Merle Haggard - Mama Tried Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G7 chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]The first thing I remember [F]knowing
was a [C]lonesome whistle [F]blowing
And a [C]youngun’s dream of [F]growing up to [G7]ride
On a [C]freight train leaving [F]town
not [C]knowing where I’m [F]bound
And [C]no one could change my [G7]mind but Momma [C]tried
[section 2]
One and only Rebel [F]child from a [C]family meek and [F]mild
My [C]momma seemed to [F]know what lay in [G7]store
Spite [C]all my Sunday [F]learning
with the [C]bad I kept on [F]turning
Till [C]momma couldn’t [G7]hold me any[C]more
[chorus]
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [F]life without pa[C]role
No one could steer me right but Momma [G]tried Momma [G7]tried
Momma [C]tried to raise me better but her [F]pleading I de[C]nied
And that leaves only me to [G7]blame cause Momma [C]tried
[Closing]
Dear ole’ daddy rest his [F]soul left my [C]mom a heavy [F]load
She [C]tried so very [F]hard to feel his [G7]shoes
Working [C]hours without [F]rest wanted [C]me to have the [F]best
She [C]tried to raise me [G7]right but I re[C]fused
[chorus]
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [F]life without pa[C]role
No one could steer me right but Momma [G]tried Momma [G7]tried
Momma [C]tried to raise me better but her [F]pleading I de[C]nied
And that leaves only me to [G7]blame cause Momma [C]tried
How to play Mama Tried on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Merle Haggard - Mama Tried on ukulele requires 4 chords and 5 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.
Mama Tried uses these transitions most often: C → F (19), F → C (16), and G7 → C (10). 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 - F chord transition.
1. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
2. F → G7 chord transition
To move from F to G7;
- Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 2.
3. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on C string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
5. G → G7 chord transition
To move from G to G7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
Mama Tried chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Mama Tried.
- Mama Tried includes 57 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Mama Tried contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Mama Tried 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 → G7: 3%