I have been learning “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. It was a little difficult to remember the progression because it wasn’t just a pattern of chords like the other two songs I learnt. The progression for the first verse is C, G, F, C, F, C, G, Am, F. As you can see, there is no repetitive pattern that is easy to remember, therefore I had to spend some extra time practicing and trying to remember the order of the chords. Eventually I succeeded and I had learnt the progression! The progression for the second and third verse is a lot easier, it’s C, G, Am, F. The girl in the Youtube video also said to use the verse 1 progression for the intro and outre of the song. One easier thing about this song is that it is the same strumming pattern throughout the entire song, therefore I just have to strum DDU UDU twice on each chord the whole time! I am supposed to accent the second down strum but doing a quieter first down strum and a louder second down strum, so I need to practice that a bit more. I have also come to realize that it is quite difficult to switch chords into an Em chord. I definitely need to practice the Em chord some more and switching into it.

Below I have broken it down in a way that is easier to learn from.

[1] C, G, F, C, F, C, G, Am, F

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

[2] C, G, Am, F

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee-ee-ee
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops, that’s where you’ll find me, oh

[3] C, G, F, C, F, C, G, Am, F

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to, oh why, oh why can’t I, I?

[4] C, G, Am, F

Oh, someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that’s where you’ll find me

[5] C, G, F, C, F, C, G, Am, F

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can’t I, I?