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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.

Michael Jackson - Thriller Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsAm, D, E, C, Em, Dm, F, Am7, G, Gm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

AmDEAmCCDAm
AmDAmD
It’sclosetoAmmidnight,andsomethingevil’s,lurkingintheDdark.
UndertheAmmoonlight,youseeasight,thatalmoststopsyourheart.
YoutrytoDscream,butterrortakesthesound,beforeAmyoumakeit.
YoustarttoDfreeze,ashorrorlooksyourightbetweenAmtheeyes;
You’reEmparalyzed.
‘Causethisis;AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
AndDnoone’sgonnasaveyoufromDmthebeastabouttostrike.
Youknowit’s;AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
You’reDfightingforyourlife,insideFaDkiller,Thriller,Am7tonight.
YouheartheAmdoorslam,andrealisethere’snowherelefttoDrun.
YoufeeltheAmcoldhand,andwonderifyou’lleverseethesun.
YoucloseyourDeyes,andhopethatthisisjustAmimagination.
ButalltheDwhile,youhearthecreaturecreepingupAmbehind;
You’reoutofEmtime.
‘Causethisis;AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
ThereDain’tnosecondchancetokillDmthethingwithfortyeyes,girl.
AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
You’reDfightingforyourlife,insideaFkiller,Thriller,Amtonight.
DNightcreaturescallandthedeadstarttowalkinFtheirGmasquerade.
AmThere’snoescapingthejawsofthealien,Gmthistime;
FThisistheendofyourElife.
AmThey’reouttogetyou;there’sdemonsclosinginoneveryDside.
TheywillAmpossessyou;unlessyouchangethenumberonyourdial.
NowistheDtime,foryouandItocuddlecloseAmtogether.
AllthroughtheDnight,I’llsaveyoufromtheterroronAmthescreen;
I’llmakeyouEmsee…
Thatthisis;AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
‘CauseDIcanthrillyoumorethanDmanyghostwoulddaretry.
AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
SoDletmeholdyoutight,andshareFakiller,
DDiller,Fchiller,AmThrillerhereCtonight.
Thatthisis;AmThriller, DThrillerAmNight;
‘CauseDIcanthrillyoumorethanDmanyghostwoulddaretry.
AmThriller,CThrillerAmNight;
SoDletmeholdyoutight,andshareaFkiller,Dthriller,Am7ow!
AmI’mgonnathrillyoutonight.
AmDarknessFfallsacrosstheland,GthemidnighthourisDcloseathand.
AmCreaturescrawlinFsearchofblood,GtoterroriseyourDneighbourhood.
AmAndwhosoevershallbeFfound,withouttheGsoulforgettingDdown,
MustAmstandandfacetheHoundsofHellFandrotGinsideacorpse’sDshell.
AmFGDx3AmF
ThefoulestGstenchisintheair;theDfunkoffortyAmthousandyears,
AndgrizzyFghoulsfromeveryGtomb,areclosingintoDsealyourdoom.
AmAndthoughyoufightFtostayalive;GyourbodystartstoDshiver,
ForAmnomeremortalFcanresist,theGevilofTheDThriller
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.
ArtistMichael Jackson
AlbumThriller
GenresPop, R&B, Soul
Year1982
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Thriller on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Michael Jackson - Thriller on ukulele requires 10 chords and 18 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.

Thriller uses these transitions most often: D → Am (29), Am → D (21), and Am → C (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 Am - D chord transition.

1. Am → D chord transition

Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram

Switching from Am to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 21 times.

Am to D

2. D → E chord transition

Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram

Here's how to move from D to E:

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

This transition appears in the section.

D to E

3. E → Am chord transition

Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram

Here's how to move from E to Am:

  1. While playing E, lift your index finger from G string fret 4.
  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 2 times.

E to Am

4. Am → C chord transition

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

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.

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

Am to C

5. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

6. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

7. D → Dm chord transition

Switching from D to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

8. Dm → Am chord transition

Here's how 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 section, played 4 times.

9. D → F chord transition

To move from D to F:

  1. While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E 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 6 times.

10. D → Am7 chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Am7:

  1. While playing D, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

11. Am7 → Am chord transition

To move from Am7 to Am:

  1. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

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 10 times.

13. G → Am chord transition

Switching 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.

14. Am → Gm chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Gm:

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

This transition appears in the section.

15. Gm → F chord transition

To move from Gm to F:

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

This transition appears in the section.

16. F → E chord transition

Switching from F to E:

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

This transition appears in the section.

17. F → Am chord transition

To move from F to Am:

  1. While playing F, lift your index finger from E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

18. G → D chord transition

Switching from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

Thriller chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Thriller.

  • Thriller includes 134 chord transitions, 18 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Thriller contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Thriller connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → C: 16%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → Am: 4%
    • D → E: 3%
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.