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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.

Taylor Swift - Illicit Affairs Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsA, F#m, D, E, C#m
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to C,F,D,G,A# keys to play this song with easier chords.

AF#mDE
AMakesurenobodyseesyouF#mleave,hoodoveryourhead,keepyoureyesDdown
Tellyourfriendsyou’reoutforC#marun,you’llbeEflushedwhenyoureturn
ATaketheroadlessF#mtraveledby,tellyourselfyoucanalwaysDstop
WhatstartedinbeautifulC#mrooms,endswithEmeetingsinparkinglots
C#mAndthat’sthethingaboutDillicitaffairs
AndEclandestinemeetingsandAlongingstares
It’sC#mbornfromjustoneDsingleglance
ButitEdiesanditdiesanditdies,aAmillionlittletimes
ALeavetheperfumeontheF#mshelf,thatyoupickedoutjustforDhim
SoyouleavenotraceC#mbehind,likeyouEdon’tevenexist
ATakethewordsforwhattheyF#mare,adwindling,mercurialDhigh
AdrugthatonlyC#mworked,theEfirstfewhundredtimes
C#mAndthat’sthethingaboutDillicitaffairs
AndEclandestinemeetingsandAstolenstares
TheyC#mshowtheirtruthDonesingletime
ButEtheylieandtheylieandtheylie,aAmillionlittletimes
AndyouwannaAscream,Adon’tcallme“kid,”don’tcallme“baby”
F#mLookatthisgodforsakenmessthatyoumademe
DYoushowedmecolorsyouC#mknow,Ican’tseewithEanyoneelse
ADon’tcallme“kid,”don’tcallme“baby”
F#mLookatthisidioticfoolthatyoumademe
DYoutaughtmeasecretC#mlanguageIcan’tspeakwithEanyoneelse
AndyouF#mknowAdamnDwell
Foryou,IwouldEruinmyself,Aamillionlittletimes
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.
ArtistTaylor Swift
Albumfolklore
GenresFolk, Indie, Indie Folk
Year2020
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Illicit Affairs on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Taylor Swift - Illicit Affairs on ukulele requires 5 chords and 9 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.

Illicit Affairs uses these transitions most often: E → A (9), A → F#m (7), and F#m → D (7). 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 A - F#m chord transition.

1. A → F#m chord transition

Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-2-0Ukulele F#m | G♭m chord diagram

Switching from A to F#m:

  1. Keep index finger on C string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

A to F#m

2. F#m → D chord transition

Ukulele F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-2-0Ukulele F#m | G♭m chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram

Switching from F#m to D:

  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 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

F#m to D

3. D → E chord transition

Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram

To move from D to E:

  1. While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 4.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

D to E

4. E → A chord transition

Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram

To move 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 section, played 9 times.

E to A

5. D → C#m chord transition

Switching from D to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

6. C#m → E chord transition

Here's how to move from C#m to E:

  1. While playing C#m, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 1 to fret 4.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 4 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

7. A → C#m chord transition

Switching from A to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

8. E → F#m chord transition

Here's how to move from E to F#m:

  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.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

9. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

  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 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

Illicit Affairs chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Illicit Affairs.

  • Illicit Affairs includes 52 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Illicit Affairs contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Illicit Affairs 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 → F#m: 6%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → E: 3%
    • D → C#m: 0%
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.