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Stevie Wonder - I Wish Ukulele Chords

ChordsDm, G, A, B, Em, Gm, Bm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓-↓↑-↓↑↓↑

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

DmGDmGDmGDmG
DmLookingbackonGwhenI,DmwasaGlittlenappyDmheadedboy,GDmG
DmThenmyonlyGworry,DmwasforChristmasGwhatwouldbeDmmytoy,GDmG
AEventhoughweBsometimes,EmwouldnotgetaGmthing,
AWewerehappyBwiththe,EmjoythedaywouldBbring,
DmSneakingouttheGbackdoor,toDmhangoutwiththoseGhoodlumfriendsDmofmine
DmGreetedattheGbackdoorwith“Boy,DmIthoughtItoldGyounottogoDmoutside”,
ATryingyourbesttoBbringtheEmwatertoyourGmeyes
AThinkingitmightBstopherfromEmwhoopingyourBbehind
IwishthoseDmdays,Gcould,DmcomebackGoncemore
WhydidthoseDmdaysGeverDmhaveGtogo
IwishthoseDmdays,Gcould,DmcomebackGoncemore
WhydidthoseDmdaysGeverDmhaveGtogo,causeIloved’emso…
DmTodootodootodoodooetc..
DmBrothersayshe’sGtelling,DmaboutyouplayingGdoctorwithDmthatgirl
DmJustdon’ttellI’llGgiveyou,DmanythingGyouwantinthisDmwholewideworld,
AMamagivesyouBmoney,EmforSundayGmschool
AYoutradeyoursforBcandy,EmafterchurchisBthrough
DmSmokingGcigarettesandDmwritingsomethingGnastyonBmthewall(younastyboy!)
DmTeachersendsyouGtotheDmprincipal’sGofficedownDmthehall
AYougrowupandBlearnthatEmkindofthingain’tGmright
AButwhileyouwereBdoingit,itEmsurefeltouttaBsight
IwishthoseDmdays,Gcould,DmcomebackGoncemore
WhydidthoseDmdaysGeverDmhaveGtogo
IwishthoseDmdays,Gcould,DmcomebackGoncemore
WhydidthoseDmdaysGeverDmhaveGtogo,causeIloved’emso…
DmG
AlbumMusic of My Mind
GenresR&B, Soul
Year1972
KeyDm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play I Wish on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Stevie Wonder - I Wish on ukulele requires 7 chords and 10 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.

I Wish uses these transitions most often: Dm → G (41), G → Dm (38), and A → B (8). 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 Dm - G chord transition.

1. Dm → G chord transition

To move from Dm to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 41 times.

Dm to G

2. G → A chord transition

Here's how to move from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the section.

G to A

3. A → B chord transition

To move from A to B:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

A to B

4. B → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from B to Em:

  1. Lift your index finger from E 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. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on C string fret 4.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

B to Em

5. Em → Gm chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to Gm:

  1. Slide your index finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to C 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 section, played 4 times.

6. Gm → A chord transition

To move from Gm to A:

  1. While playing Gm, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A 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 4 times.

7. B → Dm chord transition

Switching from B to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

8. 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 3 times.

9. 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.

10. Bm → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I Wish.

  • I Wish includes 117 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • I Wish contains 3 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how I Wish 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 → G: 16%
    • Dm → A: 3%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → A: 6%
    • G → Bm: 4%