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Queen - The Show Must Go On Ukulele Chords

ChordsBm, G, Em, F#, C#m, A, F#m, G#, F, Am, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

EmptyBmspaceswhatarewelivingfor
abandonedGplacesIguessweknowthescore
Emonandon,doesF#anybodyknowwhatweareEmlookingfor?
AnotherBmhero,anothermindlesscrime
behindtheGcurtain,inthepantomime
Emholdtheline,doesF#anybodywanttotakeitEmanymore?
TheshowmustgoBmon,theshowmustgoGon,yeah,
Eminsidemyheartisbreaking
myF#makeupmaybeflaking
butmyEmsmilestillstayson.Bm
WhateverC#mhappens,I’llleaveitalltochance
anotherAheartache,anotherfailedromance
F#monandon,doesG#anybodyknowwhatweareF#mlivingfor?
IguessI’mC#mlearning,Imustbewarmernow,
I’llsoonbeAturning,roundthecornernow
F#moutsidethedawnisbreaking
butG#insideinthedarkI’machingtobeF#mfree.Em
TheshowmustgoBmon,theshowmustgoGon,yeah,
Eminsidemyheartisbreaking
myF#makeupmaybeflaking
butmyEmsmilestillstayson.Bm
MyFsoulisGpaintedliketheEmwingsofAmbutterflies
FfairytalesofGyesterdaywillEmgrowbutneverAmdie
EmIcanflymyDfriends.
TheshowmustgoBmon,theshowmustgoGon,yeah,
I’llEmfaceitwithagrin
I’mF#nevergivingin
onwiththeEmshow.Bm
BmGEmF#Em
I’llEmtopthebill,I’llF#overkill,
IEmhavetofindthewilltocarryF#on.
TheEmshowmustgoon.Bm
ArtistQueen
AlbumInnuendo
Year1991
KeyBm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Show Must Go On on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Queen - The Show Must Go On on ukulele requires 11 chords and 16 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.

The Show Must Go On uses these transitions most often: Em → F# (8), F# → Em (8), and G → Em (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 Bm - G chord transition.

1. Bm → G chord transition

Switching from Bm to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

Bm to G

2. G → Em chord transition

Switching from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

G to Em

3. Em → F# chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to F#:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

Em to F#

4. Em → Bm chord transition

To move from Em to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

Em to Bm

5. Bm → C#m chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the section.

6. C#m → A chord transition

Switching from C#m to A:

  1. While playing C#m, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 4 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. A → F#m chord transition

Switching from A to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

8. F#m → G# chord transition

Switching from F#m to G#:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

9. F#m → C#m chord transition

Here's how to move from F#m to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the section.

10. F#m → Em chord transition

Switching from F#m to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section.

11. Bm → F chord transition

To move from Bm to F:

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

This transition appears in the section.

12. F → G chord transition

To move from F 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. Place ring finger on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

13. Em → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

14. Am → G chord transition

To move from Am to G:

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

This transition appears in the section.

15. Em → D chord transition

Switching from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the section.

16. D → Bm chord transition

Switching from D to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Show Must Go On.

  • The Show Must Go On includes 58 chord transitions, 16 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • The Show Must Go On contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how The Show Must Go On connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → D: 18%
    • Em → Am: 12%
    After Bm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (25%), A (19%), and Em (13%).
    • Bm → G: 25%
    • Bm → C#m: 1%