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.

Flanders and Swann - The Gnu Song Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G, Dm, B7, Em, F, Am, A, E7, Bm, F#, Ab, F#m, D, Cm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CAyearago,lastThursday,IwasGstrollinginthezoo
whenIDmmetamanwhoGthoughheknewtheClot.
HewasB7layingdowntheEmlawaboutthehabitsofB7baboons
AndthenumberofDmquillsaporcupinehasGgot.
SoIaskedhim:
C“What’sthatcreatureGthere?”
HeDmanswered,“Oh,it’saFh’Elk”
IEmmightofgoneonAmthinkingthatwasDmtrue
Iftheanimalinquestionhadn’tAputthatchaptoAmshame
And Emremarked, F“Ih’aintah’Elk,I’ma E7Gnu”
A“I’maGnu,I’maGnu
ThegnicestworkofgnatureintheBmzoo
I’maGnu,F#howdoyouBmdo
YouF#reallyoughttoknowwho’s Bmwho’s
AI’maGnu,speltGNU
I’m E7gnotaCamelAoraKangaroo
GSoBmletme Abintroduce
I’m GgneithermanorF#mmoose
Oh B7gno EmgnognoI’ma AGnu”
DGDEmFAG
CWell,
IhadtakenfurnishedCmlodgingsdownatGRustingtononSea
AWhenceItravelledAmonto BmAshtonunderLyne
AndtheB7secondnightIEmstayedthereIwasB7wokenfromadream
ThatI’llDmtellyouallaboutsomeotherGtime
AmongthehuntingCtrophiesonthewallabovemyGbed
CStuffedandFmounted,wasaEmfaceIthoughtIDmknew;
ABison?No,it’snotaBison.
AnOkapi?Unlikely,CoulditAbeaAmHartebeest?
WhenIthoughIheardavoice…
A“I’maGnu,I’maGnu,agnothergnu
IwishIcouldgnashmyteethatBmyou
I’maGnu,F#howdoyouBmdo
YouF#reallyoughttoknowwho’s Bmwho’s
AI’maGnu,speltGNU
CallmeE7BisonorOkapiandI’llAsue
B7GnoramItheleastlikethatAmdreadfulHartebeest,
Oh B7gno EmgnognoI’ma AGnu
B7gno EmgnognoI’ma AGnu
B7gno EmgnognoI’ma AGnu”
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.
ArtistFlanders and Swann
AlbumSingle
GenresPop
Year1965
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Gnu Song on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Flanders and Swann - The Gnu Song on ukulele requires 15 chords and 34 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.

The Gnu Song uses these transitions most often: B7 → Em (6), G → C (5), and Bm → F# (4). 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 C - G chord transition.

1. C → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

C to G

2. G → Dm chord transition

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

To move from G to Dm:

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

G to Dm

3. C → B7 chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele B7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B7 chord diagram

To move from C to B7:

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

This transition appears in the section.

C to B7

4. B7 → Em chord transition

Ukulele B7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B7 chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Switching from B7 to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

B7 to Em

5. B7 → Dm chord transition

To move from B7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

6. Dm → F chord transition

Here's how 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 section.

7. F → Em chord transition

To move from F to Em:

  1. Lift your index finger from E 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 2 times.

8. Em → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section.

9. Am → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Dm:

  1. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

10. Dm → A chord transition

To move from Dm to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

11. A → Am chord transition

To move from A to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

12. F → E7 chord transition

To move from F to E7:

  1. Lift your index finger from E 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.

13. E7 → A chord transition

Switching from E7 to A:

  1. While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G 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 3 times.

14. 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 2 times.

15. Bm → F# chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to F#:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

16. A → G chord transition

To move from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

17. G → Bm chord transition

Switching from G to Bm:

  1. While playing G, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the section.

18. Bm → Ab chord transition

To move from Bm to Ab:

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

This transition appears in the section.

19. Ab → G chord transition

Switching from Ab to G:

  1. While playing Ab, lift your pinky from E string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section.

20. G → F#m chord transition

Switching from G to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the section.

21. F#m → B7 chord transition

To move from F#m to B7:

  1. While playing F#m, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section.

22. Em → A chord transition

Switching from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

23. A → D chord transition

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 interlude.

24. D → G chord transition

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 interlude.

25. D → Em chord transition

Switching from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the interlude.

26. F → A chord transition

Here's how to move from F to A:

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

This transition appears in the interlude.

27. C → Cm chord transition

Switching from C to Cm:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section.

28. Cm → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Cm to G:

  1. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section.

29. Am → Bm chord transition

To move from Am to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

30. Bm → B7 chord transition

To move from Bm to B7:

  1. While playing Bm, lift your ring finger from G string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section.

31. C → F chord transition

Switching from C to F:

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

This transition appears in the section.

32. Em → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

33. A → B7 chord transition

Switching from A to B7:

  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 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

34. B7 → Am chord transition

To move from B7 to Am:

  1. While playing B7, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

The Gnu Song chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Gnu Song.

  • The Gnu Song includes 84 chord transitions, 34 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • The Gnu Song contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how The Gnu Song 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 → G: 13%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
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.