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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.

Flanders and Swann - Hippopotamus Song Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD7, G, Am, Em, A7, B7, Dm, E7, D, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

D7AGboldhippopotamuswasAmstandingoneD7day
OntheEmbanksoftheA7cool D7Shalimar.
HeGgazedatthebottomasheAmpeacefullyB7lay
BytheEmlightoftheA7eveningD7star.
DmAwayontheEmhilltopsatDmcombingherE7hair
HisDmfair E7hippopotamiAmmaidD
TheEmHippopotamusEmwasnoDignoramus
AndAmsangherthisA7sweetD7serenade.
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
TheGfairhippopotamaheAmaimedto D7entice
FromherEmseatonthatA7hilltopD7above
AsGshehadn’tgotamatoAmgiveher B7advice
CameEmtiptoeingA7downtoherD7love.
LikeDmthundertheE7forest DmreechoedtheE7sound
OftheDmsongthattheyE7sangwhentheyAmmetD
HisEminamorata EmadjustedherDgarter
AndAmliftedherA7voicein D7duet.
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
NowGmorehippopotamiAmbegantoD7convene
OntheEmbanksofthatA7riversoD7wide
IGwondernowwhatamItoAmsayoftheB7scene
ThatEmensuedbytheA7ShalimarD7side.
TheyDmdivedallatE7oncewithanDmearsplittingE7splosh
ThenDmrosetotheE7surfaceAmagainD
AEmregularDarmyofEmhippopotami
AllAmsingingthisA7hauntingDrefrain.
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
D7TheGamoroushippopotamuswhoseAmlovesongweD7know
IsnowEmmarriedandA7fatherofD7ten,
HeGmurmurs,“Godrot’em!”asheAmwatchesthemB7grow,
AndheEmlongstobeA7singleD7again!
He’llDmgambolnoE7moreontheDmbanksoftheE7Nile,
WhichDmNaserisE7floodingnextAmSpring,D
WithEmhippopotamasinEmsilken Dpyjamas
NoAmmorewillheA7teachthemtoD7sing
GMud,mud,AmgloriousD7mud.
EmNothingquiteA7likeitforD7coolingtheblood.
SoGfollowmefollow,Amdowntothehollow
AndCthereletusGwallowinD7gloriousGmud.GAmD7
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
Year1964
KeyD
DifficultyAdvanced

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

Flanders and Swann - Hippopotamus Song on ukulele requires 10 chords and 19 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.

Hippopotamus Song uses these transitions most often: G → Am (20), D7 → G (19), and A7 → D7 (15). 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 D7 - G chord transition.

1. D7 → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from D7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 19 times.

D7 to G

2. G → Am chord transition

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

Here's how to move from G to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 20 times.

G to Am

3. Am → D7 chord transition

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

To move from Am to D7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 12 times.

Am to D7

4. D7 → Em chord transition

Ukulele D7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele D7 chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Switching from D7 to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

D7 to Em

5. Em → A7 chord transition

Switching 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 section, played 12 times.

6. A7 → D7 chord transition

To move 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 section, played 15 times.

7. Am → B7 chord transition

Switching from Am to B7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

8. B7 → Em chord transition

Here's how 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 section, played 4 times.

9. D7 → Dm chord transition

To move from D7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

10. Dm → Em chord transition

Switching from Dm 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. Slide your ring finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 4.

This transition appears in the section.

11. Dm → E7 chord transition

Switching from Dm 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. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 11 times.

12. E7 → Am chord transition

Switching from E7 to Am:

  1. While playing E7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

13. Am → D chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

14. D → Em chord transition

To move 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 section, played 8 times.

15. Am → A7 chord transition

To move from Am to A7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

16. Am → C chord transition

Switching from Am to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

17. C → G chord transition

Switching 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 chorus, played 4 times.

18. A7 → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to D:

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

This transition appears in the section.

19. D → G chord transition

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 chorus.

Hippopotamus Song chord transition analysis

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

  • Hippopotamus Song includes 164 chord transitions, 19 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Hippopotamus Song contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Hippopotamus Song connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    • D7 → Em: 1%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Am: 13%
    • G → D7: 1%
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.