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.

Phil Harris - The Bare Necessities Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, F, A, Dm, G, Am, C7, D, D7, G7
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 F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
  • Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram
  • Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
  • Ukulele C7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-1Ukulele C7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele D7 chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-3 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele D7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele G7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-1-2Ukulele G7 chord diagram

[chorus]
Look for the [C]bare necessities, the [F]simple bare necessities,
[C]Forget about your [A]worries and your [Dm]strife [G]
I mean the [C]bare necessities, old [F]Mother Nature’s recipes,
that [C]brings the [Am]bare ne[Dm]cessi [G]ties of [C]life

[Opening]
Wherever I [G]wander, wherever I [C]roam,
I couldn’t be [G]fonder of my big [C]home [C7]
The bees are [F]buzzing in the [Dm]tree,
To make some [C]honey just for [Am]me

[section 2]
When [D]you look under the [D7]rocks and plants,
and [G]take a glance at the [G7]fancy ants,
Then [C]maybe try a [A]few
The bare ne[Dm]cessities of [G]life will come to [C]you

[section 3]
Look for the [C]bare necessities, the [F]simple bare necessities,
[C]Forget about your [A]worries and your [Dm]strife [G]
I mean the [C]bare necessities, that’s [F]why a bear can rest at ease
With [C]just the [Am]bare ne[Dm]cessi [G]ties of [C]life

[section 4]
Now when you pick a [G]pawpaw, or a prickly [C]pear,
And you prick a [G]raw paw, the next time [C]beware [C7]
Don’t pick the [F]prickly pear by the [Dm]paw,
When you pick a [C]pear, try to use the [Am]claw.

[section 5]
But [D]you don’t need to [D7]use the claw
When [G]you pick a pear of the [G7]big pawpaw [C]
Have I given you a [A]clue?
The bare ne[Dm]cessities of [G]life will come to [C]you,
[Dm]they’ll come [G]to [C]you!

[section 6]
So just [G]try and relax, yeah cool it, [C]fall apart in my backyard.
Cause let me tell you [G]something, little britches.
If you act like that bee acts, [C]uh uh, you’re working too hard [C7]
And [F]don’t spend your time looking around,

[Closing]
For something you [C]want that can’t be [C7]found
When [D]you find out you can [D7]live without it,
And [Dm]go along not [G]thinking about it.
[C]I’ll tell you something [A]true
The bare ne[Dm]cessities of [G]life will come to [C]you

[chorus]
Look for the [C]bare necessities, the [F]simple bare necessities,
[C]Forget about your [A]worries and your [Dm]strife [G]
I mean the [C]bare necessities, old [F]Mother Nature’s recipes,
That [C]brings the [Am]bare ne[Dm]cessi [G]ties of [C]life

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.
ArtistPhil Harris
AlbumThe Jungle Book Soundtrack
GenresChildren
Year1967
KeyC

How to play The Bare Necessities on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Phil Harris - The Bare Necessities on ukulele requires 10 chords and 18 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.

The Bare Necessities uses these transitions most often: G → C (17), Dm → G (11), and F → C (7). 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 - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

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

2. C → A chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram

To move from C to A;

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

3. A → Dm chord transition

Ukulele A chord diagram Fingering: 2-1-0-0Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram

To move from A to Dm;

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

4. Dm → G chord transition

Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

To move from Dm 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. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
Dm to G

5. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

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

6. C → Am chord transition

To move from C to Am;

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place 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. C → C7 chord transition

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.

9. 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.

10. F → Dm chord transition

To move from F to Dm;

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

11. 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.

12. Am → D chord transition

To move from Am to D;

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

13. D → D7 chord transition

To move from D to D7;

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

14. 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.

15. G → G7 chord transition

To move from G to G7;

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

16. 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.

17. C7 → D chord transition

To move from C7 to D;

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

18. D7 → Dm chord transition

To move from D7 to Dm;

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

The Bare Necessities chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Bare Necessities.

  • The Bare Necessities includes 92 chord transitions, 18 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • The Bare Necessities contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how The Bare Necessities 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 G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → G7: 2%
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.