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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.

Peter, Paul and Mary - Puff the Magic Dragon Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Em, F, Am, D7, G7, Am7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea,
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7landcalledHonahG7Lee,
CLittleJackieEmPaperFlovedthatrascalCPuff,
AndFboughthimstringsandCsealingAmwaxand
D7OtherG7fancyCstuff.G7Oh!
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7Landcalled G7HonahLee,
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledG7HonahCLee.
CTogethertheywouldEmtravelonaFboatwithbillowedCsail,
FJackiekeptaClookoutAm7perchedonD7Puff’sgiganticG7tail,
CNoblekingsandEmprinceswouldFbowwhene’retheyCcame,
FPirateshipswouldClow’rtheirAm7flagwhen
D7PuffroaredG7outhisCname.G7Oh!
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledHonahG7Lee,
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledG7HonahCLee.
CADragonLivesforEmeverbutFnotsolittleCboys.
FPaintedwingsandCgiantAm7ringsmakeD7wayforotherG7toys,
COnegreynightitEmhappened,JackieFPapercamenoCmore.And
FPuffthatmightyCdragon,Am7he
D7CeasedhisG7fearlessCroar.G7
HisCheadwasbentinEmsorrowgreenFscalesfelllikeCrain,
FPuffnolongerCwenttoAm7playD7alongthecherryG7lane
CWith-outhislifelongEmfriendFPuffcouldnotbeCbrave.So
FPuffthatmightyCdragonAm7sadlyD7slippedinG7tohisCcave.G7Oh!
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledHonahG7Lee,
CPuffthemagicEmdragonFlivedbytheCsea
AndFfrolickedintheCautumnAmmistinaD7LandcalledG7HonahCLee.
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.
ArtistPeter, Paul and Mary
AlbumMoving
GenresFolk, Pop
Year1962
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Puff the Magic Dragon on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Peter, Paul and Mary - Puff the Magic Dragon on ukulele requires 7 chords and 9 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.

Puff the Magic Dragon uses these transitions most often: F → C (28), G7 → C (18), and C → Em (14). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. C → Em chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 14 times.

C to Em

2. Em → F chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

Here's how to move from Em to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 14 times.

Em to F

3. F → C chord transition

Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram

Switching from F to C:

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 28 times.

F to C

4. C → Am chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram

Switching from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

C to Am

5. Am → D7 chord transition

Switching from Am to D7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

6. D7 → G7 chord transition

Switching from D7 to G7:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string 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 section, played 14 times.

7. G7 → C chord transition

Switching from G7 to C:

  1. While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 18 times.

8. C → Am7 chord transition

To move from C to Am7:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

9. Am7 → D7 chord transition

To move from Am7 to D7:

  1. Place index finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

Puff the Magic Dragon chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Puff the Magic Dragon.

  • Puff the Magic Dragon includes 134 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Puff the Magic Dragon contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Puff the Magic Dragon 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 → F: 16%
    • C → Am: 10%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
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.