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Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’olee - Somewhere Over the Rainbow Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, Em, F, G, Am, E7, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFwayupChigh
FAndtheCdreamsthatyoudreamofGonceina AmlullabyF
CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFbluebirdsCfly
FAndtheCdreamsthatyoudaretodream,GreallydocomeAmtrueF
CSomedayI’llwishuponastar,Gwakeupwherethecloudsarefar AmbehindFme
WhereCtroublemeltslikelemondrops
WayGhighabovethechimneytopsisAmwhereyou’llFfindme
CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFbluebirdsCfly
FBirdsflyCovertherainbow,Gwhythen,ohwhyAmcan’tI?F
WellIseeCtreesofGgreenandFredrosesCtoo,
FI’llwatchthenCbloomforE7meandAmyou
AndIFthinktomyself,GwhatawonderfulAmworldF
WellIseeCskiesofGblueandIseeFcloudsofCwhite
TheFbrightblessedtheCday,theE7darksacredAmnight
AndIFthinktomyself,GwhatawonderfulCworldFC
TheGcoloursoftherainbowsoCprettyinthesky
AreGalsoonthefacesofCpeoplepassingby
IseeFfriendsshakingChandssaying,F‘HowdoyouCdo?’
FThey’rereallyCsaying,Dm‘I,IloveGyou’
IhearCbabiesGcryandIFwatchthemCgrow,
FThey’lllearnCmuchmoreE7thanwe’llAmknow
AndIFthinktomyself,GwhatawonderfulAmworldF
CSomedayI’llwishuponastar,Gwakeupwherethecloudsarefar AmbehindFme
WhereCtroublemeltslikelemondrops
WayGhighabovethechimneytopsisAmwhereFyou’llfindme
CSomewhereEmovertherainbowFblueCbirdsfly
FBirdsflyCovertherainbow,Gwhythenohwhycan’tAmIF
CEmFC
AlbumKa 'Ano'i
GenresPop, Hawaii
Year1990
KeyC
DifficultyEasy

How to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'olee - Somewhere Over the Rainbow on ukulele requires 7 chords and 11 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.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow uses these transitions most often: F → C (29), Am → F (13), and C → G (13). 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

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 5 times.

C to Em

2. Em → F chord transition

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 5 times.

Em to F

3. F → C chord transition

To move 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 29 times.

F to C

4. C → G chord transition

Switching from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

C to G

5. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

6. Am → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to F:

  1. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

7. G → F chord transition

Switching from G to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

8. C → E7 chord transition

To move from C to E7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

9. E7 → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from E7 to Am:

  1. While playing E7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

10. C → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

11. Dm → G chord transition

To move from Dm to G:

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

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow includes 104 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Somewhere Over the Rainbow 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 F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%