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.

Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsG, C, D7, B7, Em, A7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

GHelloMaryLou,CGoodbyeheart
SweetGMaryLouI’msoinlovewithD7you
IGknewMaryLouB7we’dneverEmpart
So A7“HelloMaryD7Lou,goodbyeGheart”CG
GYoupassedmebyonesunnyday
CFlashedthosebigbrowneyesmyway
AndGooIwantedyouforeverD7more
NowGI’mnotonethatgetsaround
ICswearmyfeetstucktotheground
AndGthoughIneverD7didmeetyou GbeforeCG
Isaid“HelloMaryLou,CGoodbyeheart
SweetGMaryLouI’msoinlovewithD7you
IGknewMaryLouB7we’dneverEmpart
So A7“HelloMaryD7Lou,goodbyeGheart”CG
IGsawyourlipsIheardyourvoice
CbelievemeIjusthadnochoice
WildGhorsescouldn’tmakemestay D7away
IGthoughtaboutamoonlitnight
MyCarmsaboutgoodan’tight
That’sGallIhadtoD7seeformetoGsayCG
IsaidHelloMaryLou,CGoodbyeheart
SweetGMaryLouI’msoinlovewithD7you
IGknewMaryLouB7we’dneverEmpart
So A7“HelloMaryD7Lou,goodbyeGheart.”
Isaid, A7“HelloMaryD7Lou,goodbyeGheart”CG
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.
ArtistRicky Nelson
AlbumRick Is 21
GenresPop, Rock and roll, Rockabilly
Year1961
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Hello Mary Lou on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou 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.

Hello Mary Lou uses these transitions most often: C → G (12), G → C (12), and D7 → G (11). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

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

Switching from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

G to C

2. G → D7 chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele D7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele D7 chord diagram

To move from G to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 7 times.

G to D7

3. G → B7 chord transition

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

Switching from G to B7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

G 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

To move 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 chorus, played 3 times.

B7 to Em

5. Em → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to A7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

6. A7 → D7 chord transition

Switching from A7 to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. G → A7 chord transition

To move from G to A7:

  1. While playing G, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the chorus.

Hello Mary Lou chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Hello Mary Lou.

  • Hello Mary Lou includes 56 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Hello Mary Lou contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Hello Mary Lou connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D7: 1%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
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.