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Intention: I want to grow the Capability Element committing to purpose because I want to improve the capability of Citizenship, as it helps me develop skills such as determination which are crucial in Citizenship. Developing this element would be meaningful for me because it allows me to practice determination and persistence in going through with things I commit too. To support growth in this element, I plan to develop the skill of playing the ukulele.

Milestone: By the beginning of Term 4, I aim to be able to play a song on the ukulele.

Practice: The micro-habit I'll do 2-3 times a week has different levels - to start, I will begin by practicing my strumming techniques each week. After this, I will practice strumming the chords used in the song, not necessarily in the song order but practicing memorizing which chords are which and where they are. Eventually, I will practice playing the song weekly and gradually faster and more smoothly.

To make this habit visible, I will place the ukulele in my room, next to my desk, to make it attractive, I can do a reward system with myself where, after practicing, I can play video games and eat some chocolate to make this an associable habit. To make it easy, I will only focus on it for around 10-15 minutes depending on my workload which won't make it feel tedious.

Anticipate obstacles: Things that could get in the way of my goal is my homework or work. If this occurs, I can focus on setting a time aside each night instead of doing it at various times of the day to keep my goal consistent.

Check in plan: Every 3 weeks, I'll reflect on:

By check in 1, I plan to know how to do basic strumming techniques and a few chords.

By check in 2, I plan to know how to play the chords in the song by memory, and start learning how to put it together and play the song.

By check in 3, I plan to begin playing the song by memory.

Transfer: At the end, I will show my growth by: I plan to be able to play a song on the ukelele, smoothly and by memory. I hope this ukelele skill challenges me and requires me to develop my determination and committing to purpose.

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My first step was to find a song to master on the ukelele, and to do this I conducted some research on easy songs for beginners.

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Easy ukulele songs for beginners

1. "Riptide" by Vance Joy

Taking it back to the "Riptide", Vance Joy's smash hit features simple Am, G, C, and F chords. The trick to mastering it is adopting the DD UD strumming pattern for the verse and a chucking rhythm during the chorus.

2. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole (IZ)

One of the most recognisable uke arrangements of recent history, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a soul-soothing piece that's fun to play and sing along to. Featuring Am, C, Em, E7, F, and G chords, it might seem intimidating - but they're all super simple to execute. With a D DU UDU strumming pattern, it's easy to pick up.

3. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

With a steady beat and C, G, Am, and F chords, "I'm Yours" is a breeze to master. A simple down, up strumming pattern with a slight emphasis on each second down strum will nail the rhythm and have 90% of the song covered. There's a tiny chord called an Edim7, but it's only strummed once - don't worry though, it's super easy!

4. "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train

A popular uke song from recent times, "Hey, Soul Sister" has an up-tempo rhythm that's great for developing your strumming. A simplified version with C, G, Am, and F chords gives the essential sound while making it accessible to beginners. Your strumming should be at pace, matching the beat of the song, in a DD UDU fashion.

The chorus may be challenging for total beginners, but it's a great piece to tackle! It has quick chord changes that will help build your dexterity. Follow this video for great tips on how to pick it up.

5. "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus

Once you start playing this song, it'll be hard to stop! With an Am, Dm, G and C chord progression, you can get the gist of "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus nailed pretty quickly. Followed by an E7 for the pre-chorus and a steady strumming pattern throughout, it's a true bop to sing over the top.

6. "8" by Billie Eilish

Capo on 3rd fret.

Featuring C, Cmaj7, Dm, G, and E7 chords and a down, up strumming pattern "8"is a catchy song to jam along to. The alternate key and capo let you explore unfamiliar territory - you can play this without a capo in the C key, but it'll sound slightly off when compared to the original.

7. "Driver's License" by Olivia Rodrigo

To strum along with Olivia you'll need the Bflat, Gm, Eflat, F, and Cm chords. While that's quite a lot, they're all quite easy to manage! As for your strumming pattern, you'll want to mainly use downward strokes, with emphasis placed on every second strum.

