James Arthur - SOS Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele E chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G# | A♭ chord diagram
Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram
[Opening]
[Am]Where are those happy [E]days - they seem so hard to [Am]find
[Am]I try to reach for [E]you but you have closed your [Am]eyes
[C]Whatever happened [G]to our love, [Dm]I wish I [Am]understood
[Am]It used to be so [E]nice it used to be so [Am]good [Dm]
[section 2]
[C]So when your [G]near me, [Dm]darlin’ can’t you [F]hear me, [C]SOS
[C]The love you [G]gave me, [Dm]nothing else [F]could save [C]me, SOS
[F]When your gone, how can [G#]I even [A#]try to go [C]on
[F]When your gone, though it’s [G#]right how can [A#]I carry [C]on
[section 3]
[C]I really tried to [G]make it up - [Dm]I wish I [Am]understood
[Am]It used to be so [E]nice, it used to be so [Am]good [Dm]
[C]So when your [G]near me, [Dm]darlin’ can’t you [F]hear me, [C]SOS
[C]The love you [G]gave me, [Dm]nothing else [F]could save [C]me, SOS
[Closing]
[F]When your gone, how can [G#]I even [A#]try to go [C]on
[F]When your gone, though it’s [G#]right how can [A#]I carry [C]on
How to play SOS on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
James Arthur - SOS on ukulele requires 8 chords and 11 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.
SOS uses these transitions most often: C → G (6), G → Dm (6), and A# → C (4). 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 Am - E chord transition.
1. Am → E chord transition
To move from Am to E;
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 4.
2. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
3. 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.
4. G → Dm chord transition
To move from G to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 2.
5. Dm → Am chord transition
To move from Dm to Am;
- While playing Dm, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Keep middle finger on G 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 → F chord transition
To move from Dm to F;
- While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from C string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
8. 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.
9. F → G# chord transition
To move from F to G#;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 3.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on E string fret 4.
10. G# → A# chord transition
To move from G# to A#;
- While playing G#, lift your pinky from E string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on C string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
11. A# → C chord transition
To move from A# to C;
- While playing A#, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
SOS chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in SOS.
- SOS includes 51 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- SOS contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how SOS 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 → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).- Am → C: 16%
- Am → Dm: 8%