Shawn Mendes - Honest Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G]
[G]Hey, [D]how’s it [Em]going
Can you [C]meet down on Adelaide [G]street
Can you [G]talk [D]for a [Em]moment
There’s no [C]way to say this that [G]easily
Everything I [G]said, I [D]swear I [Em]meant it
I need to [C]tell you that this isn’t your [G]fault
And I [G]know [D]that I’ll [Em]probably regret it
And it [C]kills me ’cause the worst part [D]of all
[chorus]
Is [Em]that I [C]hate I hurt you, but I [G]gotta be [D]honest
[Em]I can’t give [C]you what you [G]need [D]
[Em]You [C]deserve more than [G]I can [D]promise
And [Am]I’m just tryna, [G]I’m just [C]tryna
Baby, I’m just t[D]ryna be [G]honest [D] [Em]
I’m tryna be [C]honest with [G]you
You know that I’m [G] [D]sorry [Em]
But I’m tryna be [C]honest with [G]you
[section 2]
[G]Hey, [D]can you [Em]listen?
I swear to [C]God to you, there’s nobody [G]else
You’re gonna [G]say [D]that I’m [Em]lying’
When I [C]tell you every feeling I [G]felt
Was [G]honest [D]and sincere, and that you [Em]were different
And when we [C]kissed I felt like that kid in [G]love, yeah
And I [G]know that I’ll [D]probably [Em]regret it
And I [C]wish I never said this at [D]all
[chorus]
Oh I hate I [Em]hurt [C]you , but I [G]gotta be [D]honest
[Em]I can’t give [C]you what you [G]need [D]
[Em]You [C]deserve more than [G]I can [D]promise
And [Am]I’m just tryna, [G]I’m just [C]tryna
Baby, I’m just [D]tryna be [G]honest [D] [Em]
I’m tryna be [C]honest with [G]you
You know that I’m [G] [D]sorry [Em]
But I’m tryna be [C]honest with [G]you
[Closing]
[C]Oh, [D]oh, [Em]oh, [G]I don’t wanna see you [C]cry
[C]Oh, [D]oh, [Em]oh, swear that [G]I don’t wanna see you [C]cry
[chorus]
‘Cause I [Em]hate to [C]hurt you, but I [G]gotta be [D]honest
[Em]I can’t give [C]you what you [G]need [D]
[Em]You [C]deserve more than [G]I can [D]promise
And [Am]I’m just tryna, [G]I’m just [C]tryna
baby I’m just tryna be honest
[chorus]
I [Em]hate I [C]hurt you, but I [G]gotta be [D]honest
[Em]I can’t give [C]you what you [G]need [D]
[Em]You [C]deserve more than [G]I can [D]promise
And [Am]I’m just tryna, [G]I’m just [C]tryna
Baby I’m just tryna be honest
[outro]
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G]
How to play Honest on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Shawn Mendes - Honest on ukulele requires 5 chords and 8 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.
Honest uses these transitions most often: D → Em (26), Em → C (26), and G → D (26). 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 G - D chord transition.
1. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
2. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 4.
3. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on C string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
5. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
6. D → Am chord transition
To move from D to Am;
- While playing D, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
7. 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.
8. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 3.
Honest chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Honest.
- Honest includes 130 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Honest contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Honest 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 → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → D: 11%