Louis Armstrong - When You’re Smiling Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele Gmaj7 chord diagram
Ukulele E7 chord diagram
Ukulele Am chord diagram
Ukulele Am7 chord diagram
Ukulele D7 chord diagram
Ukulele G7 chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele A7 chord diagram
[Opening]
When you’re [G]smiling, when you’re [Gmaj7]smiling
The [E7]whole world smiles with [Am]you
When you’re [Am]laughing, when you’re [Am7]laughing
The [D7]sun comes shining [G]through
[chorus]
But when you’re [G7]crying, you [C]bring on the rain
So stop your [A7]sighing, be [D7]happy again
Keep on [G]smiling
Cause when you’re [E7]smiling
The [Am]whole [Am7]world [D7]smiles with [G]you!
[Closing]
When you’re [G]smiling, when you’re [Gmaj7]smiling
The [E7]whole world smiles with [Am]you
When you’re [Am]laughing, when you’re [Am7]laughing
The [D7]sun comes shining [G]through
[chorus]
But when you’re [G7]crying, you [C]bring on the rain
So stop your [A7]sighing, be [D7]happy again
Keep on [G]smiling
Cause when you’re [E7]smiling
The [Am]whole [Am7]world [D7]smiles with [G]you!
How to play When You're Smiling on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Louis Armstrong - When You're Smiling on ukulele requires 9 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.
When You're Smiling uses these transitions most often: D7 → G (6), Am → Am7 (4), and Am7 → D7 (4). 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 G - Gmaj7 chord transition.
1. G → Gmaj7 chord transition
To move from G to Gmaj7;
- Keep index finger on C string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
2. Gmaj7 → E7 chord transition
To move from Gmaj7 to E7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 2.
3. 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.
4. Am → Am7 chord transition
To move from Am to Am7;
- While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
5. Am7 → D7 chord transition
To move from Am7 to D7;
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
6. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
7. G → G7 chord transition
To move from G to G7;
- 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 C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
8. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- While playing G7, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 3.
9. C → A7 chord transition
To move from C to A7;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on C string fret 1.
10. A7 → D7 chord transition
To move from A7 to D7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
11. G → E7 chord transition
To move from G to E7;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
When You're Smiling chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in When You're Smiling.
- When You're Smiling includes 32 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- When You're Smiling contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how When You're Smiling connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → G7: 2%
- G → E7: 1%
After Am, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).- Am → Am7: 0%