Skip to song content
Ukulelearn homepage
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.

Moody Blues - Driftwood Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD, G, A, Em, Gm, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

DGDG
DJustlikethedriftwoodofadream,
leftontheGseashoreofAsleep.
DJustlikethewordsthatwouldn’trhyme,
lostintheGdesertofAtime.
TimewaitsforEmnooneatall,
Ano,notevenyou.
Youthoughtyou’dEmseenitallbefore,
Ayoureallythoughtyouknew.
DIdon’trememberwhatwassaid,
inthe GconfusionthatAnight.
DIonlyknowwhat’sonmymind,
what’sintheGfuturewewill Adecide.
TimewaitsforEmnooneatall,
Ano,notevenyou.
Youthoughtyou’dEmseenitallbefore,
Ayoureallythoughtyouknew.
I’veGmshatteredtheillusion,ofDmfortuneandofGmfame.
ButDdarlingnowIGknowyou,lifecanDneverbetheGsame.
OhAno,don’tleavemeEmdriftwood,AontheDshore.
DGADGA
ATimewaitsforEmnoonemylove,
Ano,notevenyou.
Youthoughtyou’dEmseenitallbefore,
Ayoureallythoughtyouknew.
I’veGmshatteredtheillusion,ofDmfortuneandofGmfame.
I’mDwakingup,I’mGreachingup,I’mDgettingupfromthisGgame.
OhAno,don’tleavemeEmdriftwood,AonDtheshore.
GOh,noAdon’t,don’tleavemeEmdriftwood,AontheDshore.
GWhoa,Ano,don’tleavemeEmdriftwood,AontheDshore.
DGADGDGDG
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.
ArtistThe Moody Blues
AlbumOctave
GenresRock
Year1978
KeyD
DifficultyEasy

How to play Driftwood on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Moody Blues - Driftwood on ukulele requires 6 chords and 7 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.

Driftwood uses these transitions most often: D → G (18), G → A (11), and A → Em (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 - G chord transition.

1. D → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 18 times.

D to G

2. 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

Here's how to move 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 section, played 11 times.

G to A

3. 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

Here's how to move 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 9 times.

A to D

4. A → Em chord transition

Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Switching from A to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

A to Em

5. A → Gm chord transition

To move from A to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

6. Gm → Dm chord transition

Switching from Gm to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. Gm → D chord transition

To move from Gm to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on 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 2 times.

Driftwood chord transition analysis

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

  • Driftwood includes 72 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Driftwood contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Driftwood 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 → Em: 7%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 28%
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.