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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.

Joni Mitchell - River Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Am, G, F, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CAmCAmCAmG
It’sFcomingonCChristmas
They’reFcuttingdownCtrees
They’reFputtingupCreindeer
AndsingingsongsofFjoyandCpeace
Oh,IAmwishIhadariverIcouldGskateawayon
ButFitdon’tCsnowhere
ItFstaysprettyCgreen
I’mgoingtoFmakealotofCmoney
ThenI’mgoingtoquitthisFcrazyCscene
Oh,IAmwishIhadariverIcouldGskateawayon
IFwishIhadariversoGlong
IwouldCteachmyfeettoFflyAmwooh
ICwishIhadaFriverIcouldGskateawayCon
CImademyGbabyCcry
HeFtriedhardtoChelpme
Youknow,heFputmeatCease
AndheFlovedmesoCnaughty
MademeFweakintheCknees
Oh,IAmwishIhadariverIcouldGskateawayon
I’mFsohardtoChandle
I’mFselfishandI’mCsad
NowI’veFgoneandlosttheCbestbaby
ThatFIeverChad
Oh,IAmwishIhadariverIcouldGskateawayon
IFwishIhadariversoGlong
IwouldCteachmyfeettoFflyAmwooh
ICwishIhadaFriverIcouldGskateawayCon
CImademyGbabysay Cgoodbye
It’sFcomingonCChristmas
They’reFcuttingdownCtrees
They’reFputtingupCreindeer
AndsingingsongsofFjoyandCpeace
Oh,IAmwishIhadariverIcouldGskateawayon
CAmCAmCAmAm
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.
ArtistJoni Mitchell
AlbumBlue
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1971
KeyC
DifficultyEasy

How to play River on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Joni Mitchell - River on ukulele requires 5 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.

River uses these transitions most often: C → F (21), F → C (20), and C → Am (11). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram

Switching from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 11 times.

C to Am

2. Am → G chord transition

Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

Here's how to move 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 chorus, played 6 times.

Am to G

3. G → F chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

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 chorus, played 5 times.

G to F

4. F → C chord transition

Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram

Switching from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 20 times.

F to C

5. 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 7 times.

6. F → Am chord transition

Switching from F to Am:

  1. While playing F, lift your index finger from E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. Am → Dm chord transition

Here's how 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 section, played 2 times.

8. Dm → C chord transition

Switching from Dm to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

River chord transition analysis

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

  • River includes 86 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • River contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how River 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%
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.