Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’olee - Somewhere Over the Rainbow Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele E7 chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]Somewhere [Em]over the rainbow [F]way up [C]high
[F]And the [C]dreams that you dream of [G]once in a lulla[Am]by [F]
[C]Somewhere [Em]over the rainbow [F]blue birds [C]fly
[F]And the [C]dreams that you dare to dream, [G]really do come [Am]true [F]
[chorus]
Some[C]day I’ll wish upon a star, [G]wake up where the clouds are far be[Am]hind [F]me
Where [C]trouble melts like lemon drops
Way [G]high above the chimney tops is [Am]where you’ll [F]find me
[section 2]
[C]Somewhere [Em]over the rainbow [F]bluebirds [C]fly
[F]Birds fly [C]over the rainbow, [G]why then, oh why [Am]can’t I? [F]
[section 3]
Well I see [C]trees of [G]green and [F]red roses [C]too,
[F]I’ll watch then [C]bloom for [E7]me and [Am]you
And I [F]think to myself, [G]what a wonderful [Am]world [F]
[section 4]
Well I see [C]skies of [G]blue and I see [F]clouds of [C]white
The [F]bright blessed the [C]day, the [E7]dark sacred [Am]night
And I [F]think to myself, [G]what a wonderful [C]world [F][C]
[section 5]
The [G]colours of the rainbow so [C]pretty in the sky
Are [G]also on the faces of [C]people passing by
I see [F]friends shaking [C]hands saying, [F]‘How do you [C]do?’
[F]They’re really [C]saying, [Dm]‘I, I love [G]you’
[section 6]
I hear [C]babies [G]cry and I [F]watch them [C]grow,
[F]They’ll learn [C]much more [E7]than we’ll [Am]know
And I [F]think to myself, [G]what a wonderful [Am]world [F]
[chorus]
Some[C]day I’ll wish upon a star, [G]wake up where the clouds are far be[Am]hind [F]me
Where [C]trouble melts like lemon drops
Way [G]high above the chimney tops is [Am]where [F]you’ll find me
[Closing]
[C]Somewhere [Em]over the rainbow [F]blue [C]birds fly
[F]Birds fly [C]over the rainbow, [G]why then oh why can’t [Am]I [F]
[outro]
[C][Em][F][C]
How to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'olee - Somewhere Over the Rainbow on ukulele requires 7 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.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow uses these transitions most often: F → C (29), Am → F (13), and C → G (13). 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 - Em chord transition.
1. C → Em chord transition
To move from C to Em;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 4.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on E string fret 3.
2. Em → F chord transition
To move from Em to F;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from C string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
6. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am to F;
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
7. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- 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.
8. C → E7 chord transition
To move from C to E7;
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
9. E7 → Am chord transition
To move from E7 to Am;
- While playing E7, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
10. C → Dm chord transition
To move from C to Dm;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
11. Dm → G chord transition
To move from Dm to G;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow includes 104 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Somewhere Over the Rainbow 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 F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → C: 40%
- F → G: 21%