Jim Reeves - Distant Drums Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele A7 chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele D7 chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram
[Opening]
I [D]hear the [A7]sound, of distant [D]drums
Far a[A7]way, far a[D]way
And if they [A7]call, for me to [D]come
Then [G]I must [D]go, and [A7]you must [D]stay
[section 2]
So Mary marry me; [D7]let’s not [G]wait
Let’s share [A]all the time we [A7]can before it’s too [D]late
Love me now, for now is [D7]all the time there may [G]be
If you [A]love me Mary, [A7]Mary marry [D]me
[section 3]
I [D]hear the [A7]sound, of bugles [D]blow
Far a[A7]way, far a[D]way
And if they [A7]call, then I must [D]go
A[G]cross the [D]sea, so [A7]wild and [D]grey
[chorus]
So Mary marry me; [D7]let’s not [G]wait
For the [A]distant drums might [A7]change our wedding [D]date
And love me now for now is [D7]all the time there may [G]be
If you [A]love me Mary, [A7]Mary marry [D]me
[Closing]
I hear the [A7]sound, of distant [D]drums
Far a[A7]way, far a[D]way
And if they [A7]call, for me to [D]come
Then [G]I must [D]go, and [A7]you must [D]stay
[chorus]
So Mary marry me; [D7]let’s not [G]wait
For the [A]distant drums might [A7]change our wedding [D]date
And love me now for now is [D7]all the time there may [G]be
If you [A]love me Mary, [A7]Mary marry [D]me
How to play Distant Drums on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Jim Reeves - Distant Drums on ukulele requires 5 chords and 6 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.
Distant Drums uses these transitions most often: A7 → D (18), D → A7 (12), and A → A7 (6). 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 D - A7 chord transition.
1. D → A7 chord transition
To move from D to A7;
- While playing D, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.
2. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
3. D → D7 chord transition
To move from D to D7;
- While playing D, lift your middle finger from C string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
4. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
5. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
6. 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.
Distant Drums chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Distant Drums.
- Distant Drums includes 60 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Distant Drums contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Distant Drums connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
- D → G: 29%
- D → D7: 1%
After A7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (42%), D7 (18%), and Dm (12%).- A7 → D: 42%