway
BmAndwhenmymindisfree
DYouknowamelodycanAmoveme
BmAndwhenI’mfeelin’blue
DTheguitar’scomin’throughtoEsootheme
DThanksforthejoythatyou’vegivenAme
DIwantyoutoEknowIbelieveinyourAsong
DAndrhythmandrhymeand Aharmony
BmYou’vehelpedmealong,Dmakin’mestrong
Oh,Agivemethebeatboysandfreemysoul
IEwannagetlostinyourrockandrollandDdriftaway
Oh,Agivemethebeatboysandfreemysoul
IEwannagetlostinyourrockandrollandDdriftaway
Nanana,won’tyou,Dwon’tyouAtakeme
Oh,Etakeme
Barrechordscanbereasonablyeasyandfunforthissong
AlbumDrift Away
GenresR&B, Soul
Year1973
KeyD
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Drift Away on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Dobie Gray - Drift Away on ukulele requires 4 chords and 5 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.

Drift Away uses these transitions most often: D → A (14), A → E (7), and E → D (7). 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

To move 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 14 times.

D to A

2. D → E chord transition

Switching 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 4 times.

D to E

3. E → A chord transition

Switching from E to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

E to A

4. A → Bm chord transition

Switching from A to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

A to Bm

5. Bm → D chord transition

Switching from Bm to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Drift Away.

  • Drift Away includes 51 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Drift Away contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Drift Away 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 → Bm: 5%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E: 12%