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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.

Harry Nilsson - I’d Rather Be Dead Ukulele Chords

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

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

I’dratherbeGdead,I’dratherbeDdead
I’dratherbedeadthanwetmyGbed
I’dratherbedead,I’dratherbeDdead
IsaidB7deadthanwetmyGbed
Oh,I’dratherbeCgonethancarryGon
I’drathergo A7awaythanfeelthisDway
Oh,I’dratherbeGtherewhereyouhaven’tgotaDcare
Andyou’rebetteroffdeadthoughitdoesn’tseemGfair
I’dratherbeEdead,I’dratherbeAdead
I’dratherbedeadthanwetmyEbed
I’dratherbedead,I’dratherbeAdead
IsaidB7deadthanwetmyEbed
I’dratherkeepmyDhealthanddress Amyself
Butyou’rebetteroffB7deadthansittingonaEshelf
I’lltiemyAtie’tillthedayIEdie
ButifIhavetobefedthenI’dratherbeAdead
AndwhenhetakesmyDhandontheverylastAday
Iwill B7understandbecause,it’sbetterthatEway
Oh!It’snicetobeAalivewhenthedreamcomesEtrue
You’llbebetteroffdead,itcouldhappentoAyou
I’dratherbeEdead,I’dratherbeAdead
I’dratherbeB7deadthanwetmyEbed
I’dratherbedead,I’dratherbeAdead
IsaidB7deadthanwetmyEbed
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.
ArtistHarry Nilsson
AlbumSon of Schmilsson
GenresPop
Year1972
KeyG
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play I'd Rather Be Dead on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Harry Nilsson - I'd Rather Be Dead on ukulele requires 7 chords and 12 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'd Rather Be Dead uses these transitions most often: E → A (8), A → B7 (5), and B7 → E (5). 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

To move 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 chorus, played 3 times.

G to D

2. D → B7 chord transition

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

Switching from D to B7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

D to B7

3. B7 → G chord transition

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

Switching from B7 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 3 to A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus.

B7 to G

4. 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

Here's how 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 section.

G to C

5. 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 section.

6. A7 → D chord transition

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.

7. G → E chord transition

Switching from G to E:

  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 4.
  3. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus.

8. E → A chord transition

Switching from E to A:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

9. 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 chorus, played 5 times.

10. B7 → E chord transition

Here's how to move from B7 to E:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

11. E → D chord transition

Switching from E to D:

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

This transition appears in the section.

12. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A:

  1. While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 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 2 times.

I'd Rather Be Dead chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I'd Rather Be Dead.

  • I'd Rather Be Dead includes 39 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • I'd Rather Be Dead contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how I'd Rather Be Dead connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    • E → D: 14%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E: 12%
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.