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Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely Ukulele Chords

ChordsF, Gm, Bb, C7, F7, G7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

FDum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wahF
GmOoh-yay-yay-yay-yeahGm
BbOh-oh-oh-oh-wahC7
OnlytheFlonelyC7
OnlytheFlonelyF
OnlytheFlonely F(Dum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wah)
KnowtheFwayIfeelto-Gmnight
Gm(Ooh-yay-yay-yay-yeah)
OnlytheC7lonely
C7(Dum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wah)
KnowthisBbfeelingain’tFright
F(Dum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wah)
TheregoesmybabyFFFF
TheregoesmyheartF7F7F7F7
They’regoneforeverBbBbBbBb
SofarapartG7G7G7C7
ButonlytheFlonely
KnowwhyI,IBbIC7cry
OnlytheFlonely, Fdum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wahF
GmOoh-yay-yay-yay-yeahGm
BbOh-oh-oh-oh-wahC7
OnlytheFlonelyC7
OnlytheFlonelyF
OnlytheFlonely F(Dum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wah)
KnowtheFheartachesI’vebeenGmthrough(Ooh-yay-yay-yay-yeah)
OnlytheC7lonely C7(Dum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wah)
KnowIBbcriedandcriedforFyou(Dum-dum-dum-dumby-doo-wah)
MaybetomorrowFFFF
AnewromanceF7F7F7F7
NomoresorrowBbBbBbBb
Butthat’sthechanceG7G7G7C7
{slow}You’vegottatake
{normal}IfyourBblonelyheartC7breaks
C7OnlytheFlonely
FDum-dum-dum-dumby-doowah
AlbumLonely and Blue
Year1960
KeyF
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Only The Lonely on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely on ukulele requires 6 chords and 10 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.

Only The Lonely uses these transitions most often: C7 → F (7), Bb → C7 (4), and F → Gm (4). 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 F - Gm chord transition.

1. F → Gm chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

F to Gm

2. Gm → Bb chord transition

Here's how to move from Gm to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

Gm to Bb

3. Bb → C7 chord transition

Switching from Bb to C7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

Bb to C7

4. C7 → F chord transition

Switching from C7 to F:

  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.

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

C7 to F

5. Gm → C7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Gm to C7:

  1. While playing Gm, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Keep index finger on A string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

6. Bb → F chord transition

Switching from Bb to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. F → F7 chord transition

Switching from F to F7:

  1. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  2. Keep 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 2 times.

8. F7 → Bb chord transition

Switching 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 2 times.

9. Bb → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to G7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

10. G7 → C7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to C7:

  1. While playing G7, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Only The Lonely.

  • Only The Lonely includes 35 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Only The Lonely contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Only The Lonely connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Bb: 5%
    • F → Gm: 1%
    After Bb, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).
    • Bb → F: 34%
    • Bb → C7: 3%