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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.

Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsGm, Dm, C, Bb, A, F, Gm7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

TheyGmsentencedmetotwentyyearsofDmboredom
ForGmtryingtochangethesystemfromDmwithin
I’mGmcomingnowI’mcomingtoDmrewardthem
CFirstwetake BbManhattanAthenwetake DmBerlin
I’mGmguidedbyasignalintheDmheavens
I’mGmguidedbythisbirthmarkDmonmyskin
I’mGmguidedbythebeautyofourDmweapons
CFirstwetake BbManhattanAthenwetake DmBerlin
I’dFreallyliketoGm7livebesideyouCbabyBb
IloveyourFbodyandyourspiritandyourDmclothes
ButyouFseethatlinetheremovingthroughtheDmstation
ICtoldyouIBbtoldyouIAtoldyouIwasoneofDmthose
YouGmlovedmeasaloserbutnowyou’reDmworriedthatIjustmightwin
YouGmknowthewaytostopmebutyouDmdon’thavethediscipline
HowGmmanynightsIprayedforthis:toDmletmyworkbegin
CFirstwetake BbManhattanAthenwetake DmBerlin
GmIdon’tlikeyourfashionbusiness,Dmmister
GmIdon’tlikethesedrugsthatDmkeepyouthin
GmIdon’tlikewhathappenedtomyDmsister
CFirstwetake BbManhattanAthenwetake DmBerlin
I’dFreallyliketoGm7livebesideyouCbabyBb
IloveyourFbodyandyourspiritandyourDmclothes
ButyouFseethatlinetheremovingthroughtheDmstation
ICtoldyouIBbtoldyouIAtoldyouIwasoneofDmthose
AndIGmthankyouforthoseitemsthatyouDmsentme
TheGmmonkeyandtheplywoodDmviolin
IGmpractisedeverynightandnowI’mDmready
CFirstwetake BbManhattanAthenwetake DmBerlin
GmRememberme,IusedtoliveforDmmusic
GmRememberme,IbroughtyourDmgroceriesin
It’sGmFather’sDayandeverybody’sDmwounded
CFirstwetake BbManhattanAthenwetake DmBerlin
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.
ArtistLeonard Cohen
AlbumI'm Your Man
GenresPop
Year1988
KeyGm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play First We Take Manhattan on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan on ukulele requires 7 chords and 9 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.

First We Take Manhattan uses these transitions most often: Gm → Dm (18), Dm → Gm (17), and C → Bb (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 Gm - Dm chord transition.

1. Gm → Dm chord transition

Ukulele Gm chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-1Ukulele Gm chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram

Here's how to move 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 18 times.

Gm to Dm

2. Dm → C chord transition

Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram

To move from Dm to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

Dm to C

3. C → Bb chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

C to Bb

4. Bb → A chord transition

Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram

To move from Bb to A:

  1. While playing Bb, lift your ring finger from G string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E 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.

Bb to A

5. A → Dm chord transition

Switching from A to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

6. Dm → F chord transition

To move from Dm to F:

  1. While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from C string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. F → Gm7 chord transition

Switching from F to Gm7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

8. Gm7 → C chord transition

Switching from Gm7 to C:

  1. While playing Gm7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

9. Bb → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

First We Take Manhattan chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in First We Take Manhattan.

  • First We Take Manhattan includes 83 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • First We Take Manhattan contains 3 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how First We Take Manhattan connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → C: 18%
    • Dm → F: 14%
    After Gm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (15%), F (12%), and Dm (10%).
    • Gm → Dm: 10%
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.