The number before the slash indicates which fret to press down. The number after the slash tells you which string to play.
3/1 for example means, press down the third fret on the first string. 0/2 means, play the second string without pressing down a fret.
We will need two more chords in order to accompany this song. Here is F-major:
F: 2/4 0/3 1/2 0/1
The last chord for you to learn is G7:
G7: 0/4 2/3 1/2 2/1
Here are the lyrics to the first verse:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found Was blind, but now I see
I will place the chords in parenthesis immediately before the syllable where you shall play the chord. Let's take a look at the first line:
A-(C)mazing Grace, how (F)sweet the (C)sound
One way to play the ukulele chords is to strum the chord once everytime you will see a new chord in the lyrics. This will create a peaceful background to the song.
Now it is time for you to play the rest of the song:
That (C)saved a wretch like (G7)me
I (C)once was lost, but (F)now am (C)found
Was (C)blind, but (G7)now I (C)see
In this chord version you are playing the song in the key of C assuming that you have tuned your ukulele in C. This means that the strings are tuned in the following pitches:
First string: A Second string: E Third string: C Fourth string: G
The first string is the string nearest your feet if you play your uke the ordinary way.
You can strum the strings with you left hand thumb. For your left hand I suggest the following fingerings:
If you want to sing the song in a higher pitch we can transpose the song up one whole step to the key of D. Here are the chords:
D: 2/4 2/3 2/2 0/1
G: 0/4 2/3 3/2 2/1
A7: 0/4 1/3 0/2 0/1
Now you only have to replace the C-major chords with the D-major chords in the following way:
C becames D F becames G G7 becames A7
As the most difficult part is not to hold down a chord but to shift between them I suggest that you practice shifting between two chords at a time by strumming one stroke on each slowly until you can do it easily.
The first chord we will learn is C-major:
C: 0/4 0/3 0/2 3/1
I have to explain how to read this tablature notation. 3/1 means that you press down the third fret on the first string.
What then is the first string?
The first string is the string nearest the floor when you hold your ukulele the ordinary way.
The first string should be tuned to an A for the chord names to be correct.
The tuning of the ukulele will be:
First string: A Second string: E Third string: C Fourth string: G
The next chord to learn is G7:
G7: 0/4 2/3 1/2 2/1
Now it is time to take a look at the lyrics of the first verse:
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die
I will put the chords in parenthesis before the word you shall play the chord or change to a new chord.
Here are the lyrics with the chords attached:
(C)Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and (G7)cry
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to (C)die
This song was not too hard to play, I guess. With these chords you will start the melody as you sing on the note G. It is on 3/2 on your ukulele but maybe not in the same octave.
Maybe you feel that the song is a little bit low pitched. Some people like to sing in a low key because it can be comfortable if you are not a professional singer.
We will now transpose the whole song to a higher pitch. Let us try the key of F. Here are the chords to use:
F: 2/4 0/0 1/2 0/1
C7: 0/4 0/3 0/2 3/1
The song will start on the note C(0/3)
Here are the song in the key of F:
(F)Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and (C7)cry
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to (F)die
The hardest thing is not to hold the chords. The difficult part is to change chords without losing the tempo. For example practice strumming four times on C and four times on G7 and start over again. Strum in an even but slow pace trying to change chords without losing tempo.
Another thing that can help you change chords is to use a left hand fingering that will help you shift between the chords smoothly. Here is a suggestion for the chords C and G7:
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