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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.

Miley Cyrus - Malibu Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsG, C, Bm, Em, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GCGC
GInevercametothebeachorCstoodbyGtheoceanC
BmIneversatbytheEmshoreundertheBmsunwithmyfeetintheEmsand
ButyoubroughtGmehereandI’mChappythatyouGdid
‘CauseCnowI’masGfreeasbirdscatchingthewindC
GIalwaysthoughtIwouldsink,soICneverGswamC
BmIneverwentboating,don’tgetEmhowtheyarefloating
AndBmsometimesIgetsoEmscaredofwhatIcan’t EmunderstandAm
ButhereIGamBmnexttoEmyouAmtheskyismoreGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
GWewatchedthesungodownasCwewereGwalkingC
GI’dspendtherestofmylifejustCstandinghereGtalkingC
GYouwouldexplainthecurrent,asCIjustGsmileC
BmHopingIjuststaytheEmsameandnothingwillBmchange
Andit’llbeEmus,justforaGwhile,doweCevenGexist?
That’swhenCImaketheGwish,toswimAmawaywiththeGfish
GIsitsupposedtobethishotallCsummerGlong?
BmIneverwould’veEmbelievedyou,ifthreeyears Bmagoyoutoldme
I’dbeEmherewritingthisEmsongAm
ButhereIGamBmnexttoEmyouAmtheskyismoreGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
NexttoEmyouAmtheskyissoGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
GAh…
GAh…
NexttoEmyouAmtheskyissoGblueBm
InMalibuEmnextAmtoGyouBm
GWearejustlikethewavesthatCflowbackandGforth
BmSometimesIfeellikeI’mEmdrowningandyou’retheretoBmsaveme
AndIwannaEmthankyouwithallofmyGheart
It’saCbrandnewGstart,aCdreamcomeGtrue,inAmMalibu
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.
ArtistMiley Cyrus
AlbumYounger Now
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock, Soft Rock
Year2017
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

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

Miley Cyrus - Malibu on ukulele requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Malibu uses these transitions most often: G → C (25), Bm → Em (21), and C → G (20). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

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

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 25 times.

G to C

2. C → Bm chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Bm chord diagram Fingering: 4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Bm chord diagram

To move from C to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

C to Bm

3. Bm → Em chord transition

Ukulele Bm chord diagram Fingering: 4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Bm chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Switching from Bm to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 21 times.

Bm to Em

4. Em → G chord transition

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

Switching from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Em to G

5. Em → Am chord transition

To move 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 12 times.

6. Am → G chord transition

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 14 times.

7. G → Bm chord transition

Switching from G to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 14 times.

Malibu chord transition analysis

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

  • Malibu includes 127 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Malibu contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Malibu 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 C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → Bm: 1%
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.