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Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, F, C, D, Em, Am7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GIfyoucouldreadmymindlove,Fwhatatalemythoughtscouldtell
GJustlikeanoldtimemovie,Faboutaghostfromawishingwell
GInacastledarkoraCfortressstrong
WithDchainsuponmyEmfeetyouCknowthatghostisGme
AndCIwillneverGbesetfree
AsAm7longasI’maDghostthatyoucan’tGsee
GIfIcouldreadyourmindlove,Fwhatataleyourthoughtscouldtell
GJustlikeapaperbacknovel,theFkindthatdrugstoressell
GWhenyoureachthepartCwheretheheartachescome
TheDherowouldbeEmmebutCheroesoftenGfail
AndCyouwon’treadthatGbookagain
Am7becausetheending’sDjusttoohardtoGtake
G7I’dwalkawaylikeaCmoviestar,
whogetsDburnedinathreewayEmscript
CEnternumberGtwo:aCmoviequeentoGplaythescene
OfAm7bringingalltheDgoodthingsoutinGme,
Cbutfornowlove,let’sbeGreal
ICneverthoughtIcouldGactthisway,
andI’veAm7gottosaythatIDjustdon’tgetit
CIdon’tknowwhereGwewentwrong,
ButtheAm7feeling’sgoneandIDjustcan’tgetitGback
GIfyoucouldreadmymindlove,Fwhatatalemythoughtscouldtell
GJustlikeanoldtimemovie,Faboutaghostfromawishingwell
GInacastledarkoraCfortressstrongwithDchainsuponmyEmfeet
ButCstoriesalwaysGend.AndCifyouread Gbetweenthelines
You’llAm7knowthatI’mjustDtryingto Gunderstand
theCfeelingsthatyouGlack
CIneverthoughtIcouldGfeelthisway,
andI’veAm7gottosaythatIDjustdon’tgetit
CIdon’tknowwhereGwewentwrongAm7butthefeeling’sgone
AndIDjustcan’tgetitGback
AlbumSit Down Young Stranger
GenresFolk
Year1970
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play If You Could Read My Mind on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind on ukulele requires 6 chords and 8 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 You Could Read My Mind uses these transitions most often: C → G (14), G → C (12), and Am7 → D (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 G - F chord transition.

1. G → F chord transition

Here's how to move from G to F:

  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 E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

G to F

2. G → C chord transition

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, played 12 times.

G to C

3. C → D chord transition

Here's how to move from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

C to D

4. 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 4 times.

D to Em

5. Em → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to C:

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

6. G → Am7 chord transition

Switching from G to Am7:

  1. While playing G, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

7. Am7 → D chord transition

Switching from Am7 to D:

  1. Place index finger 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, played 8 times.

8. D → G chord transition

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 section, played 6 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If You Could Read My Mind.

  • If You Could Read My Mind includes 74 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • If You Could Read My Mind contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how If You Could Read My Mind connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → F: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%