Harry Belafonte - Island in the Sun 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 F chord diagram
Ukulele G7 chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]This is my island [F]in the sun
Where my [G7]people have toiled since [C]time begun
[Am]I may sail on [Dm]many a sea
Her [C]shores will always be [G7]home to [C]me
[chorus]
[C]Oh island [Dm]in the sun [G7]willed to me by my [C]father’s hand
[Am]All my days I will [F]sing and praise
Of your [G7]forest waters your [C]shining sands [G7] [C]
[section 2]
[C]As morning breaks the [F]heaven on high
[G7]I lift my heavy load [C]to the sky
[C]Sun comes down with a [Dm]burning glow
[C]Mingles my sweat with the [G7]earth be[C]low
[chorus]
[C]Oh island [Dm]in the sun [G7]willed to me by my [C]father’s hand
[Am]All my days I will [F]sing and praise
Of your [G7]forest waters your [C]shining sands [G7] [C]
[section 3]
[C]I see woman on [F]bended knee,
[G7]Cutting cane for her [C]family
[Am]I see man [Dm]at the water side,
[C]Casting nets at the [G7]surging [C]tide
[chorus]
[C]Oh island [Dm]in the sun [G7]willed to me by my [C]father’s hand
[Am]All my days I will [Dm]sing and praise
Of your [G7]forest waters your [C]shining sands
[Closing]
[C]I hope the day will [F]never come
[G7]That I can’t awake to the [C]sound of a drum
[Am]Never let me miss [Dm]carnival
With caly[C]pso songs philo[G7]sophi[C]cal
[chorus]
[C]Oh island [Dm]in the sun [G7]willed to me by my [C]father’s hand
[Am]All my days I will [Dm]sing and praise
Of your [G7]forest waters your [C]shining sands
How to play Island in the Sun on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Harry Belafonte - Island in the Sun 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.
Island in the Sun uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (18), C → Am (7), and C → G7 (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 C - F chord transition.
1. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
2. F → G7 chord transition
To move from F to G7;
- Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 2.
3. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.
4. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
5. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on C string fret 2.
6. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- While playing Dm, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. Dm → G7 chord transition
To move from Dm to G7;
- Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
8. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am to F;
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
Island in the Sun chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Island in the Sun.
- Island in the Sun includes 63 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Island in the Sun contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Island in the Sun 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 → Am: 10%
After G7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).- G7 → C: 69%