8. "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison

A complete classic, the intro melody and upbeat rhythm of "Brown Eyed Girl" make this an addictive tune that'll keep you coming back! With C, D, D7, Em and G chords it's a nice and simple flow to pick up. Your strumming can be a steady down, up to match the tempo, while you belt out the "Sha-la-las" over the top!

9. "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

A mellow and joyous piece that'll put a smile on anyone's face, Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" requires F, C, Dm, Am, Gm, A7, and Bb chords. The key to the strumming is to do a quick down, up strum, then use your palm to deaden the strings. String the strums together to get a steady beat.

10. "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond

Always a crowd pleaser, "Sweet Caroline" uses four basic chords: A, D, E7, and G.

The strumming pattern is D DU UDU. For the verses, each chord gets two measures, while the chorus uses one measure per chord. Remember to sing the "baa baa baa"s at the top of your voice for maximum effect.

11. "Yesterday" by The Beatles

Melancholic and beautiful, "Yesterday" is another great song to sing along with, featuring easy F, G, G7, Am, and C chords. The strumming pattern is D DU UDU for each chord. For the verses, each chord gets two measures, while the chorus features one measure per chord. Take your time with this heartfelt classic and enjoy strumming along on your ukulele!

12. "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Toploader

You only need to know four chords: Em, Bm, D, and A for "Dancing in the Moonlight".

The strumming pattern is D DU UDU for each chord. However, during the chorus, the strumming pattern changes to D DU UDDU. This upbeat tune is perfect for beginners who want to get their feet wet with a fun and catchy song!

13. "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses

Taking it back to an iconic rock tune, "Sweet Child O' Mine"'s peaceful verses work well with the uke. With easy A, C, Cadd9, D, and G chords forming the basis of the tune, it's a breeze to master. A steady strumming pattern throughout the verses and chorus will suit the rhythm of the song.

14. "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

Slightly harder than our other songs, this earworm uses some barre chords like Bflat, Fm7, and C, along with an F7. This is great for building strength for tougher chords, and you can keep a regular DU strumming pattern until you have the chords mastered.

15. "Zombie" by The Cranberries

"Zombie" uses the chords Em, C, G, and D with the strumming pattern D D DU UDU. Verses follow a chord progression of Em - C - G - D while the chorus goes C - G - D - Em. It's a powerful song that takes on a unique character on the ukulele.

16. "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley

C, D, and F chords - that's all you need to hum along with this hallmark Marley tune. Keep a reggae strum pattern and utilise the "chck" sound by deadening the strings after a strum. You don't have to go fast, keep it slow, and don't worry about a thing!

17. "Imagine" by John Lennon

You'll need to know chords C, Cmaj7, F, and G to play John Lennon's "Imagine". The strumming pattern is D DU UDU for each chord. For the verses and chorus, the chord progression is C - Cmaj7 - F - Fmaj7 - G, with each chord getting one measure. The song features a simple progression with an inspiring message that'll make you feel powerful playing it.

18. "A Horse with No Name" by America

Tune your ukulele to GCEA. "A Horse with No Name" uses only three simple chords: Em, F#m7-5, and D6/9, and the strumming pattern is down, down-up, down-up, down-up. The song has an Intro, Verse 1 and 2, Chorus, and Outro, and repeats. Enjoy playing!

19. "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens

"La Bamba" is an upbeat and catchy song that can absolutely rock on the ukulele. With a simple chord progression of C, F, G7, and Am, it's easy to get to grips with. As a great song for beginners, every ukulele player should add it to their repertoire.

20. "Jolene" by Dolly Parton

Passionate and emotional, Dolly Parton's heartbreak hit works great on the bright and jangly uke, with four simple chords Am, C, G, and Em, playing throughout the song - in that order. As for strumming, it's D, mute, UD. Perform the mute on the upstroke to get a nice rhythm.

21. "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles/The Top Notes

Shake, twist, and shout along to this classic with three super simple chords: C, F, and G. Strumming patterns don't matter much, but on the G chord you want to use a quick succession of down strums to match the riff of the song.

