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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.

Sam Smith - Writing’s On The Wall Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, G, C, B, D, Bm, Am
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 D key to play this song with easier chords.

EmGEmG
EmI’vebeenhereGbefore
EmButalwayshittheGfloor
I’veCspentalifetimerunning
AndIBalwaysgetaway
ButwithCyouI’mfeelingsomething
ThatBmakesmewanttoBstay
EmI’mpreparedforGthis
EmInevershoottoGmiss
ButICfeellikeastormiscoming
IfI’mBgonnamakeitthroughtheday
Thenthere’sCnomoreuseinrunning
ThisisBsomethingIgottaBface
EmIfDIGriskitCall
EmCouldDyouGbreakmyBfall?
HowdoIEmlive?HowdoIDbreathe?
Whenyou’renotChereI’mDsuffocating
IwanttofeelEmlove,runthroughmyDblood
TellmeisCthiswhereIgiveitallBmup?
ForAmyouIhavetoAmriskitBmall
Causethewriting’sontheEmwall
EmG
EmAmillionshardsofGglass
EmThathauntmefrommyGpast
AstheCstarsbegintogather
AndtheBlightbeginstofade
WhenallChopebeginstoshatter
KnowthatBIwon’tbeBafraid
EmIfDIGriskitCall
EmCouldDyouGbreakmyBfall?
HowdoIEmlive?HowdoIDbreathe?
Whenyou’renotChereI’mDsuffocating
IwanttofeelEmlove,runthroughmyDblood
TellmeisCthiswhereIgiveitallBmup?
ForAmyouIhavetoAmriskitBmall
Causethewriting’sontheEmwall
Thewriting’sontheEmwallG
CBCBB
HowdoIEmlive?HowdoIDbreathe?
Whenyou’renotChereI’mDsuffocating
IwanttofeelEmlove,runthroughmyDblood
TellmeisCthiswhereIgiveitallDup?
HowdoIEmlive?HowdoIDbreathe?
Whenyou’renotChereI’mDsuffocating
IwanttofeelEmlove,runthroughmyDblood
TellmeisCthiswhereIgiveitallBmup?
ForAmyouIhavetoAmriskitBmall
Causethewriting’sontheEmwall
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.
ArtistSam Smith
AlbumBravo: The Hits 2015
GenresPop
Year2015
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Writing's On The Wall on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall on ukulele requires 7 chords and 12 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.

Writing's On The Wall uses these transitions most often: Em → D (12), Em → G (11), and B → Em (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 11 times.

Em to G

2. G → C chord transition

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

Here's how to move from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

G to C

3. C → B chord transition

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

To move from C to B:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

C to B

4. B → Em chord transition

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

Switching from B to Em:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

B to Em

5. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

6. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. 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 chorus, played 2 times.

8. G → B chord transition

Switching from G to B:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

9. D → C chord transition

Here's how 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 chorus, played 8 times.

10. C → Bm chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

11. Bm → Am chord transition

Switching from Bm to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

12. Bm → B chord transition

Switching from Bm to B:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

Writing's On The Wall chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Writing's On The Wall.

  • Writing's On The Wall includes 95 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Writing's On The Wall contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Writing's On The Wall connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → D: 18%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → D: 11%
    • C → Em: 8%
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.