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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.

Shawn Mendes - This Is What It Takes Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G, Am, F, Dm, Em
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

YouCkeeponGtellingmeI’mwaistingAmtime
ButtoFcallitwastingGtime,ohthatsaCcrime
AndyouCthinkit’sGcrazywhatI’mtryingtoAmdo
WellFbabyI’maGfoolforCyou.
CauseFunderneaththeGdarkness,theresaClightsthats
TryingsoGhardthattryingtobeAmseen
‘CauseIFknowthiscauseIGnoticed
You’reCtryingsoGhardtoAmsee
CAndIfDmThisiswhatAmittakes
ThenGletmebetheConetoDmbeartheAmpainG
OhifCthisisDmwhatitAmtakes
I’llbreakCdownthesesDmwallthatareEminourFway
IfGthisiswhatitCtakesGAmFGC
YouCkeepontellingGmeI’mwaistingAmtime
ButtoFcallitwastingGtime,ohthat’saCcrime
andyouCthinkitsGcrazywhatI’mtryingtoAmdo
WellFbabyI’maGfoolforCyou.
‘CauseFunderneaththeGdarkness,theresaClightsthats
TryingsoGhardthattryingtobeAmseen
AndIFknowthisbecauseI’veGnoticed
AClittlebitGshiningthroughtheAmschemes
CAndIfDmThisiswhatAmittakes
Then GletmebetheConetoDmbeartheAmpainG
OhifCthisisDmwhatitAmtakes
I’llbreakCdownthesesDmwallthatareEminourFway
IfGthisiswhatitCtakesGAmFGC
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.
ArtistShawn Mendes
AlbumHandwritten
GenresPop
Year2015
KeyC
DifficultyEasy

How to play This Is What It Takes on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Shawn Mendes - This Is What It Takes on ukulele requires 6 chords and 10 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.

This Is What It Takes uses these transitions most often: G → C (16), F → G (12), and C → G (10). 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

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

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 10 times.

C to G

2. G → Am chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram

Here's how 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.

G to Am

3. Am → F chord transition

Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

Switching 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 8 times.

Am to F

4. F → G chord transition

Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

Switching 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 12 times.

F to G

5. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

6. Am → C chord transition

Switching from Am to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. C → Dm chord transition

Switching 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 chorus, played 8 times.

8. Dm → Am chord transition

To move from Dm to Am:

  1. While playing Dm, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

9. Dm → Em chord transition

Switching from Dm to Em:

  1. Lift your index finger from E 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. Slide your ring finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 4.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. Em → F chord transition

Here's how 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 chorus, played 2 times.

This Is What It Takes chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in This Is What It Takes.

  • This Is What It Takes includes 84 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • This Is What It Takes contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how This Is What It Takes connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Am: 13%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
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.