22. "Bad Moon Rising" by Credence Clearwater Revival

Classic rock fits just fine on the ukulele, and CCR is no different! To strum along with "Bad Moon" all you need are C, G, and F chords. The pattern you'll follow is DD UD on the C, followed by DD on the G, and then back to DD UD on the F.

23. "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Continuing with the classic rock legends, "Sweet Home Alabama" presents a simple D, C, and G chord progression to jam along with. Strum in patterns of three downstrokes - DDD U - with the emphasis on the third strum. The final upstroke helps link each section together.

24. "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley

To play along with "Hallelujah"'s enchanting melodies, you'll need C, F, G, Am, and Em chords. Adopt a gentle DD UU strumming pattern to transition the chords, and if you're feeling confident, have a go at fingerpicking the chords instead of strumming!

25. "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King

Play with a steady acoustic guitar-style strum and you'll have this iconic song mastered in minutes. Combined with a simple set of C, Am, F and G7 chords, "Stand By Me" is relatively easy to pick up and presents a steady repeating rhythm that's great for singing over the top.

26. "Yellow" by Coldplay

If you're feeling particularly... err... yellow, then good news! This song shines just as bright on the uke. With C, G, F, and Am, chords it's super simple, and a steady D D UU UDU strumming pattern fits the beat.

27. "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men

Haunting and powerful, "Little Talks" comprises just C, G, Am, G, and F chords, with a DD UU DU strumming pattern throughout - apart from the intro which is all downstrokes.

28. "All Star" by Smash Mouth

Quick and catchy, "All Star" consists of G, D, Am, and C chords in that order. In the verses, you can adopt a steady D DUD pattern, while the chorus can be played with a steady DD DUDU, with single strums for the final line of the chorus.

29. "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young

Four simple chords, G, D, C, and Em make "Heart of Gold" easy for beginners to play on the ukulele. The song is mellow and upbeat and features a simple strumming pattern. Use mainly down strums and listen to the song to match the various sections.

30. "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith

Easy chords but a tricky rhythm make "Stay With Me" great fun to pick up - a real challenge for your timing! Am, F, and C chords are all you need for most of the song. The strums for Am and F are slow, while the C speeds up.

31. "All Of Me" by John Legend

Great for aspiring singers, this heartfelt tune has easy Em, C, G, D, and Am chords. A catchy D DU UDU repeated throughout helps you focus on the lyrics and give the song your all!

32. "The Show" by Lenka

A happy and upbeat song, "The Show" features C, G, Am, and F chords. The strumming pattern is a steady and simple DDU UDU. There are single strums on the line "slow it down, make it stop" - followed by an abrupt pause in playing.

33. "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem

Pushing the boundaries, "The Real Slim Shady" consists of a repeating four-chord pattern that's great for developing your skills: Cm, Ab, Eb, and G.

A steady D DU strumming pattern throughout covers the verses and chorus - learn the riff for extra credits!

34. "I Miss You" by Blink 182

Four repeating chords are all you need to get Blink's hit wrapped up: G, D, Em, and C. The regular DD UU UDU strumming pattern works throughout and gives you a steady tempo to sing the lyrics over the top.

35. "It Was A Good Day" by Ice Cube

Here's a fun little riff to play on the uke that repeats throughout the song. It involves simple barre chords and hammer-ons and pull-offs which sound tricky but really aren't! This video breaks it down into easy segments.

36. "Hey Ya" by Outkast

"Hey Ya! has one tricky chord - E major. You'll find it hard to transition smoothly, but keep at it and you'll get more fluid with each try. The chords are G, C, D and E, and the strumming goes DD UU DU throughout the whole song.

37. "I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones

Upbeat and up-tempo, "I Wanna Be Sedated" features C, F, A, and G chords. Retain a fast and steady strum pattern as you cycle through these chords for the whole song and keep in mind that the A chord doesn't appear until the second half.

38. "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift

Consisting of Am, C, and G chords, "Shake It Off" is quick to pick up and learn. A fast D DU D DU strumming pattern works throughout, with palm muted "chcks" used for the "I'm gonna shake, shake, shake" line.

