Fairport Convention - Sailor’s Alphabet Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, G, F

Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CGC

CA’sfortheanchorthatFliesatourCbow;

FB’sforthebowspritandtheCjibsallGlieClow

CC’sfortheGcapstanweFallrunCaround;

D’sforthedavitstoGlowertheboatCdown

CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe

NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea

CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong

Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong

CE’sfortheensignthatFatourpeakCflew;

FF’sfortheforecastle,whereClivesourGwildCcrew

CG’sfortheGgalleywheretheFsaltjunksmellsCstrong;

AndHistheGhalyards,wehoistwithaCsong

CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe

NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea

CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong

Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong

CI’sfortheeyebolts,FnogoodfortheCfeet;

FJ’sforthejibshoist,standsCbytheGleeCsheet

CK’sfortheGknightheadswheretheFpettyofficerCstands;

L’sfortheleeside,GnotmannedbynewChands

CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe

NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea

CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong

Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong

CM’sforthemainmast,it’sFstoutandit’sCstrong;

N’sGfortheneedlethatneverpointsCwrong

CO’sfortheGoarsofourFoldjollyCboats;

AndP’sfortheGpinnacethatlivelydoCfloat

CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe

NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea

CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong

Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong

CQ’sforthequarterdeckwhereFofficersCstand;

AndGR’sfortherudder-keepstheshipin Ccom-mand

CSisfortheGstuns’lsthatFdriveherCalong;

CT’sforthetops’ls,toGgettheretakesClong

CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe

NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea

CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong

Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong

CU’sfortheuniform,FmostlywornCaft;

GV’sforthevangsrunningfromthemainCgap

CW’sforGwater,we’reonaFpintandaCpound;

CAndXmarksthespotwhereoldGStormywasCdrowned

CMerrily,merrily,soFmerrysailCwe

NoGmortalonearthlikeasailoratCsea

CHeaveaway,Ghaulaway,theFshiprollsCalong

Giveasailorhisgrogandthere’sGnothinggoesCwrong

CY’sforyardarm,needsaFgoodsailorCman;

GZisforZoë,I’mherfancyCman

Z’salsoforGzerointheFcoldwinterCtime;

AndnowwehavebroughtalltheGlettersinCrhyme

ArtistFairport Convention

AlbumBabbacombe" Lee

GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock

Year1971

KeyC

DifficultyEasy

How to play Sailor's Alphabet on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Fairport Convention - Sailor's Alphabet on ukulele requires 3 chords and 3 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.

Sailor's Alphabet uses these transitions most often: C → G (40), F → C (29), and G → C (27). 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 - G chord transition.

1. C → G chord transition

Switching from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 40 times.

2. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 16 times.

3. G → F chord transition

Switching from G to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

Sailor's Alphabet chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Sailor's Alphabet.

Sailor's Alphabet includes 125 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
Sailor's Alphabet contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
These transition patterns show how Sailor's Alphabet 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 → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → F: 9%