James Arthur - Hold On 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 Bm chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele B chord diagram
Ukulele Cm chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [Bm] [Em] [C]
[G]Empty [Bm]glances and no romance [Em]conversation [C]only hi
[G]You know my [Bm]ways and how to play me [Em]
I am just your habit for [C]killing time
[chorus]
And I [Em]know it’s all [C]wrong but [Em]I just don’t feel [C]strong.
So I [Em]keep holding on, [C]and I [C]ask you, I ask you [C]please to…
[chorus]
[G]Hold me [Bm]before you go, we don’t [Am]hold each other[Em] [D]anymore.
And [G]kiss me like you [B]miss me.
‘Cause it [C]feels like we’re just [Cm]feels like we’re holding [G]on.
[section 2]
[G] [Bm] [Em] [C]
[G]We only talk when things go [Bm]wrong we never seem to have much [Em]fun
[F]Your life is always on the run away from me., [G]I try to fix it make it [Bm]right
But you feel cold in bed at [Em]night, [F]when I hold you close up tight
I still miss you…
[chorus]
And I [Em]know it’s all [C]wrong but [Em]I just don’t feel [C]strong.
So I [Em]keep holding on, [C]and I [C]ask you, I ask you [C]please.
[chorus]
Just [G]hold me [Bm]before you go, we don’t [Am]hold each other [Em] [D]anymore.
And [G]kiss me like you [B]miss me.
‘Cause it [C]feels like we’re just [Cm]feels like we’re holding [G]on.
[Closing]
[Bm]There was a time when our [Em]love it was so sweet
And [Am]nothing stood between [Bm]us and the world seems so complete
[D]And now it feels like there’s [Em]no earth beneath my feet
And I ‘m [Am]falling into darkness, and it’s [Cm]you I need to [D]see. [Cm] [D]
[chorus]
[G]Hold me [Bm]before you go, we don’t [Am]hold each other[Em] [D]anymore.
And [G]kiss me like you [B]miss me.
‘Cause it [C]feels like we’re just [Cm]feels like we’re holding [G]on.
How to play Hold On on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
James Arthur - Hold On on ukulele requires 9 chords and 17 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.
Hold On uses these transitions most often: Em → C (10), G → Bm (10), and Bm → Em (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 G - Bm chord transition.
1. G → Bm chord transition
To move from G to Bm;
- While playing G, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.
2. Bm → Em chord transition
To move from Bm to Em;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 4 to C string fret 4.
- Place middle finger on E string fret 3.
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. Bm → Am chord transition
To move from Bm to Am;
- While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
6. Am → Em chord transition
To move from Am to Em;
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on C string fret 4.
7. Em → D chord transition
To move from Em to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 2.
8. 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.
9. G → B chord transition
To move from G to B;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.
10. B → C chord transition
To move from B to C;
- While playing B, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
11. C → Cm chord transition
To move from C to Cm;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on C string fret 3.
12. Cm → G chord transition
To move from Cm to G;
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 3.
13. Em → F chord transition
To move from Em to F;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from C string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
14. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 3.
15. Bm → D chord transition
To move from Bm to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 4 to E string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
16. Am → Cm chord transition
To move from Am to Cm;
- While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on C string fret 3.
17. Cm → D chord transition
To move from Cm to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
Hold On chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Hold On.
- Hold On includes 75 chord transitions, 17 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Hold On contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Hold On 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 → C: 27%
- Em → D: 17%
After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → Em: 8%