Skip to song content

Billy Joel - My Life Ukulele Chords

ChordsD7, C7, F7, Bb, D, G, A, Em7, Bm, F#7, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

D7C7F7Bb
DGotacallfromanoldfriend,weusedtobeGrealclose
ASaidhecouldn’tgoontheAmericanDwayGG
DClosedtheshop,soldthehouse,
BoughtatickettotheGWestCoast
ANowhegivesthemastand-uproutinein DL.A.DC7F7Bb
D7C7F7Bb
DIdon’tneedyoutoworryformecauseI’m Galright
AIdon’twantyoutotellmeit’stimetocomeDhomeGDGEm7
DIdon’tcarewhatyousayanymore,thisisGmylifeGDEm7D
AGoaheadwithyourownlife,andleaveme Bmalone
IneversaidyouhadtooffermeaF#7secondchance
D7IneversaidIwasavictimofE7circumstance
GIstill Dbelong,F#7don’tgetmeBmwrong
E7AndyoucanE7speakyourmind
ButGnotAonGmyAtime
DTheywilltellyouyoucan’tsleepaloneinaGstrangeplaceGDEm7D
AThenthey’lltellyouyoucan’tsleepwithsomebodyDelseGDGD
DButsoonerorlateryousleepinyourGownspace
AEitherwayit’sokayyouwakeupwith DyourselfDC7F7Bb
D7C7F7Bb
DIdon’tneedyoutoworryformecauseI’m Galright
AIdon’twantyoutotellmeit’stimetocomeDhome
DIdon’tcarewhatyousayanymore,thisisGmylifeGDEm7D
AGoaheadwithyourownlife,andleaveme Bmalone
IneversaidyouhadtooffermeaF#7secondchance
D7IneversaidIwasavictimofE7circumstance
GIstill Dbelong,F#7don’tgetmeBmwrong
E7AndyoucanE7speakyourmind
ButGnotAonGmyAtime
DGAD
DIdon’tcarewhatyousayanymore,thisisGmylifeGDEm7D
AGoaheadwithyourownlife,andleaveme DaloneC7F7Bb
D7C7F7Bb
Album52nd Street
GenresPop
Year1978
KeyD
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play My Life on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Billy Joel - My Life on ukulele requires 11 chords and 18 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.

My Life uses these transitions most often: D → G (15), A → D (10), and G → A (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 D7 - C7 chord transition.

1. D7 → C7 chord transition

To move from D7 to C7:

  1. While playing D7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

D7 to C7

2. C7 → F7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C7 to F7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

C7 to F7

3. F7 → Bb chord transition

Here's how to move from F7 to Bb:

  1. While playing F7, lift your pinky from A string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
  4. Slide your ring finger from C string fret 3 to G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

F7 to Bb

4. Bb → D chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

Bb to D

5. D → G chord transition

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 section, played 15 times.

6. G → A chord transition

Here's how to move from G to A:

  1. While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

7. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

8. D → C7 chord transition

Here's how to move from D to C7:

  1. While playing D, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

9. Bb → D7 chord transition

To move from Bb to D7:

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the interlude, played 3 times.

10. G → Em7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G to Em7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus.

11. Em7 → D chord transition

Here's how to move from Em7 to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

12. A → Bm chord transition

Switching from A to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

13. Bm → F#7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to F#7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

14. F#7 → D7 chord transition

Switching from F#7 to D7:

  1. While playing F#7, first lift your middle finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from C string fret 4 to A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

15. D7 → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from D7 to E7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

16. E7 → G chord transition

Switching from E7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

17. D → F#7 chord transition

Switching from D to F#7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

18. Bm → E7 chord transition

To move from Bm to E7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

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

  • My Life includes 106 chord transitions, 18 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • My Life contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how My Life 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 → A: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → A: 6%