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Island

Island Lullaby

B · D#m · E · F#

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B
I
D#m
iii
E
IV
F#
V
Key
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Island Lullaby in B major

Island Lullaby is I · iii · IV · V. In B major that is B, D#m, E, F#. Soft and dreamy. Perfect for swaying under palm trees. Loop those chords in order. The same pattern works in any major key.

Songs that use this

  • Puff the Magic Dragon · Peter, Paul and Mary
  • Crocodile Rock · Elton John
  • Build Me Up Buttercup · The Foundations
  • Have I Told You Lately · Van Morrison

Why it works

In B major this loop is B, D#m, E, F# (I · iii · IV · V). I is the home chord. V pulls away from home and wants to resolve. IV moves the song forward without leaving the key. Play the chords in order and the pattern is easy to hear on ukulele.

Chords in B major

Jump to each shape used in this loop.

BD#mEF#

Try in other keys

Same Roman numerals; chords transpose with the key.

C major → C · Em · F · GD major → D · F#m · G · AE major → E · G#m · A · BF major → F · Am · Bb · CG major → G · Bm · C · DA major → A · C#m · D · EB major → B · D#m · E · F#

Related progressions

Hawaiian VampSlack KeyHulaIsland BreezeIsland Strum

Frequently asked questions

What is the Island Lullaby ukulele chord progression?

Island Lullaby is the I–iii–IV–V chord loop. In B major that is B, D#m, E, and F#. Soft and dreamy. Perfect for swaying under palm trees.

What do the roman numerals mean in Island Lullaby?

Roman numerals mark each chord's role in the key, not fixed chord names. Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor. Island Lullaby uses I–iii–IV–V. Change the key and the roles stay; the chord names move with it. In B major you play B, D#m, E, F#.

How do you practice Island Lullaby on ukulele?

Loop B, D#m, E, and F#. Change on the first beat of each bar and keep the strum steady. If one change is hard, practice that pair slowly, then play the full loop again.

What songs use the Island Lullaby progression?

Songs built on Island Lullaby include Puff the Magic Dragon, Crocodile Rock, Build Me Up Buttercup, and Have I Told You Lately.

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