Mike Nesmith - Rio Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[D]I’m hearing the light from the [Bb]window
I’m [D]seeing the sound of the [Am7]sea
My [D]feet have come loose from their [B7]moorings
I’m [Em7]feeling quite wonderfully [A7]free
[chorus]
And I [G]think I will travel to [Gm]Rio
[D]Using the [F#m]music for [B7]flight
There’s [Em7]nothing I know of in [Gm]Rio
But it’s [A]something to [F#m]do with the [D]night
[chorus]
It’s [G]only a whimsical [Gm]notion
To [D]fly down to [F#m]Rio to[B7]night
And I [Em7]probably won’t fly down to [Gm]Rio
[A]But then a[F#m]gain I just [D]might
[section 2]
There’s [D]wings to the thought behind [Bb]fancy
There’s [D]wings to the thought behind [Am7]play
And [D]dancing to rhythms of [B7]laughter
Makes [Em7]laughter the rhythm of [A7]rain
[chorus]
And I [G]think I will travel to [Gm]Rio
[D]Using the [F#m]music for [B7]flight
There’s [Em7]nothing I know of in [Gm]Rio
But it’s [A]something to [F#m]do with the [D]night
[chorus]
It’s [G]only a whimsical [Gm]notion
To [D]fly down to [F#m]Rio to[B7]night
And I [Em7]probably won’t fly down to [Gm]Rio
[A]But then a[F#m]gain I just [D]might
[Closing]
I [D]feel such a sense of well [Bb]being
The [D]problems have come to be [Am7]solved
[D]And what I thought was proper for [B7]battle
I [Em7]see now is proper for [A7]love
[chorus]
And I [G]think I will travel to [Gm]Rio
[D]Using the [F#m]music for [B7]flight
There’s [Em7]nothing I know of in [Gm]Rio
But it’s [A]something to [F#m]do with the [D]night
[chorus]
It’s [G]only a whimsical [Gm]notion
To [D]fly down to [F#m]Rio to[B7]night
And I [Em7]probably won’t fly down to [Gm]Rio
[A]But then a[F#m]gain I just [D]might
How to play Rio on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Mike Nesmith - Rio on ukulele requires 10 chords and 14 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.
Rio uses these transitions most often: B7 → Em7 (9), A → F#m (6), and D → F#m (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 D - Bb chord transition.
1. D → Bb chord transition
To move from D to Bb;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 3.
2. D → Am7 chord transition
To move from D to Am7;
- While playing D, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.
3. D → B7 chord transition
To move from D to B7;
- While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 3.
4. B7 → Em7 chord transition
To move from B7 to Em7;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
5. Em7 → A7 chord transition
To move from Em7 to A7;
- While playing Em7, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
6. A7 → G chord transition
To move from A7 to G;
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 3.
7. G → Gm chord transition
To move from G to Gm;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on E string fret 3.
8. Gm → D chord transition
To move from Gm to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
9. D → F#m chord transition
To move from D to F#m;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on E string fret 2.
10. F#m → B7 chord transition
To move from F#m to B7;
- While playing F#m, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 3.
11. Em7 → Gm chord transition
To move from Em7 to Gm;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 3.
12. Gm → A chord transition
To move from Gm to A;
- While playing Gm, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
13. A → F#m chord transition
To move from A to F#m;
- Keep index finger on C string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
14. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
Rio chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Rio.
- Rio includes 81 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Rio contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Rio connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
- D → G: 28%
- D → F#m: 2%
After Gm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (15%), F (12%), and Dm (10%).- Gm → D: 7%
- Gm → A: 4%