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Johnny Cash - Understand Your Man Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, Am, F, G, D, G7, C7, Fm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CAmFG
CDon’tcallmynameoutyourAmwindow,I’mleaving
FIwon’teventurnmyGhead
CDon’tsentyourkinfolktoAmgivemenotalking
DI’llbegonelikeIG7said
CYou’djustsaythesameoldthingsthatC7youbeensayingallalong
FLaythereinyourbedandkeepyourFmmouthshuttillI’mgone
CDon’tgivemethatoldfamiliarAmcryandfussandmoan
FUnderstandyourCman
I’mtiredofyourAmbadmouthing
FUnderstandyourCman
CAmFGCAmDG7
CYoucangivemyothersuitstotheAmSalvationArmy
FAndeverythingelseIleave Gbehind
CIain’ttakingnothingthat’llAmslowdownmytraveling
DWhileI’muntanglingmyGmind
CIain’tgonnarepeatwhatIC7saidanymore
FWhileI’mbreathingairthatain’tbeenFmbreathedbefore
CI’llbeasgoneastheAmwildgooseinwinter
FThenyou’ll G7understandyourCman
AmMeditateonit
FUnderstandyourCman
YouhearmeAmtalking,honey?
FUnderstandyourCman
HearwhatIAmtoldyou?
AlbumI Walk the Line
GenresCountry, Folk
Year1964
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Understand Your Man on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Johnny Cash - Understand Your Man on ukulele requires 8 chords and 13 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.

Understand Your Man uses these transitions most often: C → Am (13), Am → F (9), and G7 → C (7). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

Switching from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

C to Am

2. Am → F chord transition

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 9 times.

Am to F

3. F → G chord transition

Here's how 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 4 times.

F to G

4. G → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

G to C

5. Am → D chord transition

Here's how to move 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 3 times.

6. D → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from D to G7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. G7 → C chord transition

Switching from G7 to C:

  1. While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

8. C → C7 chord transition

To move from C to C7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

9. C7 → F chord transition

To move from C7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

10. F → Fm chord transition

To move from F to Fm:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

11. Fm → C chord transition

To move from Fm to C:

  1. While playing Fm, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and pinky.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

12. F → G7 chord transition

Switching from F to G7:

  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. Place ring finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

13. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Understand Your Man.

  • Understand Your Man includes 57 chord transitions, 13 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Understand Your Man contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Understand Your Man connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → Am: 10%
    • C → C7: 2%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → D: 7%