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Johnny Cash - If I Were A Carpenter Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, D, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

IfIwereaGcarpenter,DandyouwereaAlady,
wouldyoumarrymeGanyway,DwouldyouhavemyAbaby?
IfyouwereaGcarpenter,DandIwereaAlady,
IwouldmarryyouGanyway,DIwouldhaveyourAbaby.
IfatinkerGwasmytrade,DwouldIstillAfindyou?
IwouldbecarryingtheGpotsyoumade,Dfollowing Abehindyou
GSaveyourlovethroughAloneliness,
DsaveyourlovethroughAsorrow.
IgaveyoumyGloneliness,
Dgivemeyour Atomorrow
GDAGDA
IfIwereaGmiller,DatamillwheelAgrinding
WouldyoumissyourGcoloredblouse,DandyoursoftshoeAshining?
IfyouwereaGmiller,DatamillwheelAgrinding
IwouldnotmissmyGcoloredblouse,DandmysoftshoeAshining.
GSaveyourlovethroughAloneliness,
DsaveyourlovethroughAsorrow.
IgaveyoumyGloneliness,(both)Dgivemeyour Atomorrow
IfIworkedmyGhandsinwood,DwouldyoustillAloveme?
IwouldansweryouG“yesIwould”.
DAndwouldyounotbe Aaboveme?
IfIwereaGcarpenter,DandyouwereaAlady,
IwouldmarryyouGanyway,DIwouldhaveyourAbaby.
GSaveyourlovethroughAloneliness,
DsaveyourlovethroughAsorrow.
IgaveyoumyGloneliness,
Dgivemeyour Atomorrow
AlbumSingle
GenresCountry
Year1970
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play If I Were A Carpenter on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Johnny Cash - If I Were A Carpenter on ukulele requires 3 chords and 3 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.

If I Were A Carpenter uses these transitions most often: D → A (22), A → G (21), and G → D (19). 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

Here's how 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 section, played 19 times.

G to D

2. D → A chord transition

Here's how 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 22 times.

D to A

3. A → G chord transition

Here's how to move from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 21 times.

A to G

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If I Were A Carpenter.

  • If I Were A Carpenter includes 68 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • If I Were A Carpenter contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how If I Were A Carpenter connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → G: 13%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → A: 6%