Skip to song content
Ukulelearn homepage
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?We analyzed 14,015 chord transitions and ranked the 100 most repeated ones. Even the first 10 will transform your practice routine. The top transition appears in 23% of all songs.

George Formby - Mother What’ll I Do Now Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, C7, Dm7, F, G7, E7, Am, D7, G, Dm, A7, G#7, Cm, F7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
  • Ukulele C7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-1Ukulele C7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Dm7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
  • Ukulele G7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-1-2Ukulele G7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele E7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-2-0-2Ukulele E7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
  • Ukulele D7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele D7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
  • Ukulele A7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-1-0-0Ukulele A7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele G#7 | A♭7 chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-2-3Ukulele G#7 | A♭7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele Cm chord diagram Fingering: 0-3-3-3 Barre at fret 3.Ukulele Cm chord diagram
  • Ukulele F7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-3-1-3Ukulele F7 chord diagram

[Opening]
[C]Mother [C7]you give [C]good advice, [Dm7]always you mean [F]well. [G7]
[C]Now I [E7]need it [Am]more than ever I’m in[D7]side this [G7]cell. [G] [G7]

[section 2]
[C]I’m be[E7]hind a [Dm]prison [G7]wall,
the [C]bed’s so [A7]hard and [D7]much too [G7]small
There’s [C]no pi[C7]jamas [F]here at [G#7]all,
Oh [C]Mother what’ll [Dm7]I [G7]do [C]now? [Cm] [G7]

[section 3]
They [C]told me [C7]they would [Dm]treat me [G7]swell
[C]tucked in[A7]side my [D7]little [G7]cell
But [C]up to [C7]now it’s [F]been like [G#7]h !
[C]Mother what’ll [Dm7]I [G7]do [C]now?
We’re [C7]parted from each other [C]and that’s [F7]too [F]bad.
[D7]You’re my favourite Mother, Oh the best I ever [G]had. [G] [G7]

[section 4]
To[C]night I’ve [A7]got a [Dm]date you [G7]see
but [C]they won’t [A7]let me [D7]have a [G7]key
And the [C]Warder’s [C7]won’t wait [C]up for [G#7]me,
Oh! [C]Mother what’ll [G#7]I [G7]do [C]now?

[section 5]
It’s [C]hard to [A7]pass the [Dm]time a[G7]way,
I’m [C]in a [A7]dangerous [D7]mood I [G7]say.
I’ve [C]smoked two [C7]ciga[F]rettes to[G#7]day,
Oh! [C]Mother what’ll [G#7]I [G7]do [C]now?

[section 6]
[C]First I [C7]stand and [Dm]then I [G7]sit,
[C]then I [A7]sit and [D7]stand a [G7]bit
But [C]I can’t [C7]stand much [F]more of [G#7]it,
[C]Mother what’ll [Dm7]I [G7]do [C]now?
We’re [C7]parted from each other [C]and that’s [F7]too [F]bad.
[D7]You’re my favourite Mother, Oh the best I ever [G]had. [G] [G7]

[section 7]
[C]I got [A7]such an [Dm]awful [G7]shock,
I [C]asked the [A7]time for [D7]there’s no [G7]clock
And the [C]Warder [C7]said six [F]months “Old [G#7]Cock
Oh! [C]Mother what’ll [G#7]I [G7]do [C]now?

[section 8]
I [C]order [C7]lunch from [Dm]soup to [G7]sweet
but [C]they for[A7]got the [D7]fish and [G7]meat
And [C]since the [C7]soup there’s [F]nowt to [G#7]eat,
[C]Mother what’ll [Dm7]I [G7]do [C]now?

[section 9]
[C]I’ve had [A7]such a [Dm]tummy [G7]ache.
[C]All night [A7]long I’ve [D7]been a[G7]wake.
Some [C]castor [C7]oil they [F]made me [G#7]take,
[C]Mother what’ll [Dm7]I [G7]do [C]now?
We’re [C7]parted from each other [C]and that’s [F7]too [F]bad.
[D7]You’re my favourite Mother, Oh the best I ever [G]had. [G] [G7]

[Closing]
[C]I’ve played [A7]Peter [Dm]fly away [G7]Paul,
[C]I’ve played [A7]tiddly [D7]winks and [G7]all
I’ve [C]written rude [C7]words up[F]on the [G#7]wall,
Oh! [C]Mother what’ll [G#7]I [G7]do [C]now? [G7] [C]

Report Error
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on the ukulele.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master ukulele today with the 100 most repeated chord transitions from 14,015 analyzed.
ArtistGeorge Formby
AlbumSingle
GenresBlues, Pop
Year1938
KeyC

How to play Mother What'll I Do Now on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

George Formby - Mother What'll I Do Now on ukulele requires 14 chords and 27 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.

Mother What'll I Do Now uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (34), C → C7 (16), and C → A7 (14). 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 - C7 chord transition.

1. C → C7 chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele C7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-1Ukulele C7 chord diagram

To move from C to C7;

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on A string fret 1.
C to C7

2. C → Dm7 chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Dm7 chord diagram

To move from C to Dm7;

  1. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
C to Dm7

3. Dm7 → F chord transition

Ukulele Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Dm7 chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

To move from Dm7 to F;

  1. While playing Dm7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
Dm7 to F

4. F → G7 chord transition

Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-1-2Ukulele G7 chord diagram

To move from F to G7;

  1. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 2.
F to G7

5. G7 → C chord transition

To move from G7 to C;

  1. While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.

6. C → E7 chord transition

To move from C to E7;

  1. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on G string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

7. E7 → Am chord transition

To move from E7 to Am;

  1. While playing E7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

8. Am → D7 chord transition

To move from Am to D7;

  1. While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

9. D7 → G7 chord transition

To move from D7 to G7;

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

10. G7 → G chord transition

To move from G7 to G;

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

11. E7 → Dm chord transition

To move from E7 to Dm;

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

12. Dm → G7 chord transition

To move from Dm to G7;

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

13. C → A7 chord transition

To move from C to A7;

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 1.

14. A7 → D7 chord transition

To move from A7 to D7;

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

15. C7 → F chord transition

To move from C7 to F;

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

16. F → G#7 chord transition

To move from F to G#7;

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

17. G#7 → C chord transition

To move from G#7 to C;

  1. While playing G#7, first lift your index finger, middle finger, and pinky.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

18. Dm7 → G7 chord transition

To move from Dm7 to G7;

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

19. C → Cm chord transition

To move from C to Cm;

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 3.

20. Cm → G7 chord transition

To move from Cm to G7;

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

21. C7 → Dm chord transition

To move from C7 to Dm;

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

22. C → F7 chord transition

To move from C to F7;

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

23. F7 → F chord transition

To move from F7 to F;

  1. While playing F7, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

24. F → D7 chord transition

To move from F to D7;

  1. While playing F, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

25. D7 → G chord transition

To move from D7 to G;

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

26. A7 → Dm chord transition

To move from A7 to Dm;

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

27. G#7 → G7 chord transition

To move from G#7 to G7;

  1. While playing G#7, lift your pinky from A string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.

Mother What'll I Do Now chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Mother What'll I Do Now.

  • Mother What'll I Do Now includes 177 chord transitions, 27 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.05% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Mother What'll I Do Now contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Mother What'll I Do Now 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 → G7: 2%
    • C → C7: 2%
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%
    • G7 → G: 3%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains extracted from real songs. See which songs use each chain, learn the finger transitions, and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.