Jack Johnson - Breakdown 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 Em chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
[Opening]
[C] [Em] [Am] [G] [C] [Em] [Am] [G]
[C]I hope this old [Em]train breaks down,
[Am]So I could take a [G]walk around
[C]And, see what there [Em]is to see
[Am]And time is just a [G]melody
[section 2]
With all the [C]people in the street
Walk as [Em]fast as their feet can take them
[Am]I just roll through [G]town
And though my [C]window’s got a view, well
[section 3]
The [Em]frame I’m looking through
Seems to [Am]have no concern for [G]now, so for now
[C]I need this [Am]old train to [G]breakdown,
[C]oh please just [Am]let me please [G]breakdown
[section 4]
[C] [Em] [Am] [G] [C] [Em] [Am] [G]
[C]This engine [Em]screams out loud.
[Am]centipede gonna [G]crawl westbound
[C]So I don’t even [Em]make a sound
[Am]It’s gonna sting me when I [G]leave this town
[section 5]
All the [C]people in the street, that I’ll [Em]never get to meet
If these [Am]tracks don’t bend some-[G]how
And [C]I got no time, that [Em]I got to get to
[Am]Where I don’t need to [G]be, so I
[section 6]
[C]I need this [Am]old train to [G]breakdown,
[C]oh please just [Am]let me please [G]breakdown
[C]I need this [Am]old train to [G]breakdown,
[C]oh please just [Am]let me please [G]breakdown
[C] [G]I wanna [F]break on [C]down [G]but I cant [F]stop [C]now
[G]Let me [F]break on [C]down [G] [F] [C]
[section 7]
But you [C]can’t stop nothing, if you [Em]got no control
Of the [Am]thoughts in your mind that you [G]kept in, you know
You [C]don’t know nothing, but you [Em]don’t need to know
The [Am]wisdoms in the trees not the [G]glass windows
[section 8]
You [C]can’t stop wishing if you [Em]don’t let go
But [Am]things that you find and you [G]lose, and you know
You [C]keep on rolling. put the [Em]moment on hold
The [Am]frames too bright, so put the [G]blinds down low
[section 9]
[C]I need this [Am]old train to [G]breakdown,
[C]Oh please just [Am]let me please [G]breakdown
[C]I need this [Am]old train to [G]breakdown,
[C]Oh please just [Am]let me please [G]breakdown
[Closing]
[C] [Em] [Am] [G]I wanna break on down
[C] [Em] [Am] [G]But I cant stop now
[C] [Em] [Am] [G] [C] [Em] [Am] [G] [C]
How to play Breakdown on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Jack Johnson - Breakdown 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.
Breakdown uses these transitions most often: Am → G (30), G → C (30), and C → Em (20). 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 - Em chord transition.
1. 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.
2. Em → Am chord transition
To move from Em to Am;
- While playing Em, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
3. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am to G;
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 3.
4. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
5. 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.
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. 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.
Breakdown chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Breakdown.
- Breakdown includes 122 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Breakdown contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Breakdown 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 → Am: 10%
After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%
- G → F: 9%