39. "Take On Me" by Aha

Simple chords, but tricky rhythms make this a great song for beginners to challenge themselves. G, D, Em, C, and Am are the chords and the strumming pattern is a steady DD U UDU. The strumming changes for one part in the chorus.

40. "Basket Case" by Green Day

With C, G, Am, F, and Bb chords, "Basket Case" is quite a steady and simple song, despite the five chords. An easy DU DUDU strum works throughout, except on the C, G, Am, G passage, where you just strum each chord once.

41. "Budapest" by George Ezra

Get jamming to this poppy bop with C, F, and G chords. For strumming, pick the third string first then follow with a D DUD. Sped up, it's a fluid, folksy strum pattern that fits the song very well. The verses go C-F-C followed by the chorus of G-F-C.

42. "The Final Countdown" by Europe

Tricky chords - but well worth learning! F#M, Bm, E, A, D, and C#m make up "The Final Countdown - they're all explained in the video below. A galloping-style strum pattern is in the song throughout, with D DU rhythm. Once you've got the riff mastered, you can aim to sound as good as

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42 Easy Ukulele Songs for Beginners | Gear4music

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Looking to learn ukulele songs? We've got 42 easy ukulele songs for beginners for you to play and master. Expand your repertoire today!

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Some other easy songs, ranked in difficulty

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Some other easy songs, ranked in difficulty

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This song ranked the difficulty of different songs to learn on the ukelele. I have decided to learn to play Viva La Vida by Coldplay as it was ranked as one of the easier songs.

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Are you lost when looking for easy songs to learn on a ukulele? Ukulele is one of the most accessible and fun instruments to learn! As a music teacher and ukulele practitioner myself, I know exactly how rewarding it can be. But if you don't believe me, you can also check these 2017 case studies published by Sage Journals: 'A smile on everybody's face: a multiple case study of community ukulele groups'. Here you can find out how exciting and interesting it is to learn ukulele and how it can make the entire community happier. But many people don't know where to start. This is why I came up with these 50 easy ukulele songs you can learn in hours. Read on for this 'mega list' I've created just for you!

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What To Look For In Easy Ukulele Songs

There are a few factors to look for in a song to decide if it's easy enough. Whether you're looking on your own or wondering why I chose the ones below, these factors may be helpful to you. Number Of Chords - The first and most important factor in what makes a simple ukulele song are the number of ukulele chords. There are a surprising number of songs out there using 2 chords. But 2 chord ukulele songs aren't the only way to go. Songs up to 4 chords are pretty simple to learn too. In some cases, even songs with more ukulele chords can still be easy if some of these other factors are in place. But a good 2 chord ukulele song will always be easier than one with more. 2, 3, or 4 chord songs tend to be the gold standard for simple ukulele songs. Types Of Chords - You also need to look at the types of chords played on the ukulele. The easiest ukulele chords to play are ones that use fewer fingers and are closely shaped with each other. These ukulele chords are considered easy to play:

Look for beginner ukulele songs with these chords in them. But it is possible to change the key if these chords aren't the ones being used. This may make it a little harder to sing, but you will be able to play it much easier.

Chord Changes - Another important factor to watch for is how often and in what order the chords change. Here's another way to think about it: A song using 4 ukulele chords (C-A minor-F-G) over and over will be easier to play than a 3 chord song where the order and speed of the chord changes is all over the place. But this factor can be worked around with practice. One of the best ways to practice tricky chord changes is to loop certain sections of the song. When you loop a section, you play it over and over (starting slow and then speeding up gradually) until you can play it well without effort. Just like with piano songs, Solfeg.io can be of big help with its covers of popular ukulele songs that allow you to set up loops and change how you practice.

