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Melanie Safka - What Have They Done to My Song Ma Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, Em, C, C7, A, A7, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GLookwhatthey’vedonetomyEmsong,Ma
CLookwhatthey’vedonetomyC7song
Wellit’stheGonlythingIcouldAdohalfright
Andit’sCturningoutallA7wrong,Ma
GLookwhatthey’veD7donetomyGsong.D7
GLookwhatthey’vedonetomyEmbrain,Ma
CLookwhatthey’vedonetomyC7song
WelltheyGpickeditlikeaAchickenbone
AndICthinkI’mhalf A7insane,Ma
GLookwhatthey’veD7donetomyGsong.D7
GIwishIcouldfindagoodEmbooktolivein,
CWishIcouldfindagoodC7book
WellifGIcouldfindaArealgoodbook,
I’dCneverhavetocomeA7outandlookat
Gwhatthey’veD7donetomyGsong.D7
GIlsontchangema Emchanson,Ma
CIlsontchangema C7chanson
C’estlaGseulechosequeAjepeuxfaire
EtCcen’estpasA7bon,Ma
GIlsontD7changema Gchanson.D7
GButmaybeit’llallbeallEmrightma,Cmaybeit’llallbeC7OK
WellGifthepeopleareAbuyingtears,CI’llberich A7someday,ma
GLookwhatthey’veD7donetomyGsong.D7
GLookwhatthey’vedonetomyEmsong,Ma
CLookwhatthey’vedonetomyC7song
WelltheyGtieditupinaAplasticbag
andtheyCturneditupsidedown
GLookwhatthey’veD7tomyGsong.
GLookwhatthey’vedonetomyEmsong,Ma
CLookwhatthey’vedonetomyC7song
Wellit’stheGonlythingIcouldAdoallright,
andtheyCturneditupsidedown
GLookwhatthey’veD7tomyGsong.
AlbumCandles in the Rain
Year1970
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play What Have They Done to My Song Ma on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Melanie Safka - What Have They Done to My Song Ma on ukulele requires 7 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.

What Have They Done to My Song Ma uses these transitions most often: D7 → G (12), G → D7 (12), and A → 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 G - Em chord transition.

1. G → Em chord transition

Switching 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 section, played 7 times.

G to Em

2. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C:

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

Em to C

3. C → C7 chord transition

Switching 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 7 times.

C to C7

4. C7 → G chord transition

Here's how to move from C7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

C7 to G

5. G → A chord transition

To move from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

6. A → C chord transition

Here's how to move from A to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

7. C → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C to A7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

8. A7 → G chord transition

To move from A7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

9. G → D7 chord transition

To move from G to D7:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 12 times.

10. C → G chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in What Have They Done to My Song Ma.

  • What Have They Done to My Song Ma includes 78 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • What Have They Done to My Song Ma contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how What Have They Done to My Song Ma 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 → Em: 9%
    • G → A: 6%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → C7: 2%