Johnny Preston - Running Bear Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele B7 chord diagram
Ukulele E7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[A]Humba humba, humba humba, humba humba, humba
[section 2]
On the [A]bank, of the river, stood Running [D]Bear, young Indian [A]brave
On the other, bank of the river, stood his [B7]lovely, Indian [E7]maid
Little [A]White Dove, was a her name, such a [D]lovely, sight to [A]see
[section 3]
But their tribes, fought with each other, so their [E7]love could never [A]be.
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love, big as the [A]sky
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love that couldn’t [A]die
[section 4]
He couldn’t [A]swim, the raging river, cause the [D]river, was too [A]wide
He couldn’t reach, Little White Dove, waiting [B7]on the other [E7]side
In the [A]moonlight, he could see her, throwing [D]kisses, cross the [A]waves
[section 5]
Her little heart, was beating faster, waiting [E7]there for her brave.
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love, big as the [A]sky
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love that couldn’t [A]die
[section 6]
Running [A]Bear, jumped in the river, Little [D]White Dove did the [A]same
And they swam, to each other, cross the [B7]swirling, stream they [E7]came
As their hands, touched and their lips met, the raging [D]river, pulled them [A]
[section 7]
Now they’ll always, be together, in that [E7]happy hunting [A]ground
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love, big as the [A]sky
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love that couldn’t [A]die
[Closing]
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love, big as the [A]sky
Running [D]Bear, loved Little [A]White Dove, with a [E7]love that couldn’t [A]die
How to play Running Bear on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Johnny Preston - Running Bear on ukulele requires 4 chords and 5 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.
Running Bear uses these transitions most often: D → A (14), A → D (12), and E7 → A (12). 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 - D chord transition.
1. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
2. A → B7 chord transition
To move from A to B7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 3.
3. B7 → E7 chord transition
To move from B7 to E7;
- Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on C string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 2.
4. E7 → A chord transition
To move from E7 to A;
- While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
5. E7 → D chord transition
To move from E7 to D;
- Slide your index finger on G string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
Running Bear chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Running Bear.
- Running Bear includes 57 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Running Bear contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Running Bear 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 → E7: 4%
After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → A: 17%