Repetition - There are some songs out there with interesting strum patterns and tricky chord changes, but these songs become easy due to how the song just repeats these difficult elements. A good example of this is the song, All Along The Watchtower. Some people may struggle to move to the G major chord quickly, but because the song is A minor-G-F-G the entire time, it becomes simple. Form - Form in music refers to the different sections and their order of a song. For example, a typical popular ukulele song form is: Introduction, First Verse, Second Verse, Chorus, Third Verse, Chorus There are songs with more sections, different ones, or even smaller form. A song with a complicated form will take longer to learn the different sections, but simple forms can be mastered easier.

Popularity - A popular ukulele song will always be easier than another song where all other factors are equal. This is because you probably know the song well. When you can hear a song in your head well, you will play it better.

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50 Beginner Ukulele Songs

Here's the giant list of 50 beginner ukulele songs. That being said, not all of these songs are made equal. For each song, I'll describe the # of chords and chords used as well as give it a difficulty score out of 10 with 1 being easy and 10 being difficult. Pro-tip: Even if the normal chords sound too difficult, you can always switch the chords to another key to make them easier to play. The more important thing to look for is the number of chords.

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#1 All Along The Watchtower

This Bob Dylan song was famously covered by Jimi Hendrix, but despite its historic performers, it's quite simple to play the ukulele. It only uses 3 chords over and over again: Am, G, and F. These ukulele chords are among the first you'll learn on ukulele.
Difficulty: 2/10

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#2 The Git Up - Blanco Brown

Yes, the song that's taken the world by storm is a simple ukulele song to play. In fact, it's a 2 chord ukulele song! The entire song just alternates between E and A. A is simple, but E can be tricky. You can always just play C and F to get a similar effect for a much easier ability. The hardest part is matching the words with the chord changes, but Solfeg.io's visual track lets you see how they line up better.
Difficulty: 1/10

Learn to play with solfeg.io app

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#3 Riptide - Vance Joy

Vance Joy's Riptide is one of the most popular ukulele songs around. The song's ability to grow with you as you improve makes it a great one to learn. It only uses four chords: A minor, C, F, and G. As you improve, you can add more complicated strumming patterns or solo playing to spice it up. Play along with Solfeg.io's track to feel like a rock star. Difficulty: 2/10

Learn to play with solfeg.io app

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#4 Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

The 90s band, Deep Blue Something, and their class tune makes a great popular ukulele song. Most adults know the chorus and most of the verses. It uses three chords: D, G, and A. D can be tricky, but one you should learn earlier on in your uke playing. Use Solfeg.io to slow down the song, so you can play along slowly and master those chord changes. Difficulty: 3/10

Learn to play with solfeg.io app

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#5 Let It Be

This Beatles classic and titular track of their final album release is one of the most popular songs ever, let alone on the ukulele. The song itself uses four chords: C, G, A minor, and F. The chord changes are repetitive with a slight change in the chorus. Difficulty: 2/10

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#6 Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Looking up this iconic ukulele song may make you panic. At first glance, it seems to use a ton of chords, but it's easy to simplify so anyone can play. Your main chords for the Somewhere Over The Rainbow part are C, F, G, and A minor. They also suggest E minor (which can be tricky), but you can actually replace this chord with a G for a similar function. The Wonderful World part has more chords, but you can save this for later when you've gotten more practice. Difficulty: 2-4/10

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This Bob Marley protest song has been a favorite easy ukulele song for quite some time. The message it sends is powerful, and the singing part is simple but lovely. The song uses 3 chords: A, D, and E. These can be substituted with C, F, and G if you need to. The difference in the chorus and verse is subtle, but creating loops with Solfeg.io while you practice will be helpful. Difficulty: 3/10

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#8 Down On The Corner

The Credence Clearwater Revival classic is a perfect beginner ukulele song. And everyone will join in on the chorus when you play. It only uses three chords: C, F, and G7 (which can be played as just G). Difficulty: 2/10

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Billie Eilish is taking the pop world by storm with her lyrics and musical tastes. For those looking to learn one of her songs, this 4 chords one will require a little more effort to learn, but if you know it, you'll get it fairly quickly. The song uses 4 chords: A minor, C, E, and E minor. The two E chords can be tricky, but don't give up. Create a loop with Solfeg.io and practice until you get it. Difficulty: 5/10

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#10 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

