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Queen - ’39 Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, D, Em, C, B7, 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 C key to play this song with easier chords.

  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
  • Ukulele B7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele Bm chord diagram Fingering: 4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Bm chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram


[G]In the [D]year of ’39 assembled [Em]here the Volunteers
In the [C]days when [G]lands were [D]few
Here the [Em]ship sailed [G]out into the [C]blue and sunny morn
The [Em]sweetest [D]sight ever [G]seen.


And the [D]night followed day, and the [B7]story tellers say
That the [Em]score brave [Bm]souls in[C]side
For [G]many a lonely day sailed a[D]cross the milky seas
Never looked [Em]back, never [D]feared, never [G]cried. [D]


Don’t you [G]hear my call though you’re [C]many years a[G]way
Don’t you hear me calling [D]you
Write your [Em]letters [Bm]in the [C]sand
[G]For the [C]day I [G]take your [Am]hand
In the [G]land that our [D]grandchildren [G]knew.


[G]In the [D]year of ’39 came a [Em]ship in from the blue
The volun[C]teers came [G]home that [D]day
And they [Em]bring good [G]news of a [C]world so newly born
Though their [Em]hearts so [D]heavily [G]weigh


For the [D]earth is old and grey, little [B7]darling we’ll away
But my [Em]love this [Bm]cannot [C]be
For so [G]many years have gone though I’m [D]older but a year
Your mother’s [Em]eyes from your [D]eyes cry to [G]me. [D]


Don’t you [G]hear my call though you’re [C]many years a[G]way
Don’t you hear me calling [D]you
Write your [Em]letters [Bm]in the [C]sand
[G]For the [C]day I [G]take your [Am]hand
In the [G]land that our [D]grandchildren [G]knew.


[D]Don’t you [G]hear my call though you’re [C]many years a[G]way
Don’t you hear me calling [D]you
All [Em]your letters [Bm]in the [C]sand
[G]cannot [C]heal me [G]like your [Am]hand


For my [Em]life, still a[D]head
Pity [G]Me.
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G] [D] [G]

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ArtistQueen
AlbumA Night at the Opera
GenresRock
Year1975
KeyG

How to play '39 on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Queen - '39 on ukulele requires 7 chords and 11 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.

'39 uses these transitions most often: G → D (18), C → G (14), and D → G (11). 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 - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D;

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

2. 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.
D to Em

3. 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.
Em to C

4. C → G chord transition

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.
C to G

5. Em → G chord transition

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.

6. D → B7 chord transition

To move from D to B7;

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

7. B7 → Em chord transition

To move from B7 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 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 4.

8. Em → Bm chord transition

To move from Em to Bm;

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

9. Bm → C chord transition

To move from Bm to C;

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

10. G → Am chord transition

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.

11. Am → Em chord transition

To move 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.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in '39.

  • '39 includes 93 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • '39 contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how '39 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 → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%