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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.

Louis Armstrong - St. James Infirmary Blues Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsDm, A, A7, Gm, Bb
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

DmIwentdowntotheASt.JamesDmInfirmary
IsawmyDmbabylyingGmthere,A7
ShewasDmlaidoutonaAlongwhiteDmtable,A7
SoBbcold,soApale,soDmfair.A7
LetherDmgo,letherAgo,godDmblessA7her
DmWherevershemayGmbe,A7
ShemayDmsearchthisAwideworldDmover,
She’llBbneverfindaAsweetmanlikeDmme.A7
WhenIDmdieburyAmeinmyDmstraitlacedA7shoes,
BoxbackDmjacketandastetsonGmhat,A7
PutaDm20dollarAgoldpieceonmyDmwatchchain,
SoBbmyfriendsknowIAdiedstandingDmpat.A7
IwantDm6crapAshootin’Dmpallbearers,
6chorusDmgirlstosingmeaGmsong,A7
PutaDmredhotAjazzbandonmyDmtailgate,
ToraiseBbhell,asIArollDmalong.A7
NowDmthatI’veAtoldmyDmstory,A7
I’lltakeDmanotherbottleofGmbooze,A7
AndifDmanyoneshouldAhappentoDmaskA7me,
IgotthoseBbSt.JamesAInfirmaryDmblues.
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.
ArtistLouis Armstrong
AlbumSatchmo Plays King Oliver
GenresJazz
Year1960
KeyDm
DifficultyEasy

How to play St. James Infirmary Blues on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Louis Armstrong - St. James Infirmary Blues on ukulele requires 5 chords and 7 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.

St. James Infirmary Blues uses these transitions most often: A → Dm (15), A7 → Dm (14), and Dm → A7 (12). 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 Dm - A chord transition.

1. Dm → A chord transition

Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram

Here's how to move from Dm to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

Dm to A

2. Dm → A7 chord transition

Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele A7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-1-0-0Ukulele A7 chord diagram

Here's how to move from Dm to A7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 12 times.

Dm to A7

3. Dm → Gm chord transition

Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele Gm chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-1Ukulele Gm chord diagram

Here's how to move from Dm 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. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Dm to Gm

4. Gm → A7 chord transition

Ukulele Gm chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-1Ukulele Gm chord diagram
Ukulele A7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-1-0-0Ukulele A7 chord diagram

Here's how to move from Gm to A7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

Gm to A7

5. A7 → Bb chord transition

Switching from A7 to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

6. Bb → A chord transition

Switching from Bb to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

7. Dm → Bb chord transition

Switching from Dm to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

St. James Infirmary Blues chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in St. James Infirmary Blues.

  • St. James Infirmary Blues includes 71 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how St. James Infirmary Blues connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → Bb: 9%
    • Dm → Gm: 5%
    After A7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (41%), D7 (18%), and Dm (13%).
    • A7 → Dm: 13%
    • A7 → Bb: 1%
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.