John Prine - Illegal Smile Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, G, F

Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CWhenIwokeupthisGmorning,Fthingswerelookin’Cbad

FSeemliketotalCsilencewastheGonlyfriendIChad

GBowlofoatmealFtriedtostaremeCdownFandCwon

AnditwasGtwelveo’clockbeforeIFrealized

ThatIwasChavin’FnoCfun

ButGfortunatelyIChavethekeyto Fescape Greality

AndyoumayFseemetonightwithanCillegalsmile

Itdon’tGcostverymuch,butitClastsalongwhile

Won’tyouFpleasetellthemanIdidn’tCkillanyone

NoI’mGjusttryin’toFhavemesomeCfun

LastCtimeIcheckedmyGbankroll,

FItwasgettin’Cthin

FSometimesitseemsliketheCbottom

IstheGonlyplaceI’veCbeen

IGchasedarainbowFdownaone-wayCstreetFdeadCend

AndGallmyfriendsturnedFouttobe CinsuranceFsalesmen

ButGfortunatelyIChavethekeyto Fescape Greality

AndyoumayFseemetonightwithanCillegalsmile

Itdon’tGcostverymuch,butitClastsalongwhile

Won’tyouFpleasetellthemanIdidn’tCkillanyone

NoI’mGjusttryin’toFhavemesomeCfun

Well,ICsatdowninmyGclosetwithFallmy Coveralls

FTryin’toget Caway

FromalltheGearsinsidemyCwalls

IGdreamedthepoliceFheard

EverythingICthoughtFwhatCthen?

WellIGwenttocourt

AndtheFjudge’snameCwasFHoffman

ButGfortunatelyIChavethekeyto Fescape Greality

AndyoumayFseemetonightwithanCillegalsmile

Itdon’tGcostverymuch,butitClastsalongwhile

Won’tyouFpleasetellthemanIdidn’tCkillanyone

NoI’mGjusttryin’toFhavemesomeCfun

Welldone,sonofagun,hotdogbun,AttilatheHun,mysister’sanunFC

ArtistJohn Prine

AlbumJohn Prine

GenresFolk

Year1971

KeyC

DifficultyEasy

How to play Illegal Smile on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

John Prine - Illegal Smile 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.

Illegal Smile uses these transitions most often: F → C (28), C → G (21), and C → F (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 C - G chord transition.

1. C → G chord transition

Switching from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 21 times.

2. G → F chord transition

Switching from G to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 12 times.

3. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C:

While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 28 times.

Illegal Smile chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Illegal Smile.

Illegal Smile includes 95 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
Illegal Smile contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
These transition patterns show how Illegal Smile connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
- F → C: 40%
- F → G: 21%