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Frank Sinatra - It Was a Very Good Year Ukulele Chords

ChordsDm, D#, F, D, C
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

WhenIwasDmseventeenitwasaD#verygoodyear,
ItwasaDmverygoodyear
ForFsmalltowngirlsandD#softsummernights.
We’dDhidefromthelights
OntheCvillagegreenwhenIwasDseventeen.
WhenIwasDmtwentyone,itwasaD#verygoodyear,
ItwasaDmverygoodyear
ForFcitygirlswhoD#livedupthestair,
WithDperfumedhair
ThatCcameundone,whenIwasDtwenty-one.
WhenIwasDmthirty-fiveitwasaDmverygoodyear,
ItwasaDmverygoodyear
ForFbluebloodedgirlsofD#independantmeans.
We’dDrideinlimousines
TheirCchauffeurswoulddrivewhenIwasDthirty-five.
ButnowtheDmdaysareshort,I’mintheD#autumnoftheyear,
AndnowIDmthinkofmylife
As FvintagewinefromD#oldkegs,
FromtheDbrimtothedregs
ItpouredCsweetandclear;itwasaDverygoodyear!
AlbumSeptember of My Years
GenresJazz
Year1965
KeyDm
DifficultyEasy

How to play It Was a Very Good Year on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Frank Sinatra - It Was a Very Good Year on ukulele requires 5 chords and 6 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.

It Was a Very Good Year uses these transitions most often: C → D (4), D → C (4), and D# → D (4). 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 Dm - D# chord transition.

1. Dm → D# chord transition

To move from Dm to D#:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

Dm to D#

2. Dm → F chord transition

Switching from Dm to F:

  1. While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from C string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

Dm to F

3. F → D# chord transition

Here's how to move from F to D#:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

F to D#

4. D# → D chord transition

To move from D# to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

D# to D

5. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

6. D → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in It Was a Very Good Year.

  • It Was a Very Good Year includes 29 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • It Was a Very Good Year contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how It Was a Very Good Year connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → F: 14%
    • Dm → D#: 0%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → C: 14%
    • D → Dm: 1%