Perfect Day Ukulele Chords & Tips

🌤 About the Song

“Perfect Day” is Lou Reed’s masterpiece of bittersweet understatement — equal parts love song, lament, and quiet sigh. Written during his Transformer era (produced by Bowie and Mick Ronson), it’s deceptively simple: a gentle stroll through what sounds like romance, but might just be loneliness dressed in Sunday best.

It’s been interpreted every way imaginable — about addiction, love, nostalgia, recovery — but on ukulele, it becomes something softer and more sincere. Just you, four strings, and that line: “You’re going to reap just what you sow.”

🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips

We’ll set it in C major, which captures the original warmth and keeps it beginner-friendly.

You’ll need C, G, F, Am, and Dm.

Verse progression: [C] – [G] – [F] – [C]

Bridge progression: [Am] – [G] – [F] – [C]

Outro: [Dm] – [C] – [G] – [C]

Strumming pattern: slow and tender down–down–up–up–down–up at around 72 bpm.

Alternatively, fingerpick gently (pluck 4–3–2–1) for an intimate version.

Keep your dynamics soft — let the chords bloom and fade like breath.

For the outro, slow down naturally; don’t rush the final phrase.

Singing tip: Lou Reed sings like he’s talking to someone half-remembered. Stay calm, stay conversational. Let your voice wander between singing and speaking — that’s where the truth of the song lives.

💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually

Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, “Perfect Day” became one of Lou’s most iconic recordings.
The song’s meaning has been debated for decades — Reed himself coyly said, “It’s just a love song.”
It re-entered the charts in 1997 after being used in Trainspotting — a whole new generation rediscovered it there.
It’s been covered by everyone from Duran Duran to Susan Boyle to the BBC’s all-star charity single.
The phrase “You’re going to reap just what you sow” has become a quiet cultural proverb.