U2's anthem is a 2 chord ukulele song. You can play this one within minutes rather than an hour. The two chords are C and F. There are two of the easiest to play on uke. Difficulty: 1/10

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Joan Jett and the Blackhearts wrote many songs, but their most popular was this one. This iconic rock song is easy for the uke. As with many rock songs, it only uses a few chords. In this case, they use 3: D, G, and A. Solfeg.io can help you get used to the track if you're unfamiliar. Difficulty: 2/10

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#12 Lava

This Pixar short from before the movie, Inside Out, is heartwarming and simple to play. Most kids will recognize this song instantly. The original version uses some variations on standard chords, but you can get away with using only C, F, and G without any problems. The chorus and verse are in a different order, but not difficult to learn. Difficulty: 3/10

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The Snail Song is a children's tune which is sure to please any kid. It only uses 3 chords: E minor, B, and A minor. These chords can be tricky for new players, but the song is otherwise simple. Slowing down the Solfeg.io track for practice will be a huge help. Difficulty: 4/10

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#14 Let It Go

Frozen's world-shattering anthem, Let It Go, is actually a pretty easy song to play on ukulele as well. It only uses four different chords: E minor, C, G, and D. The E minor chord can be a little tricky, but the rest of the song is so repetitive and catchy, you won't have to work hard to learn it. Difficulty: 3/10

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Winter Walk is a children's song focused on wintertime. The song is short, but this makes it a great beginner ukulele song. It only uses three common chords: D minor, G, and C. Because you may not know this song, you should definitely take advantage of Solfeg.io's play-along track. Difficulty: 2/10

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#16 Whistle

Flo Rida's hit is a good popular ukulele song to impress your friends and family. It only uses the same 4 chords over and over: A minor, F, C, and G. Difficulty: 3/10

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#17 Counting Stars

One Republic's Counting Stars has one of the catchiest melodies ever written. For ukuleles, it seems like everyone loves learning to play it. It actually uses 5 chords: A minor, C, G, F, and D minor. However, D minor can be subbed out with an F major chord. Difficulty: 3/10

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This children's song on Solfeg.io is perfect for Halloween time. It only uses 3 chords: B, E minor, and A minor. The chords may take some practice, but the song is so repetitive that once you've got it under your fingers, it plays itself. Difficulty: 4/10

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#19 Soul Sister

Train's popular song actually features the uke in its original recording. This is one of the songs credited with bringing mainstream popularity to the ukulele. In the original it only uses 4 chords: A, B, Db minor, E. But, the chords can be changed to C, G, A minor, and F to make it very easy. Difficulty: 2 or 7/10

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This song by young Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and Troye Sivan can be a fun one to play on the uke. It's a four-chord song, although the chord are difficult: D, B minor, F# minor, E. You can learn these with some effort though. If you wanted, you could also play an F, D minor, A minor, and G respectively to make it much easier. Use the Solfeg.io learning tracks to help master the fun strumming patterns. Difficulty: 4/10

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Ellie Goulding's hit is an easy ukulele song. Its normal chords are Bb, C, D minor, and G minor. In the original key, the chords require some practice, but are achievable. The preset loops in Solfeg.io's track will be of huge help with this one. Difficulty: 4/10

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#22 Someone Like You

Adele's heartfelt ballad is actually a simple ukulele song if you look at it. The song is fairly repetitive and the melody is iconic. It uses 5 chords: G, D, E minor, C, A minor. However, you could away with replacing E minor with G and A minor with C if you had to. Difficulty: 3/10

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Joe Jonas opened his band DNCE with this hit. Solfeg.io can help learn this with the clickable chord charts right on the window. This chord uses 4 chords: E minor, B minor, A minor, C. Difficulty: 4/10

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Viva La Vida by Coldplay is one of the easiest popular ukulele songs to play. It only uses 4 chords: C, D, G, and E minor. Solfeg.io can help you align the strumming pattern and chords with the powerful lyrics with its aligned visuals that follow the song as it plays. Difficulty: 3/10

