State of Grace sits on a classic I–V–vi–IV movement that translates cleanly to ukulele; play that progression in A major for the original pitch, or use friendly open shapes with a capo to get the same tones without barre work.
Quick-play cheat sheet: chord set, capo choices and playable keys for State of Grace
The core chord set for the studio key (A major) is A – E – F#m – D; you can match the recording by placing a capo on fret 2 and playing the open G–D–Em–C shapes instead, which avoids barre chords and keeps your left hand moving fast.
Most useful ukulele chords and voicings to learn first: G (0232), D (2220), C (0003), Em (0432), Am (2000), F (2010). Learn these and you cover the song in multiple keys.
Capo recommendations: capo 2 to sound like the original A key while playing G shapes; capo 4 gives B major when using G shapes (good for higher female ranges); no capo and play in C (C–G–Am–F) for a lower, easy arrangement.
Tuning and strings: standard GCEA tuning is fine; choose light/medium strings for clarity and sustain on open voicings. Use a tuner and check intonation after capoing; fresh strings and stable tuning reduce buzzing during fast changes.
Play-along suggestion: capo 2, set a metronome to 92–96 BPM, play the I–V–vi–IV pattern using a steady D D U U D U strum and sing or hum to lock the phrasing quickly.
Fast chord chart pack: original key and two easier transpositions
Original key (A major) — quick approach: put capo on fret 2 and play these shapes: G (0232) → D (2220) → Em (0432) → C (0003). That sequence rings like A → E → F#m → D but uses no barre shapes.
Easier transposition #1 (no capo, friendliest): Key of C — play C (0003) → G (0232) → Am (2000) → F (2010). No barre; all open shapes and great for beginners.
Easier transposition #2 (low capo): capo 1 and play G shapes for A♭/G# tone, or capo 3 to bring the song brighter while still using open fingerings; choose based on vocal range.
Finger placement tips: press close to the fret (not on it), use the pad of the fingertip angled slightly, and keep thumb low on the back of the neck to reduce buzzing and increase ring. Lift only the fingers you must when changing, and pivot around common fretted notes to speed swaps.
Section-by-section chord progression breakdown with playable voicings
General rule: unless otherwise noted, count four beats per chord (one bar). The song uses repeated 4-bar phrases built from the I–V–vi–IV loop; you can arrange the sections by repeating that loop and adding slight voicing changes for dynamics.
Verse: typically four repeats of the I–V–vi–IV across 16 bars; play brighter, lower-voiced shapes (capo 2 G shapes recommended) for a roomy intro-to-verse feel. Example: G (1 bar) → D (1 bar) → Em (1 bar) → C (1 bar) repeated.
Pre-chorus: shorten chord durations to half-bars or add sus2/sus4 variants to build tension into the chorus; try Dsus4 (2223) moving to D to create a push before the drop into the chorus.
Chorus: use full, ringing open voicings and strum with stronger accents on beats 1 and 3; sustain the C and G voicings while letting Em and D ring to create that anthemic lift.
Bridge: shift to darker voicings or a barre-friendly minor (if you want the original tension): add an Em7 (0432 + mute or slight revoicing) or temporary F#m if you can barre; otherwise use Em or Am shapes and use palm mutes to contrast the chorus brightness.
Outro: repeat chorus voicings and let the final C/G ring; descend to a single sustained chord or arpeggio to close cleanly.
Verse: rhythm, chord shapes and dynamic build
Smooth changes: keep G and D as anchor shapes (two chords share common fingers); move Em and C with a one-finger pivot to avoid full repositioning. Each chord can be one full bar: count “1 2 3 4” and change on beat 1 unless you prefer half-bar motion for a more modern feel.
Strumming emphasis: play light in the first two phrases and increase attack each repetition; accent beat 1 of the third and fourth phrases to signal build toward the pre-chorus. Soft verses = muted palm on the downstroke; louder = full ring.
Simple embellishments: add a single hammer-on on the C string (open to 2) or a quick slide on the A string to decorate a chord without changing harmony.
