Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele E7 chord diagram
Ukulele A7 chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele Bm chord diagram
[chorus]
Like a [A]bird on the [E7]wire
Like a [A]drunk in a [A7]midnight [D]choir
I have [A]tried in my [E7]way to be [A]free [A]
[Opening]
Like a [A]worm on a [E7]hook
Like a [A]knight from some [A7]old fashioned [D]book
I have [A]saved all my [E7]ribbons for [A]thee [A]
[section 2]
[D]If I if I have been un[A]kind
I [Bm]hope that you can just let it go [A]by
[D]If I if I have been un[A]true
I [Bm]hope you know it was never to [E7]you [E7]
[section 3]
Like a [A]baby still[E7]born
Like a [A]beast [A7]with his [D]horn
I have [A]torn every[E7]one who reached [A]out for me [A]
[section 4]
But I [A]swear by this [E7]song
And by [A]all that [A7]I have done [D]wrong
I will [A]make it [E7]all up to [A]thee [A]
[Closing]
[D]I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden [A]crutch
[Bm]He said to me you must not ask for so [A]much [A]
[D]And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened [A]door
[Bm]She cried to me hey why not ask for [E7]more [E7]
[chorus]
Like a [A]bird on the [E7]wire
Like a [A]drunk in a [A7]midnight [D]choir
I have [A]tried in my [E7]way to be [D]free [A]
How to play Bird on the Wire on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire on ukulele requires 5 chords and 7 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.
Bird on the Wire uses these transitions most often: E7 → A (11), A → E7 (10), and D → A (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 A - E7 chord transition.
1. A → E7 chord transition
To move from A to E7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 2.
2. A → A7 chord transition
To move from A to A7;
- While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on C string fret 1.
3. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
4. D → A chord transition
To move from D to A;
- While playing D, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
5. A → Bm chord transition
To move from A to Bm;
- While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 4.
6. Bm → E7 chord transition
To move from Bm to E7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 4 to A string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
7. E7 → D chord transition
To move from E7 to D;
- Slide your index finger on G string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
Bird on the Wire chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Bird on the Wire.
- Bird on the Wire includes 54 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Bird on the Wire contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Bird on the Wire connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
- A → D: 29%
- A → Bm: 8%
After E7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are A (31%), Am (28%), and A7 (7%).- E7 → A: 31%
- E7 → D: 6%