Skip to song content

The Beatles - I’m Only Sleeping Ukulele Chords

ChordsEm, Am, G, C, B, Bm, D, E, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑

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

EmWhenIwakeupearlyintheAmmorning,
GLiftmyCheadGI’mstillByawning.
EmWhenI’minthemiddleofaAmdream,
GStayinCbedGfloatCupstream.
GPleasedon’twakemeAmnodon’tshakeme
BmleavemewhereIAmam
I’monlyCsleeping
EmEverybodyseemstothinkI’mAmlazy,
GIdon’tCmindIGthinkthey’reBcrazy
EmRunningeverywhereatsuchaAmspeed
GTilltheyCfindGthere’snoCneed
GPleasedon’tspoilmyAmday
I’mmilesBmawayandafterAmall
I’monlyCsleepingEm
DKeepinganeyeonthe
EWorldgoingbymyAmwindow,
DmTakingmytime
EmLyingthereandstaringattheAmceiling,
GWaitingCforaGsleepyBfeeling
EmAmGCGC
GPleasedon’tspoilmyAmday
I’mmilesBmawayandafterAmall
I’monlyCsleepingEm
DKeepinganeyeontheEworldgoingbymyAmwindow,
DmTakingmytime
EmWhenIwakeupearlyintheAmmorning,
GLiftmyCheadGI’mstillByawning.
EmWhenI’minthemiddleofaAmdream,
GStayinCbedGfloatCupstream.
GPleasedon’twakemeAmnodon’tshakeme
BmLeavemewhereIAmam
I’monlyCsleeping
AlbumYesterday and Today
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year1966
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play I'm Only Sleeping on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Beatles - I'm Only Sleeping on ukulele requires 9 chords and 13 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'm Only Sleeping uses these transitions most often: C → G (12), G → C (12), and Am → G (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 Em - Am chord transition.

1. Em → Am chord transition

Switching from Em to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

Em to Am

2. Am → G chord transition

Switching from Am to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

Am to G

3. G → C chord transition

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

4. G → B chord transition

Here's how to move from G to B:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

G to B

5. B → Em chord transition

To move from B to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

6. Am → Bm chord transition

Switching from Am to Bm:

  1. While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

7. Am → C chord transition

To move from Am to C:

  1. While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

8. C → Em chord transition

Switching from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

9. Em → D chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. D → E chord transition

Here's how 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 chorus, played 2 times.

11. E → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from E to Am:

  1. While playing E, lift your index finger from G string fret 4.
  2. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

12. Am → Dm chord transition

To move from Am to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

13. Dm → Em chord transition

Switching from Dm to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I'm Only Sleeping.

  • I'm Only Sleeping includes 77 chord transitions, 13 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • I'm Only Sleeping contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how I'm Only Sleeping 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 → Am: 13%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → G: 21%
    • Am → C: 16%