Pre-chorus: tension-building voicings and transitions
Use inversions and sus voicings for lift: swap D (2220) to Dsus2 (0200) or Dsus4 (2223) for one bar and resolve to D to create motion. Sus chords hold attention without changing the base harmony.
Add small melodic fills: pick the high A string on beat 4 of the second bar and slide into the downbeat to glue the pre-chorus into the chorus. A single hammer-on between E and F# on the E string meshes well with Em → C transitions.
Counting and strum: switch from whole-bar strums to a 1-&-2-&-3-&-4-& subdivision, doing D D U U D U across two bars to tighten the transition.
Chorus: full ringing chords and vocal support
Use open voicings spread across the neck: let the G (0232) and C (0003) ring fully; strum confidently with accents on 1 and the “&” of 2 for drive. Add a palm-muted percussion hit on the “&” of 4 for momentum.
Strum pattern: strong pop pattern — D (1) downstroke, mute on 1&, then D U U D U for the rest; this gives both push and space for vocals. Add light percussive slaps in the middle of a bar for energy.
Vocal balance: play slightly softer on lines where the melody soars, then increase attack as background harmonies enter; duplicate the vocal root on the ukulele low register where possible to support the voice.
Ready-to-play lyric sheet with chords placed above lines
Use this placeholder format to create an accurate play-along sheet: write each sung phrase on its own line and place chord symbols above the syllable where the change lands. Example layout (replace the caps with actual lyrics or personal notes):
[G] FIRST LINE OF VERSE — [D] NEXT PHRASE — [Em] AND A HOLD — [C] RESOLVE
Strum counts: mark “1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&” beneath the line for rhythm cues; note capo position at the top (e.g., “Capo 2 — play G shapes to sound in A”). Provide simplified chords inline (C, G, Am, F) for beginners on a second line.
Checklist: include a short legend showing uke chord diagrams (see earlier finger placements), capo note, and tempo range (92–100 BPM recommended).
Strumming patterns and rhythmic feel: from driving downstrokes to syncopated groove
Basic folk downstroke: steady quarter notes — D D D D (one per beat). Use this to anchor early practice and keep singing in time.
Driving pop-rock: D D U U D U across one bar (count “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &”). This works for most chorus sections and keeps energy high without complicated technique.
Syncopated groove: try D x U x U D U where “x” is a muted percussive hit; this adds push on the offbeat and matches the song’s forward motion. Practice slowly and then raise tempo in 5–10% increments.
Practice drills: loop one chord change for 60 seconds at slow tempo, then add the next change and repeat; use a metronome and only increase speed when 95% clean on chord ring and timing.
Fingerpicking, arpeggios and the intro riff on ukulele
Simple fingerstyle pattern for verse: P I M A on strings G–C–E–A respectively (thumb on G, index on C, middle on E, ring on A). Alternate P-A to create a steady rolling arpeggio.
Intro motif (tab-style outline, G-shape friendly): play open G string on beat 1, C string 2 (2nd fret) on beat 2, E string 3 (3rd fret) on & of 2, A string 2 on beat 3; repeat with slight rhythmic variation. Use this as a motif rather than a strict transcription.
Right-hand technique tips: keep thumb anchored lightly on the G string for stability, alternate index and middle for higher strings, and mute excess ring noise with the palm when needed. Build finger independence through slow repetitions.
Beginner-friendly three-chord arrangement to learn quickly
Three-chord shortcut: play G → Em → C repeatedly and sing along; this captures the harmonic feel while removing the D chord swap for starters. Count each chord for two bars if you need extra time to change.
Tempo and rhythm guide: drop to 70–80 BPM and use simple quarter-note downstrokes; this gives singers breathing room and a solid foundation for strumming confidence.
Quick win: add a single high-A string hit at the end of every second bar to simulate a fill and make the stripped-down version sound bigger.
Intermediate and advanced voicings: inversions, suspensions and lead fills
Use sus2/sus4 and add9 to recreate the song’s atmosphere: try Csus2 (0003 with E string open variation) or add9 shapes to the G chord (spread voicing with high A on fret 5 or movable shapes on tenor). These add air without changing core harmony.
Passing-chord ideas: insert a quick D/F# (play a D shape with the A string fretted at 2) between G and Em to smooth the voice leading. Small double-stops and single-note fills on the high strings add a guitar-like texture.
