Skip to song content
Ukulelearn homepage
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.

[Opening]
You [C]keep on [G]telling me I’m waisting [Am]time
But to [F]call it wasting [G]time, oh thats a [C]crime
And you [C]think it’s [G]crazy what I’m trying to [Am]do
Well [F]baby I’m a [G]fool for [C]you.
Cause [F]underneath the [G]darkness, theres a [C]lights thats
Trying so [G]hard that trying to be [Am]seen
‘Cause I [F]know this cause I [G]noticed
You’re [C]trying so [G]hard to [Am]see

[chorus]
[C]And If [Dm]This is what [Am]it takes
Then [G]let me be the [C]one to [Dm]bear the [Am]pain [G]
Oh if [C]this is [Dm]what it [Am]takes
I’ll break [C]down theses [Dm]wall that are [Em]in our [F]way
If [G]this is what it [C]takes [G] [Am] [F] [G] [C]

[Closing]
You [C]keep on telling [G]me I’m waisting [Am]time
But to [F]call it wasting [G]time, oh that’s a [C]crime
and you [C]think its [G]crazy what I’m trying to [Am]do
Well [F]baby I’m a [G]fool for [C]you.
‘Cause [F]underneath the [G]darkness, theres a [C]lights thats
Trying so [G]hard that trying to be [Am]seen
And I [F]know this because I’ve [G]noticed
A [C]little bit [G]shining through the [Am]schemes

[chorus]
[C]And If [Dm]This is what [Am]it takes
Then l[G]et me be the [C]one to [Dm]bear the [Am]pain [G]
Oh if [C]this is [Dm]what it [Am]takes
I’ll break [C]down theses [Dm]wall that are [Em]in our [F]way
If [G]this is what it [C]takes [G] [Am] [F] [G] [C]

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

To move 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.
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

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.
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

To move from Am to F;

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

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.
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.

6. Am → C chord transition

To move 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.

7. C → Dm chord transition

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.

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.

9. Dm → Em chord transition

To move 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.

10. 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 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.