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Kenny Rogers - Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, G, Dm, F, Am
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 G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
  • Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram


[C]You’ve painted up your lips and rolled and
curled your tinted [G]hair [Dm]
[C]Ruby are you contemplating
[F]going out some[G]where
The [Dm]shadow on the wall tells me
the [G]sun is going down [Dm]
Oh [C]Ru[F]by-[Am]y-[Dm]y [Dm]
Don’t take your love to [C]town


It [Dm]wasn’t me that started that old [C]crazy Asian war
But [Dm]I was proud to go and do my [F]patriotic [G]chore
And [Dm]yes, it’s true that I’m not the [G]man I used to be [Dm]
Oh [C]Ru[F]by-[Am]y-[Dm]y [Dm]
I still need some compa[C]ny


It’s [C]hard to love a man whose legs are [F]bent and para[G]lyzed [Dm]
and the [C]wants and the needs of a woman of your age
[F]Ruby, I rea[G]lize
But it [Dm]won’t be long I’ve heard them say un[G]til I’m not around [Dm]
Oh [C]Ru[F]by-[Am]y-[Dm]y [Dm]
Don’t take your love to [C]town


[C]She’s leaving now ’cause I just heard the [Dm]slammin’ of the [G]door
The [C]way I know I’ve heard it slam one [F]hundred times be[G]fore
And if [Dm]I could move I’d get my gun and [G]put her in the ground [Dm]
Oh [C]Ru[F]by-[Am]y-[Dm]y [Dm]
Don’t take your love to [C]town
Oh [C]Ru[F]by-[Am]y-[Dm]y [Dm]
For God’s sake turn a[C]round

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AlbumTen Years of Gold
GenresCountry
Year1978
KeyC

How to play Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Kenny Rogers - Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town 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.

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town uses these transitions most often: Dm → C (12), G → Dm (10), and C → F (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 C - G chord transition.

1. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G;

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

2. G → Dm chord transition

To move from G to Dm;

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

3. Dm → C chord transition

To move from Dm to C;

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

4. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F;

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

5. F → G chord transition

To move from F 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 G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 3.

6. F → Am chord transition

To move from F to Am;

  1. While playing F, lift your index finger from E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

7. Am → Dm chord transition

To move from Am to Dm;

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

8. Dm → F chord transition

To move from Dm to F;

  1. While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from C string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town.

  • Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town includes 57 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → C: 18%
    • Dm → G: 16%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%