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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.

Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, C, D, G, Gm, Eb, F, Bb
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

EmTommyusedtoworkonthedocks
EmUnion’sbeenonstrike,he’sdownonhisluck
It’sCtough…DSoEmtough
EmGinaworksthedinerallday
EmWorkingforhermanshebringshomeherpay
ForClove…DHmmm…ForEmlove
Shesayswe’vegottoCholdDontowhatwe’veEmgot
ItCdoesn’tmakeaDdifferenceifwemakeitorEmnot
WeCgoteachDotherandthat’saEmlot
ForClovewe’llDgiveitashot!
EmWhoaah…We’reDhalfwaythere
GWoahCoh…DLivingonaprayer
EmTakemyChand…We’llDmakeitIswear
GWhoahCoh…DLivingonaprayer
EmTommy’sgothisfourstringinhock
EmNowhe’sholdinginwhatheusedtomakeittalk
SoCtough…DMmm…It’sEmtough
EmGinadreamsofrunningaway
EmWhenshecriesinthenightTommywhispers
“Babyit’sCokay…DsomeEmday”
Shesayswe’vegottoCholdDontowhatwe’veEmgot
ItCdoesn’tmakeaDdifferenceifwemakeitorEmnot
WeCgoteachDother…andthat’saEmlot
ForClove…We’llDgiveitashot!
EmWhoaCah…We’reDhalfwaythere
GWoahCoh…Dlivingonaprayer
EmTakemyChand…we’llDmakeitIswear
GWhoahCoh…DLivingonaprayer,Clivingonaprayer
EmOooohh…WegottaCholdDonreadyorEmnot
YouCliveforthefightwhenit’sDallthatyou’vegot
GmWhoaEbah…We’reFhalfwaythere
BbWoahEboh…FLivingonaprayer
GmTakemyEbhand…We’llFmakeitIswear
BbWhoahEboh,FlivingonaprayerEblivingonaprayer
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.
ArtistBon Jovi
AlbumRock Star
GenresRock, Metal
Year1986
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Living on a Prayer on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer on ukulele requires 8 chords and 11 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.

Living on a Prayer uses these transitions most often: C → D (22), Em → C (18), and D → Em (16). 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 - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram

To move from Em to C:

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 18 times.

Em to C

2. C → D chord transition

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

Switching from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 22 times.

C to D

3. D → Em chord transition

Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Switching from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 16 times.

D to Em

4. D → G chord transition

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

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

D to G

5. G → C chord transition

Switching 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 chorus, played 4 times.

6. D → Gm chord transition

To move from D to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

7. Gm → Eb chord transition

Switching from Gm to Eb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

8. Eb → F chord transition

Switching from Eb to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

9. F → Bb chord transition

Switching from F to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. Bb → Eb chord transition

To move from Bb to Eb:

  1. While playing Bb, lift your middle finger from C 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 from G string fret 3 to C string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

11. F → Gm chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

Living on a Prayer chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Living on a Prayer.

  • Living on a Prayer includes 79 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Living on a Prayer contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Living on a Prayer connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → C: 27%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → D: 11%
    • C → Em: 8%
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.