Skip to song content

Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome Ukulele Chords

ChordsA, D, E, F#m, B7, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to C key to play this song with easier chords.

AWeshallDoverAcome
AWeshallDoverAcome
AWeshallDoverF#mcomeB7someEdayE7
OhAdeepDinmyAheart(Iknowthat)
DIEdobeF#mlieve
AWeshallDoverAcomeEsomeAdayDE7
AWe’llwalkDhandinAhand
AWe’llwalkDhandinAhand
AWe’llwalkDhandEinF#mhandB7someEdayE7
OhAdeepDinmyAheart(Iknowthat)
DIEdo F#mbelieve
AWe’llwalkDHandinAhandEsomeAdayDE7
AWeshallDallbeAfree
AWeshallDallbeAfree
AWeshallDallEbeF#mfreeB7someEdayE7
OhAdeepDinmyAheart(Iknowthat)
DIEdobeF#mlieve
AWeshallDallbeAfreeEsomeAdayDE7
AWeareDnotaAlone
AWeareDnotaAlone
AWeareDnotEaF#mloneB7toEdayE7
OhAdeepDinmyAheart(Iknowthat)
DIEdo F#mbelieve
AWeareDnotaAloneEtoAdayDE7
AWeareDnotaAfraid
AWeareDnotaAfraid
AWeareDnotEafraidB7anyEmoreE7
OhAdeepDinourAhearts(weknowthat)
DweEdobeF#mlieve
AweareDnot AafraidEanyAmoreDE7
AWeshallDoverAcome
AWeshallDoverAcome
AWeshallDoverF#mcomeB7someEdayE7
OhAdeepDinmyAheart(Iknowthat)
DIEdo F#mbelieve
AWeshallDoverAcomeEsomeAdayD
AlbumSingle
GenresVocal
Year1949
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play We Shall Overcome on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome 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.

We Shall Overcome uses these transitions most often: A → D (42), D → A (24), and D → E (12). 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 A - D chord transition.

1. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from C 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 section, played 42 times.

A to D

2. D → E chord transition

Switching 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, played 12 times.

D to E

3. E → F#m chord transition

Switching from E to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 12 times.

E to F#m

4. F#m → B7 chord transition

Here's how to move from F#m to B7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

F#m to B7

5. B7 → E chord transition

Switching from B7 to E:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 4.
  2. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 3 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

6. E → E7 chord transition

Switching from E to E7:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 4 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

7. E7 → A chord transition

To move from E7 to A:

  1. While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 11 times.

8. F#m → A chord transition

To move from F#m to A:

  1. While playing F#m, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on C string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

9. A → E chord transition

Switching from A to E:

  1. Lift your index finger from C 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 chorus, played 6 times.

10. D → E7 chord transition

To move from D to E7:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to 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 chorus, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in We Shall Overcome.

  • We Shall Overcome includes 142 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • We Shall Overcome contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how We Shall Overcome connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E: 12%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → E: 3%