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#25 Heartache

This fun song by a Japanese rock group, One OK Rock, only uses 4 chords making it a great beginner ukulele song. The chords used are C, D minor, F, and G. It doesn't get much easier than these chords. Difficulty: 2/10

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Imagine Dragons just puts out great songs. They are almost universally loved despite their aggressive sound. The song, Believer, only uses 4 chords: A minor, F, E, and G. The E major chord is tough at first, but you can look at the chord fingerings for help on Solfeg.io's learning tracks. Difficulty: 3/10

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#27 One Love

One of the great things about Bob Marley songs is how he meant them to be learned easily and sung by all. It's very repetitive which makes it a simple ukulele song to learn for beginners. There are 4 chords: C, G, F, and A minor. Difficulty: 2/10

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Shakira's song from Zootopia is a great example of a popular ukulele song. It only uses 4 chords: C, F, G, and A minor. This song isn't hard by any means, but you can still set up loops with Solfeg.io for help. Difficulty: 2/10

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For all the same reasons as before, Radioactive is another one by Imagine Dragons which makes an easy ukulele song. This song only uses 4 chords: A minor, C, G, and D. For this one, you may want to consider altering the sound levels of the different parts to hear the song in different ways; this helps you get a better, detailed picture of the song. Difficulty: 3/10

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#30 Just The Way You Are

Few popular songs on ukulele sound as good on the small instrument as this Bruno Mars hit. This tune uses 3 chords: A minor, F, and C. The low number of chords and repetitive changes make this a simple ukulele song. Difficulty: 1/10

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As a personal fan of the Lumineers, I was excited to see this one of Solfeg.io's list. I immediately opened it up and started playing around. This song uses 4 chords: C, F, A minor, and G. Difficulty: 2/10

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#32 Four Five Seconds

You may be noticing a pattern with pop tunes like this one by Rihanna. It only uses 4 different chords: C, F, A minor, and G. Many pop tunes use these chords in different orders for their songs. Difficulty: 2/10

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Shawn Mendes is one of the newer artists and songwriters making a big splash on the music scene. This heartfelt song uses the same 4 chords we've come to expect from many songs: A minor, G, F, and C. Difficulty: 2/10

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Sam Smith's song uses 4 chords to play: F, D minor, A minor, and G. This song is already slow which makes it easier to play. But if you're struggling, Solfeg.io can help by looping the parts you're having trouble with. Difficulty: 2/10

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#35 All Of The Stars

Ed Sheeran is one of the giants in the songwriting world, and one of the reasons for that is how he takes 4 chords and makes them into something special. The 4 chords used in this song are F, C, A minor, G. This one is a sweet one to sing to someone you love. Difficulty: 2/10

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If Ed Sheeran is a giant, Shawn Mendes will be right up there soon. His popular song, Stitches, is one of the biggest one around now. But you can play this song with 4 easy chords: A minor, G, C, and F. Difficulty: 2/10

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#37 Apples And Bananas

This children's song is one of the best beginner ukulele songs you can learn. It's a 2 chord ukulele song using F and C. That's it! Difficulty: 1/10

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Of Monsters And Men is a modern folk group gaining some mainstream popularity of late. Their biggest hit, Little Talks, uses the standard 4 chords: A minor, F, C, and G. Difficulty: 2/10

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US's pop song is a 4 chord song you can use Solfeg.io's many features to help you learn. The four chords it uses are: D, A, B minor, and G. These chords can be tricky, but the program's slowdown and loop feature can help a lot. Difficulty: 4/10

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Jonas Blue's Rise is another one you can find on Solfeg.io. This song only uses the main 4 A minor, G, C, and F chords. One way Solfeg.io can help with this one is by reducing the volume on the piano and guitar. This lets you gain some independence in your playing by supplying all the chords yourself. Difficulty: 2/10

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#41 Red Red Wine

As a 3 chord song, this UB40 hit makes a simple ukulele song. All you need to do is play C, F, and G on repeat. Difficulty: 1/10

