Taylor Swift - Back to December Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]I’m so glad you made time to see me.
[Am]How’s life? Tell me how’s your family?
[F]I haven’t seen them in a [C]while [G]
[C]You’ve been good, busier than ever,
[Am]We small talk, work and the weather,
[F]Your guard is up and I know [C]why [G]
[Am]Because the last time [G]you saw me
Is still [C]burned in the back of your [F]mind.
You gave me [Am]roses and I [G]left them there to [F]die
[chorus]
So [C]this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in [Em]front of you saying “I’m sorry for that [F]night”
And I go [C]back to December [G]all the time.
It [C]turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you
[Em]Wishing I’d realized what I had when [F]you were mine
I’d go [C]back to December, [G]turn around and make it all [F]right
I go [Am]back to December [G]all the time
[section 2]
[C]These days I haven’t been sleeping,
[Am]Staying up, playing back myself leaving.
[F]When your birthday passed and I didn’t [C]call [G]
And I [C]think about summer, all the beautiful times,
[Am]I watched you laughing from the passenger side.
[F]Realized that I loved you in the [C]fall [G]
[Am]And then the cold came, [G]the dark days
When [C]fear crept into my [F]mind
You gave me [Am]all your love and all I [G]gave you was [F]”Goodbye”
[chorus]
So [C]this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in [Em]front of you saying “I’m sorry for that [F]night”
And I go [C]back to December [G]all the time.
It [C]turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you
[Em]Wishing I’d realized what I had when [F]you were mine
I’d go [C]back to December, [G]turn around and change my own [F]mind
I go [Am]back to December [G]all the time
[section 3]
I miss your [Am]tanned skin, your [F]sweet smile, so [C]good to me, so [G]right
And how you [Am]held me in your [F]arms that September [C]night
The first time you [G]ever saw me [Am]cry
Maybe this is wishful thinking [F]probably mindless dreaming [C]
But if we loved again, I swear I’d love you [G]right
I’d go [Am]back in time and [G]change it but I [F]can’t.
So if the [Am]chain is on your [G]door I under[F]stand.
[chorus]
But [C]this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in [Em]front of you saying “I’m sorry for that [F]night”
And I go [C]back to December [G]
It [C]turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you,
[Em]Wishing I’d realized what I had when [F]you were mine.
I’d go [C]back to December, [G]turn around and make it all [F]right.
I’d go [Am]back to December, [G]turn around and change my [F]own mind
[Closing]
I go [Am]back to December [G]all the time.
[C] [Am] [F]All the [C]time [Am] [F]
How to play Back to December on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Taylor Swift - Back to December on ukulele requires 5 chords and 8 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.
Back to December uses these transitions most often: F → C (17), C → G (13), and Am → G (10). 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 C - Am chord transition.
1. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
2. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am to F;
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
3. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on C string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
5. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
6. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
7. C → Em chord transition
To move from C to Em;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 4.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on E string fret 3.
8. Em → F chord transition
To move from Em to F;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from C string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
Back to December chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Back to December.
- Back to December includes 99 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Back to December contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Back to December connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → C: 40%
- F → Am: 11%