Jimmie Rodgers - Frankie and Johnny 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 C7 chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]Frankie and Johnny were lovers, oh how they could [C7]love
They [F]promised to be true to each other, true as the stars a[C]bove
He was her [G7]man, he wouldn’t do her no [C]wrong [F] [C]
[section 2]
[C]Frankie went down to the corner, to get a pint of [C7]beer
She [F]asked that old bartender, “has my lovin’ Johnny been [C]here?”
He’s my [G7]man, he wouldn’t do me no [C]wrong [F] [C]
[section 3]
[C]Well, I ain’t gonna tell you no story, ain’t gonna tell you no [C7]lie
He’s [F]here bout’ an hour ago with a gal named Nelly [C]Blie
He may be your [G7]man, but he’s doin’ you [C]wrong [F] [C]
[section 4]
[C]Frankie went down to the hotel, didn’t go there for [C7]fun
Under [F]neath her red kimono, she was packin’ a 44 [C]gun
To shoot her [G7]man, cause he’s doin’ her [C]wrong [F] [C]
[section 5]
[C]Johnny took off his Stetson hat, Said, “Baby please don’t [C7]shoot!”
She put her [F]finger on the trigger and the gun went Blooty [C]Too!
She killed her [G7]man, cause he was doin’ her [C]wrong [F] [C]
[section 6]
[C]That’s the end of my story, that’s the end of my [C7]song
They got [F]Frankie in the county jail and the gal’s been there so [C]long
She killed her [G7]man, cause he was doin’ her [C]wrong [F] [C]
[Closing]
She killed her [G7]man, cause he was doin’ her [C]wrong [F] [C]
How to play Frankie and Johnny on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Jimmie Rodgers - Frankie and Johnny on ukulele requires 4 chords and 4 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.
Frankie and Johnny uses these transitions most often: F → C (13), C → F (7), and C → G7 (7). 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 - C7 chord transition.
1. C → C7 chord transition
To move from C to C7;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 1.
2. C7 → F chord transition
To move from C7 to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
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 → G7 chord transition
To move from C to G7;
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
Frankie and Johnny chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Frankie and Johnny.
- Frankie and Johnny includes 46 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Frankie and Johnny contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Frankie and Johnny 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 → F: 16%
- C → G7: 2%
After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → C: 40%