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Sam Smith - Writing’s On The Wall Ukulele Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, G, C, B, D, Bm, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D key to play this song with easier chords.

  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
  • Ukulele B chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele Bm chord diagram Fingering: 4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Bm chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram

[Opening]
[Em] [G] [Em] [G]
[Em]I’ve been here [G]before
[Em]But always hit the [G]floor
I’ve [C]spent a lifetime running
And I [B]always get away
But with [C]you I’m feeling something
That [B]makes me want to [B]stay

[section 2]
[Em]I’m prepared for [G]this
[Em]I never shoot to [G]miss
But I [C]feel like a storm is coming
If I’m [B]gonna make it through the day
Then there’s [C]no more use in running
This is [B]something I gotta [B]face

[chorus]
[Em]If [D] I [G]risk it [C]all
[Em]Could [D]you [G]break my [B]fall?
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [Bm]up?
For [Am]you I have to [Am]risk it [Bm] [B]all
Cause the writing’s on the [Em]wall

[Closing]
[Em] [G]
[Em]A million shards of [G]glass
[Em]That haunt me from my [G]past
As the [C]stars begin to gather
And the [B]light begins to fade
When all [C]hope begins to shatter
Know that [B]I won’t be [B]afraid

[chorus]
[Em]If [D] I [G]risk it [C]all
[Em]Could [D]you [G]break my [B]fall?
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [Bm]up?
For [Am]you I have to [Am]risk it [Bm] [B]all
Cause the writing’s on the [Em] [G]wall
The writing’s on the [Em] [G]wall

[chorus]
[C] [B] [C] [B] [B]
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [D]up?
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [Bm]up?
For [Am]you I have to [Am]risk it [Bm] [B]all
Cause the writing’s on the [Em]wall

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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.
ArtistSam Smith
AlbumBravo: The Hits 2015
GenresPop
Year2015
KeyEm

How to play Writing's On The Wall on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall on ukulele requires 7 chords and 12 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.

Writing's On The Wall uses these transitions most often: Em → D (12), Em → G (11), and B → Em (9). 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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

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

To move from Em to G;

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

2. G → C chord transition

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

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.
G to C

3. C → B chord transition

Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele B chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B chord diagram

To move from C to B;

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

4. B → Em chord transition

Ukulele B chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele B chord diagram
Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram

To move from B to Em;

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

5. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D;

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

6. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

7. 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.

8. G → B chord transition

To move from G to B;

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

9. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C;

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

10. C → Bm chord transition

To move from C to Bm;

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

11. Bm → Am chord transition

To move from Bm to Am;

  1. While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

12. Bm → B chord transition

To move from Bm to B;

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

Writing's On The Wall chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Writing's On The Wall.

  • Writing's On The Wall includes 95 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Writing's On The Wall contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Writing's On The Wall connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → D: 17%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → D: 11%
    • C → Em: 8%
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.