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Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming Ukulele Chords

ChordsAm, G, F, E, E7, C, Fmaj7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
  • Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram
  • Ukulele E7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-2-0-2Ukulele E7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
  • Ukulele Fmaj7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-1-3Ukulele Fmaj7 chord diagram


All the leaves are [Am]brown
([G]leaves are [F]brown)
And the [G]sky is [E]gray
(and the sky is [E7]grey)
I’ve been for a [C]walk
(I’ve been [E7]for a [Am]walk)
On a [F]winter’s [E]day
(on a winter’s [E7]day)
I’d be safe and [Am]warm
(I’d be [G]safe and [F]warm)
If I [G]was in L.[E]A.
(if I was in L.[E7]A.)


California [Am]dreaming
(Cali [G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [E]day [E7]


Stopped into a [Am]church [G][F]
I passed a[G]long the [E]way [E7]
Well I [F]got down on my [C]knees
(got down [E7]on my [Am]knees)
And I pre[F]tend to [E]pray
(I pretend to [E7]pray)
You know the preacher likes the [Am]cold
(preacher [G]likes the [F]cold)
He knows I’m [G]gonna [E]stay
(knows I’m gonna [E7]stay)
California [Am]dreaming
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [E]day [E7]


California [Am]dreaming
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [Am]day
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [Am]day
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [Fmaj7]day [Am]

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AlbumIf You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
Year1966
KeyAm

How to play California Dreaming on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming 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.

California Dreaming uses these transitions most often: Am → G (9), F → G (9), and G → F (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 Am - G chord transition.

1. Am → G chord transition

To move from Am to G;

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

2. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

3. G → E chord transition

To move from G to E;

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

4. E → E7 chord transition

To move from E to E7;

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 4 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 2.
E to E7

5. E7 → C chord transition

To move from E7 to C;

  1. While playing E7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.

6. E7 → Am chord transition

To move from E7 to Am;

  1. While playing E7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

7. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F;

  1. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.

8. F → E chord transition

To move from F to E;

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

9. E7 → F chord transition

To move from E7 to F;

  1. While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

10. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C;

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

11. G → Fmaj7 chord transition

To move from G to Fmaj7;

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

12. Fmaj7 → Am chord transition

To move from Fmaj7 to Am;

  1. While playing Fmaj7, first lift your index finger, ring finger, and pinky.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in California Dreaming.

  • California Dreaming includes 62 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • California Dreaming contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how California Dreaming 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 → Am: 13%
    • G → F: 9%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → G: 21%