You know that feeling when you watch a movie and a song just sticks in your brain like glue? That's La La Land for most of us. Ryan Gosling’s breathy, slightly imperfect vocals and that whistling melody—it's iconic. But here is the thing: when you go to find city of stars chords ukulele tabs online, you usually get one of two things. You either get a version that's so stripped down it sounds nothing like the movie, or a version so complex your fingers feel like they’re tied in literal knots.
It’s a jazz song. Well, musical theater jazz, which is its own beast. Composer Justin Hurwitz didn't just throw together some basic campfire chords. He used specific voicings to get that melancholic, "dreaming-but-maybe-sad" vibe. If you’re just strumming a standard G and C, you’re missing the magic.
Honestly, the ukulele is the perfect instrument for this track. It has that intimate, hollow wood sound that matches the film’s "amateur-hour-at-the-jazz-club" aesthetic. But to make it sound right, we have to talk about what’s actually happening in the music.
The Chord Shapes That Actually Matter
Most beginner charts tell you to play Gm, C, and F. Sure. That works. But it sounds thin.
In the actual film version, the song is in the key of F major/D minor. But the "flavor" comes from the 7th chords. If you want to master city of stars chords ukulele style, you need to get comfortable with the Gm7 and the C7.
Why? Because the 7th note adds tension. It creates that "searching" feeling. To play a Gm7, you just barre the bottom two strings at the first fret and hit the third string at the third fret. It’s easier than a standard Gm and sounds ten times more sophisticated. Then there's the A7. Do not skip the A7. In the bridge where the tension builds—"Is this the start of something wonderful and new?"—that A7 is the pivot point. It’s sharp. It’s biting. It leads you right back into the melancholy.
If you’re a beginner, your biggest hurdle isn’t the left hand. It’s the right. The rhythm in La La Land is swung. It’s not "down-up-down-up." It’s a heartbeat. Ba-dum, ba-dum. If you play it straight, it sounds like a nursery rhyme. Don't do that.
Breaking Down the Verse Structure
The verse is a loop. It’s a conversation between Sebastian and Mia, and the music reflects that back-and-forth.
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You’re looking at a progression that basically goes:
Gm7 - C7 - F - Dm
But wait. There’s a specific "walk-down" that happens. If you want to sound like a pro, you don't just stay on the Dm. You let the bass note move. On a ukulele, we’re limited by having only four strings, so we have to cheat. Instead of a full bass movement, try alternating your thumb on the G string.
Think about the lyrics. "City of stars, are you shining just for me?" The "me" lands on that Dm. It should feel heavy. Then the "City of stars, there's so much that I can't see" moves back to the Gm7. It’s a circle. It’s the cycle of hoping and doubting that defines the whole movie.
The Mystery of the Fmaj7
A lot of people ask if they should use F or Fmaj7. Use the Fmaj7. It adds a "dreamy" shimmer that a standard F chord just lacks. To play it, you just hold the second string, first fret, and the fourth string, second fret—wait, that’s just a standard F. To make it a Maj7, you move your finger or add the open E string vibe. Actually, on uke, an Fmaj7 is often played 5-5-0-0 or just a simple 0-0-0-3 variation depending on your tuning. But let’s keep it simple: if the chord feels too "happy," you’re probably playing a straight Major chord when you should be adding that 7th.
The Bridge: Where Everything Changes
The bridge is the "Something wonderful and new" part. This is where the song stops being a lounge act and starts being a Broadway show-stopper.
The chords here shift. You’re going to hit a Bb (B-flat). For many uke players, the Bb is the "wall." It’s a barre chord. You have to lay your index finger across the first and second strings at the first fret. It hurts at first. Your hand might cramp. That's normal.
- Bb: 1-1-2-3
- C: 0-0-0-3
- Am: 2-0-0-0
- Dm: 2-2-1-0
This progression is classic. It’s a "2-5-1" style movement that shows up in almost every jazz standard ever written. The reason it works in city of stars chords ukulele arrangements is that it climbs. It feels like you’re walking up a hill toward a view of the city, only to drop back down into the Dm when the reality of the lyrics hits.
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Why Your Strumming Pattern is Ruining the Song
I’ve seen a thousand YouTube covers of this song. The most common mistake? Strumming too loud.
This isn't "Riptide." This isn't a beach song.
You should be using your thumb for a softer, fleshier sound. Or, better yet, try fingerpicking. The "City of Stars" intro is actually a piano arpeggio. You can mimic this on the uke by picking the strings in a 4-3-2-3-1-3 pattern (where 4 is the G string and 1 is the A string).
It creates a delicate, clock-like ticking. It feels like time is passing.
If you must strum, use a "chunk." Strum down, then immediately mute the strings with the palm of your hand. It gives it a percussive, jazzy "snap." Strum-click, strum-click. It keeps the energy moving without making it sound like a campfire singalong.
Common Pitfalls and Factual Nuances
One thing people get wrong is the key. While the movie version is in F, many ukulele players transpose it to G to avoid the Bb chord. Don't be that person. The Bb chord gives the song its "weight." If you transpose it to G, you end up with a Bm chord, which is also a barre, so you aren't even saving yourself that much trouble. Stick to the original key. It fits the vocal range of most "normal" people better anyway.
Also, let's talk about the whistle. If you're playing this solo, you have to account for the whistling section. Most people just strum the verse chords during the whistle, but the whistle actually follows a slightly different melodic tension. If you're playing with a friend, have one person do the "heartbeat" thumb-picking while the other person whistles or plays the melody line on the higher frets.
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Let’s Talk About the Ending
The song ends on a Dm. But it’s an unresolved Dm. In the film, it sort of just... fades.
When you’re playing city of stars chords ukulele at home, don't just do a big final strum. Fade it out. Pick the strings slower and slower. The last chord shouldn't be a "bang." It should be a whisper. "Just for me..."
Some jazz players like to end on a Dm6 or a Dm9 to give it that extra "noir" flavor. For a Dm6 on uke, you’re looking at 2-2-1-2. It sounds slightly "off" in a beautiful way. It leaves the listener hanging, which is exactly how the movie feels.
Actionable Steps for Your Practice
Start by mastering the transition between Gm7 and C7. This is the engine of the song. If you can't switch between these two smoothly, the song will always feel clunky. Practice just these two chords for five minutes while watching TV. Don't even look at your hands.
Next, work on the "thumb-heavy" strum. Try to hit only the G and C strings on the downbeat to emphasize the bass, then lightly brush the E and A strings on the upbeat.
Finally, record yourself. Jazz-pop songs like this rely entirely on "feel." If you sound like a robot, you're doing it wrong. Listen back and ask yourself: "Does this sound like a smoky room in Los Angeles, or does it sound like a classroom?"
Focus on the silence between the notes. That's where the emotion lives in this particular track. The uke has a short sustain, so use that to your advantage by letting the notes die out naturally.
Get your Bb chord clean. No buzzing. Press closer to the fret wire. Once you have that Bb, the rest of the song opens up. You’ll find that these same shapes—Gm7, C7, Bb—show up in almost every other song from the La La Land soundtrack, like "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)." You’re not just learning one song; you’re learning the vocabulary of the entire film's score.