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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.

John Denver - This Old Guitar Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G, Am, Em, F
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 Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

[Opening]
[C]This old [G]guitar taught me to [Am]sing a [Em]love song,
[F]it showed me how to [G]laugh and how to [C]cry. [Em] [Am] [C]
It in[F]troduced me to some [G]friends of mine,
and [C]brightened [Am]up my [C]days,
[F]it helped me make it [G]thru some lonely [C]nights. [Em] [Am] [C]
[F]What a friend to have on a [G]cold and lonely [C]night.

[interlude]
[Em] [Am] [C] [F] [G]

[section 2]
[C]This old [G]guitar gave me my [Am]lovely [Em]lady,
[F]it opened up her [G]eyes and ears to [C]me. [Em] [Am] [C]
[F]It brought us close to[G]gether,
and I [C]guess it [Am]broke her [C]heart,
[F]it opened up the [G]space for us to [C]be. [G] [Am] [G]
[F]What a lovely place and a [G]lovely space to [C]be.

[interlude]
[Em] [Am] [C] [F] [G]

[section 3]
[C]This old [G]guitar gave me my [Am]life, my [Em]living,
[F]and all the things you [G]know I love to [C]do. [Em] [Am] [C]
[F]To serenade the [G]stars that shine
from a [C]sunny [G]mountain-[C]side,
[F]and most of all to [G]sing my songs for [C]you. [Em] [Am] [C]
[F]I love to [G]sing my songs for [C]you. [Em]Yes I [Am]do, [C]you know
[F]and I love to [G]sing my songs for [C]you. [Em] [Am] [C] [F]mm [G]mm

[Closing]
[C]Mmm [Em] [Am] [C]hu h[F]u [G]you [C]you [Em]you. [Am] [C] [F] [G]

[outro]
[C] [Em] [Am] [C] [F] [G] [C]

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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.
ArtistJohn Denver
AlbumBack Home Again
GenresFolk, Pop
Year1974
KeyC

How to play This Old Guitar on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

John Denver - This Old Guitar 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.

This Old Guitar uses these transitions most often: G → C (20), F → G (19), and C → F (15). 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

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram

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 → Am chord transition

Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram

To move from G to Am;

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

3. Am → Em chord transition

Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

To move from Am to Em;

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

4. Em → F chord transition

Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram

To move from Em to F;

  1. While playing Em, lift your ring finger from C string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
Em 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. C → Em chord transition

To move from C to Em;

  1. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 4.
  2. Place index finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

7. Am → C chord transition

To move from Am to C;

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

8. 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.

This Old Guitar chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in This Old Guitar.

  • This Old Guitar includes 111 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • This Old Guitar contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how This Old Guitar 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 → Am: 13%
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.