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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.

The Drifters - When My Little Girl Is Smiling Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsE, C#m, B, A
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,F,G,D,A keys to play this song with easier chords.

EEverytimemybabyandC#mIhaveaquarrel,C#mIBswearAIwon’tBgivein.
EThenmybabystartstoC#msmileatme,C#mandBIAknow,BIknowIjustcan’tEwin.
EE
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmiling,C#mthere’snothingmoreIcanSay.
AIseethosebigbrighteyesandthenIrealizeBthatgirlisgonnagetherway
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmiling,C#mIcan’tstaymadatherforlong.
AWhyshouldIwanttofightwhenIcanholdhertight?BIjustdon’tcarewho’srightorwrong.
EEC#mC#mAABB
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmiling,C#mit’sthegreatestthrilltherecanbe.
AShegetsherwayit’strue,butIknowIwon’tbeblue,Baslongasshejustsmilesforme
E
AShegetsherwayit’strue,butIknowIwon’tbeblue,Baslongasshejustsmilesforme
EWhenMyLittleGirlIsSmilingetc..
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.
ArtistThe Drifters
AlbumSave the Last Dance for Me
GenresRock
Year1962
KeyE
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play When My Little Girl Is Smiling on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Drifters - When My Little Girl Is Smiling on ukulele requires 4 chords and 6 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.

When My Little Girl Is Smiling uses these transitions most often: A → B (7), B → E (7), and E → C#m (6). 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 E - C#m chord transition.

1. E → C#m chord transition

Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram
Ukulele C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: 1-4-4-4Ukulele C#m | D♭m chord diagram

Here's how to move from E to C#m:

  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 4.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on A string fret 4.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

E to C#m

2. C#m → B chord transition

Ukulele C#m | D♭m chord diagram Fingering: 1-4-4-4Ukulele C#m | D♭m chord diagram
Ukulele B chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B chord diagram

Here's how to move from C#m to B:

  1. While playing C#m, lift your pinky from A string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger on C string from fret 4 to fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

C#m to B

3. B → A chord transition

Ukulele B chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram

Switching from B to A:

  1. While playing B, lift your ring finger from G string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 3 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

B to A

4. B → E chord transition

Ukulele B chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B chord diagram
Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram

Here's how to move from B to E:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

B to E

5. C#m → A chord transition

Switching from C#m to A:

  1. While playing C#m, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  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 4 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

6. E → A chord transition

Switching from E to A:

  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.

This transition appears in the section.

When My Little Girl Is Smiling chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in When My Little Girl Is Smiling.

  • When My Little Girl Is Smiling includes 29 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • When My Little Girl Is Smiling contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how When My Little Girl Is Smiling connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    • E → C#m: 6%
    After B, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are E (21%), Em (16%), and A (16%).
    • B → E: 21%
    • B → A: 16%
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.