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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.

Coldplay - What If Ukulele Chords

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

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

EmWhatifGtherewasnoAmlife?
DNothingwrong,nothingCright.
EmWhatifGtherewasnoAmtime?
DAndnoreasonorCrhyme.
AmWhatifyoushouldDdecide,that
youEmdon’twantmeCtherebyyourDside.
ThatyouEmdon’twantmeCthereinyourDlife.
EmWhatifGIgotitAmwrong
DAndnopoemorCsong
EmCouldputGrightwhatIgotAmwrong
DOrmakeyoufeelICbelong
AmWhatifyoushouldDdecide,thatyou
Emdon’twantmeCtherebyyourDside.
ThatyouEmdon’twantmeCthereinyourDlife.
COooh,that’sAmright
EmLet’stakeabreathjumpDovertheside
COooh,that’sAmright
EmHowcanyouknowitifyouDdon’teventry
COooh,that’sAmright
EmEveryGstepthatyouAmtake
DCouldbeyourbiggestCmistake
EmItcouldGbendoritcouldAmbreak
DButthat’stheriskthatyouCtake
AmWhatifyoushouldDdecide
ThatyouEmdon’twantmeCthereinyourDlife
ThatyouEmdon’twantmeCtherebyyourDside.
COooh,that’sAmright
EmLet’stakeabreathjumpDovertheside
COooh,that’sAmright
EmHowcanyouknowitifyouDdon’teventry
FOooh,that’sCright
DOhhhhh
COooh,that’sAmright
EmLet’stakeabreathjumpDovertheside
COooh,that’sAmright
EmYouknowthatdarknessalwaysDturnsintolight
FOooh,that’sCright
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.
ArtistColdplay
AlbumX&Y
GenresAlternative, Rock
Year2005
KeyEm
DifficultyEasy

How to play What If on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Coldplay - What If 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.

What If uses these transitions most often: D → C (13), C → Am (10), and Am → D (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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

To move from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

Em to G

2. 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 6 times.

G to Am

3. 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

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 9 times.

Am to D

4. D → C chord transition

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

To move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 13 times.

D to C

5. C → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

6. 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 10 times.

7. D → Em chord transition

To move from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

8. Am → Em chord transition

Switching 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 7 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 2 times.

10. F → C chord transition

Here's how 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 section, played 2 times.

What If chord transition analysis

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

  • What If includes 85 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • What If contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how What If connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → Em: 17%
    • D → C: 14%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → D: 11%
    • C → Am: 10%
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.