Ed Sheeran - Shirtsleeves Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
I can taste salt [D]water, and if I blink [A]again [Bm]
[section 2]
You’ll be sinking in
So we’ll learn to swim in the [G]oceans you made [D]
I’ll hold ya and [A]you’ll think of him [Bm]
And pretty soon you’ll be [G]floating away
[chorus]
[G]And I’ll hold on to the [A]words you spoke of [D]
Anchored down [Bm]in my throat, love [G]
And I’m captain of this [A]sinking boat, [D]now
We just want all men to carry me home
[chorus]
[D]When salted tears won’t dry
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves
Under your [D]eyes
[chorus]
These hearts will be flooded tonight
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your eyes [D]
[D]Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, [A]your [Bm]eyes
[section 3]
I still taste salt [D]water
On my lips [A]from your kiss, [Bm]bitterness
And I drown within the [G]oceans you [D]made
And I hate to love you, these cuffs are [A]covered in your make up [Bm]
[section 4]
I’ll never trust you again, you can [G]just be a friend
[chorus]
[G]And I’ll hold on to the [A]words you spoke of [D]
Anchored down [Bm]in my throat, love [G]
And I’m captain of this [A]sinking boat, [D]now
We just want all men to carry me home
[chorus]
[D]When salted tears won’t dry
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your [D]eyes
[chorus]
These hearts will be flooded tonight
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your eyes [D]
[Closing]
[D]Your eyes, your lips, your mouth
Your [A]thighs, your back, [Bm]you drive me wild
[D]Tonight, the fact [G]design
[G]I’m on my way [A]home, on the way [Bm]home
[D]I lied, I tried to cry but [A]I’m [G]drowning in the oceans you made
[chorus]
[D]When salted tears won’t dry
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your [D]eyes
[chorus]
These hearts will be flooded tonight
I’ll [Bm]wipe my [G]shirtsleeves, under your eyes [D]
[D]Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, [A]your [Bm]eyes
How to play Shirtsleeves on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Ed Sheeran - Shirtsleeves on ukulele requires 4 chords and 6 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.
Shirtsleeves uses these transitions most often: Bm → G (12), G → D (9), and A → Bm (8). 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 - A chord transition.
1. D → A chord transition
To move from D to A;
- While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
- 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.
2. A → Bm chord transition
To move from A to Bm;
- While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 4.
3. Bm → G chord transition
To move from Bm to G;
- Keep index finger on C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
4. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
5. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
6. D → Bm chord transition
To move from D to Bm;
- While playing D, lift your middle finger from C string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 4.
Shirtsleeves chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Shirtsleeves.
- Shirtsleeves includes 59 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Shirtsleeves contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Shirtsleeves 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%