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The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Ukulele Chords

ChordsA, E, D, F#m
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

  • Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram
  • Ukulele E chord diagram Fingering: 4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 4.Ukulele E chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-2-0Ukulele F#m | G♭m chord diagram


[A]Desmond has a borrow in the [E]market place,
[E]Molly is a singer in the [A]band.
Desmond says to Molly, girl, I [D]like your face
And Molly [A]says this as she [E]takes him by the [A]hand,


[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.


[A]Desmond takes a trolly to the [E]jewller’s store.
[E]Buys a twenty carat golden [A]ring.
Takes it back to Molly waiting [D]at the door.
And as he [A]gives it to her [E]she begins to [A]sing,


[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.


[D]In a couple of years they have built a home sweet [A]home.
[D]With a couple of kids running in the yard,
Of [A]Desmond and Molly [E]Jones.


[A]Happy ever after in the [E]market place,
[E]Desmond lets the children lend a [A]hand.
Molly stays at home and does her [D]pretty face
And in the [A]evening she still [E]sings it with the [A]band.


[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.


[D]In a couple of years they have built a home sweet [A]home.
[D]With a couple of kids running in the yard,
Of [A]Desmond and Molly [E]Jones.


[A]Happy ever after in the [E]market place,
[E]Molly lets the children lend a [A]hand.
Desmond stays at home and does [D]his pretty face
And in the [A]evening she’s a [E]singer with the [A]band.


[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [F#m]on.
And if you want some fun,
Take [E][A]Ob-La-Di-Bla-Da.

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AlbumThe Beatles
Year1968
KeyA

How to play Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on ukulele requires 4 chords and 4 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.

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da uses these transitions most often: A → E (26), E → A (18), and E → F#m (9). 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 A - E chord transition.

1. A → E chord transition

To move from A to E;

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

2. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D;

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

3. E → F#m chord transition

To move from E to F#m;

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

4. F#m → A chord transition

To move from F#m to A;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.

  • Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da includes 78 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E: 12%
    After E, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    • E → F#m: 9%