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.

Elvis Costello - Watching The Detectives Ukulele Chords

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

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

AmFAmF
AmNicegirls,notonewithadefect,Fcellophaneshrink-wrapped,socorrectG
AmReddogsunderillegalFlegs,AmshelookssogoodthathegetsdownandFbegsAm
SheisCwatchingthedetectives,“ooh,Ghe’ssocute”,sheisCwatchingthedetectives
GWhentheyshoot,Emshoot,Fshoot,Dshoot,AmtheybeathimupuntiltheteardropsstartG
FButhecan’tbewounded’causehe’sgotnoCheartG
AmLongshotatthatjumpingsign,GinvisibleFshiversrunningdownmyspineG
AmCuttobabytakingoffherclothes,Gclose-upFofthesignthatsays“Weneverclose”
AmHesnatchesatyouandyoumatchhiscigarette,GsheFpullstheeyesoutwithafacelikeamagnet
AmIdon’tknowhowmuchmoreofthisFIcantake,Amshe’sfilinghernailswhilethey’reFdraggingthelake
SheisCwatchingthedetectives,“ooh,Ghe’ssocute”,sheisCwatchingthedetectives
GWhentheyshoot,Emshoot,Fshoot,Dshoot,AmtheybeathimupuntiltheteardropsstartG
FButhecan’tbewounded’causehe’sgotnoCheartG
AmYouthinkyou’realoneuntilyourealizeyou’reinit,
NowFfearisheretostay,loveishereforavisit
AmCallitinstantjusticewhenit’spastthelegallimit,
FSomeone’sscratchingatthewindow,Iwonderwhoisit?
TheAmdetectivescometocheckifyoubelongtotheparents
WhoareFreadytoheartheworstabouttheirdaughter’sdisappearance
ThoughGitnearlyAmtookamiracletogetyoutostay
ItonlytookmylittlefingerstoblowyouCaway
JustlikeGwatchingthedetectives,Cdon’tgetcute,it’sjustlikeGwatchingthedetectives
AmIgetsoangrywhentheteardropsstart,GbutFhecan’tbewounded’causehe’sgotnoCheart
GWatchingthedetectives
AmIt’sjustlikeFwatchingthedetectives,Amwatchingthedetectives
FWatchingthedetectives,Amwatchingthedetectives,Fwatchingthedetectives
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.
ArtistElvis Costello
AlbumMy Aim Is True
GenresRock
Year1977
KeyAm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Watching The Detectives on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Elvis Costello - Watching The Detectives 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.

Watching The Detectives uses these transitions most often: Am → F (13), F → Am (11), and C → G (9). 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 - F chord transition.

1. 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 13 times.

Am to F

2. 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 3 times.

F to G

3. 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 7 times.

G 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

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 2 times.

Am to C

5. C → G chord transition

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 chorus, played 9 times.

6. G → Em chord transition

To move 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 chorus, played 2 times.

7. 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.

8. F → D chord transition

Switching from F to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

9. D → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

Watching The Detectives chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Watching The Detectives.

  • Watching The Detectives includes 72 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Watching The Detectives contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Watching The Detectives 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 → G: 21%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
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.