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Louis Armstrong - Go Down Moses Ukulele Chords

ChordsEm, Am7, B7, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D,A keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-0Ukulele Am7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele B7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram


[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
When [Em]Israel [B7]was in [Em]Egypt’s land,
[Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.
O[Em]ppressed so [B7]hard they [Em]could not [Am]stand,
[B7]let my people [Em]go.


[Em]Go down, [Am7]Moses,
[B7]Way down in Egypt’s [Em]land.
[Em]Tell old [Am7]Pharaoh
to [Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.


[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
So [Em]Moses [B7]went to [Em]Egypt’s land,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go
He [Em]made old [B7]Pharaoh [Em]under[Am]stand,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go.


[Em]Go down, [Am7]Moses,
[B7]Way down in [Em]Egypt’s land.
[Em]Tell old [Am7]Pharaoh
to [Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.


[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
Thus [Em]spoke the Lord, bold [B7]Moses [Em]said,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go
If [Em]not I’ll smite, your [B7]firstborns [Em]dead,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go


[Em]Go down, [Am7]Moses,
[B7]Way down in [Em]Egypt’s land.
[Em]Tell old [Am7]Pharaoh
to [Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.
[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]

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AlbumSingle
GenresJazz
Year1958
KeyEm

How to play Go Down Moses on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Louis Armstrong - Go Down Moses on ukulele requires 4 chords and 5 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.

Go Down Moses uses these transitions most often: B7 → Em (22), Em → B7 (14), and Em → Am7 (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 Em - Am7 chord transition.

3. B7 → Em chord transition

To move from B7 to Em;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 4.
B7 to Em

4. Em → Am chord transition

To move from Em to Am;

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
Em to Am

5. Am → B7 chord transition

To move from Am to B7;

  1. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on G string fret 2.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Go Down Moses.

  • Go Down Moses includes 60 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Go Down Moses contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Go Down Moses connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → Am: 12%
    • Em → B7: 1%
    After B7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are Em (58%), E7 (10%), and C (8%).
    • B7 → Em: 58%