Barre vs movable shapes: use barre shapes for compact, consistent tone on tenor uke when you want sustain; for soprano/concert prefer open shapes and higher-register voicings to avoid neck crowding.
Transpose and capo strategy for matching vocalist range and ease of playing
Step-by-step transpose method: identify the original key (A), count semitone steps to your target key, then move each chord by the same interval. Use a capo to keep familiar fingerings and change pitch instead of learning new shapes.
Capo cheat sheet: capo 2 converts G shapes to the original A; capo 1 moves G to A♭/G#; capo 3 moves G shapes to B♭; no capo with C shapes keeps things low and easy. Choose capo placement to keep the majority of chords as open shapes.
Vocal range recommendations: for higher female leads, capo 2–4; for male leads, try no capo or capo 1. Prioritize comfortable singable range over exact original pitch.
Practice routine and micro-lessons: 4-week plan to master State of Grace on uke
Week 1 — foundation: learn the four core shapes (G, D, Em, C), practice clean fretting and single-bar changes for 10–20 minutes daily. Aim for 60–80 BPM clean swaps before increasing speed.
Week 2 — rhythm and sections: add the chorus strum patterns, practice verse-to-chorus transitions, and work at 70–90 BPM with a metronome for 15–25 minutes daily.
Week 3 — embellishments and fingerstyle: add the intro riff and basic fingerpicking; rehearse dynamics and timing for 20–30 minutes daily, record one run-through and listen for problem spots.
Week 4 — performance-ready: combine sections, practice full song run-throughs at target tempo, rehearse with a backing track or metronome for 30 minutes, and simulate a live run once per week.
Burnout prevention: rotate focus (chords one day, rhythm another), take short walks, and record 60-second clips to track progress instead of aiming for long practice marathons.
Performance, arrangement and recording tips for a polished cover
Arrangement choices: open with arpeggio on the intro riff, drop to light strums for verses, then full strums for chorus. Vary texture rather than chord changes to keep listeners engaged.
Home-recording basics: mic the uke about 6–12 inches from where the neck meets the body at 45 degrees for a balanced tone; a condenser mic or a small-diaphragm dynamic works well. If DI’ing, blend a bit of room mic to avoid sterile sound.
Doubling and harmony: record a second ukulele track with higher voicings or add harmony vocals in thirds to thicken the chorus; keep levels balanced so the lead vocal still sits clearly on top.
Troubleshooting common ukulele chord problems specific to this song
Muted strings: press closer to the fret and angle fingertips so adjacent strings aren’t damped; check that the thumb is low enough on the neck to allow full finger spread.
Squeaky gauge changes: slow the tempo and use anchor fingers that remain on the same string to pivot; practice the D→Em swap in isolation until calluses develop and motion becomes automatic.
Awkward voicings: use partial barre or move to capo 2 and play G shapes instead of forcing F#m barre; preserve rhythm and feel over the exact chord timbre when necessary.
Song legality, copyright basics and crediting the original
Cover licensing basics: for recorded covers distributed digitally you generally need a mechanical license; for public performances check performance-rights organization (PRO) rules in your country. Use licensed backing tracks for uploads to monetized platforms when required.
How to credit: in video descriptions or posts list the song title and the original songwriter (credit Taylor Swift for State of Grace), then note your arrangement and any backing-track sources. Include license links if you obtained a mechanical or sync license.
LSI terms to know: cover song license, mechanical license, public performance rights — these guide lawful distribution and monetization of covers.
Downloadables and extra resources to make learning faster
Printable checklist: chord diagrams (G, D, Em, C, Am, F), capo cheat sheet, tempo map, and four-week practice calendar. Offer these as a one-page PDF for quick offline practice reference.
Curated resources: recommended backing tracks (instrumental versions in A, G, and C), ukulele tutorial videos that demonstrate the intro riff, and links to ukulele teacher platforms for private coaching.
Next songs to practice: pick songs that use I–V–vi–IV (in G or C) to reinforce the shapes: choose one upbeat pop and one slow ballad to practice dynamics and strum variation.
