Skip to song content
Ukulelearn homepage
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.

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World Ukulele Chords

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

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D,A keys to play this song with easier chords.

CmWepassedupontheGstair,wespokeinwasandCmwhen
AlthoughIwasn’tGthere,hesaidIwashisEbfriend
Whichcameasa Bbsurprise,IspokeintohisGeyes
Ithoughtyoudied Cmalone,alonglongtime Bbago
BbOhno,notEbme
WeBneverlost Ebcontrol
You’reBbfacetoEbface
WithTheBManWhoSoldTheWorldG
GCmEbEbCm
ICmlaughedandshookhisGhand,
andmademywaybackCmhome
IsearchedaforeignGland,foryearsandyearsIEbroam[ed
IgazedagazelessBbstare,wewalkedamillionGhills
ImusthaveCmdiedalone,alonglongtimeBbago
BbWhoknows?NotEbme
IBneverlost Ebcontrol
You’reBbfacetoEbface
WithTheBManWhoSoldTheWorld
GCm
BbWhoknows?NotEbme
IBneverlost Ebcontrol
You’reBbfacetoEbface
WithTheBManWhoSoldTheWorld
GCm
EbEbCmCmGGCmCm
Eb
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.
ArtistNirvana
AlbumMTV Unplugged in New York
GenresAlternative, Indie, Rock
Year1994
KeyCm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Man Who Sold The World on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World 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.

The Man Who Sold The World uses these transitions most often: G → Cm (8), Bb → Eb (6), and Eb → B (6). 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 Cm - G chord transition.

1. Cm → G chord transition

Ukulele Cm chord diagram Fingering: 0-3-3-3 Barre at fret 3.Ukulele Cm chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

Switching from Cm to G:

  1. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Cm to G

2. G → Eb chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: 0-3-3-1Ukulele D# | E♭ chord diagram

Switching from G to Eb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

G to Eb

3. Eb → Bb chord transition

Ukulele D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: 0-3-3-1Ukulele D# | E♭ chord diagram
Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram

Switching from Eb to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

Eb to Bb

4. Bb → G chord transition

Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

Switching from Bb to G:

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

This transition appears in the section.

Bb to G

5. Cm → Bb chord transition

Switching from Cm to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

6. Eb → B chord transition

Here's how to move from Eb to B:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

7. B → G chord transition

To move from B to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

8. Cm → Eb chord transition

Switching from Cm to Eb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

The Man Who Sold The World chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Man Who Sold The World.

  • The Man Who Sold The World includes 47 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how The Man Who Sold The World connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Eb, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are Bb (30%), F (18%), and Ab (10%).
    • Eb → Bb: 30%
    • Eb → Cm: 8%
    After Cm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (22%), F (11%), and Fm (9%).
    • Cm → G: 22%
    • Cm → Bb: 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.