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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.

The Fray - How To Save a Life Ukulele Chords

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

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

GDGBm
GSteponeyousayweDneedtotalk.
HeEmwalksyousaysitDdownit’sjustaGtalk.
HesmilesDpolitelybackatEmyou.
YoustareDpolitelyrightonGthrough.
SomesortofDwindowtoyourEmright.
AshegoesDleftandyoustayGright.
BetweentheDlinesoffearandEmblame.
AndyoubegintoDwonderwhyyoucame.
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DEmD
GLethimknowthatDyouknowbest
CauseEmafterallyouDdoknowbest
GTrytoslippastDhisdefense
EmWithoutgrantingDinnocence
GLaydownaDlistofwhatisEmwrong
ThethingsDyou’vetoldhimallalong
GAndpraytoGodheDhearsyou
AndEmpraytoGodheDhearsyou
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DEmD
AsGhebeginstoDraisehisvoice
YouEmloweryoursandDgranthimonelastGchoice
DriveuntilyouDlosetheroad
OrEmbreakwiththeDonesyou’vefollowed
GHewilldoDoneoftwothings
EmHewilladmitDtoeverything
GOrhe’llsayhe’sjustDnotthesame
AndEmyou’llbegintoDwonderwhyyoucame
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
CWheredidIgoDwrong,IlostaEmfriend.
SomewhereGalongintheDbitterness.
AndCIwouldhavestayedDupwithyouallEmnight.
HadIknownGhowtoDsaveaGlife.
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife.
DHowGtoDsaveaGlife.DGBmG
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 Fray
AlbumHow to Save a Life
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2005
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play How to Save a Life on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Fray - How to Save a Life on ukulele requires 5 chords and 6 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.

How to Save a Life uses these transitions most often: G → D (36), D → G (27), and D → Em (26). 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 - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

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

Switching from G to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to 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 36 times.

G to D

2. G → Bm chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Bm chord diagram Fingering: 4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Bm chord diagram

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, played 2 times.

G to Bm

3. D → Em chord transition

Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

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 section, played 26 times.

D to Em

4. D → C chord transition

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

To move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 9 times.

D to C

5. Em → G chord transition

Switching from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

6. G → C chord transition

To move 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 3 times.

How to Save a Life chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in How to Save a Life.

  • How to Save a Life includes 143 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • How to Save a Life contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how How to Save a Life connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 28%
    • D → Em: 17%
    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.