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The X Ambassador song makes for good practice with beginner ukulele players. It uses 4 chords: B minor, G, D, and A. As another Solfeg.io one, you can easily isolate a specific part of the song structure for practice if you need to. Difficulty: 4/10

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#43 Octopus's Garden

On a list of 50 songs, I tried to limit my Beatles selections, but I couldn't let this Ringo Starr. It's a blast to sing and an easy ukulele song. It uses 4 chords: A minor, C, F, and G. Difficulty: 2/10

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#44 Blowin' In The Wind

Bob Dylan, who tops the Rolling Stones magazine's 100 greatest songwriters of all time, wrote this tune with beautiful lyrics and a simple chord structure. The song only uses 4 chords: F, C, A minor, and G. Difficulty: 2/10

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Though the original chord structure of Imagine on ukulele may use a lot of chords, the beautiful and well-known song is slow and repetitive. It uses 6 chords (the most on our list): C, F, A minor, D minor, G, and E. This is a lot, but Solfeg.io's learning track will really help. I also couldn't avoid including this song despite its higher level because it sounds simply awesome on ukulele. Difficulty: 5/10

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#46 Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Another CCR hit, this song uses 5 chords: C, G, E minor, A minor, and F. But you can replace E minor with G if needed. Difficulty: 4/10

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Ben E. King's song (famously covered by John Lennon) is a great sing-along tune. Plus, it only uses the same 4 chords in repetition the entire time. 4 chords used: C, A minor, F, and G. Difficulty: 2/10

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Jason Mraz and his hit, I'm Yours, is a fun and popular ukulele song. This song uses 5 chords: C, G, A minor, F, and D. Despite one more chord than normal on this list, Solfeg.io can help by cutting out all the other sounds besides piano and guitar and playing along. Difficulty: 4/10

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#49 Love Me Do

Well, it's hard not to have Beatles tunes pop up on a list like this because their songs are so iconic and relatively simple to play. This song only uses 3 chords: C, F, and G7 (although just G can be used). If you want, you can try to learn the iconic harmonica lick too. Difficulty: 1/10

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#50 Sweet Home Alabama

Lynyrd Skynyrd made this song simple in its melody and chord structure to help it stick in people's ears. Its opening riff is one of the most well-known guitar parts ever played. On ukulele, it only uses 3 chords: D, C, and G. If you wanted, you could also start to learn the riff on ukulele as well. Difficulty: 1/10

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Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this list of 50 easy ukulele songs for beginners you can learn in hours. Performing music is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can pick up, and the ukulele is one of the easiest (and most joyful) ways you can do it. It just takes the right simple ukulele songs and good practice tools like Solfeg.io to help you out.

‍ Written by Zach VanderGraaff ‍

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50 Easy Ukulele Songs You Can Learn In Hours

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Are you lost when looking for easy songs to learn on a ukulele? Ukulele is one of the most accessible and fun instruments to learn! As a music teacher and ukulele practitioner myself, I know exactly how rewarding it can be.

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I found a video describing how to hold and strum a ukelele, which will help me with beginner steps. https://youtu.be/jxsntBDrk20

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My accountability buddies are Sissi, Bojin and Agneya.

My questions are:

1. How would you critique some of the strategies and techniques you have used so far?

2. What feedback is the most useful for this stage of developing your skill?

3. Can you identify causes for any setbacks you have faced?

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Playing a music instrument can offer cognitive benefits by improving memory and focus. The ukelele is considered easier to play than the guitar, as they can be less intimidating and many songs are adapted to play on the ukelele. Furthermore, once you learn, playing the ukelele can be a fun hobby, with its happy, joyful tone.

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I placed my ukelele in a spot to make it visible and easy to remember my micro-habit.

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This is before I learnt how to hold and strum a ukelele (before watching video)

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I learnt that everytime you play your ukelele, you should tune it because it can easily go out of tune when being played or if the turning pegs are accidentally moved. Usually, you can use a ukelele tuner, but since I don't have one, I have found this website to be helpful. It tells me how far out of tune my chords are. https://ukebuddy.com/ukulele-tuner

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How To Tune a Ukulele

All instruments need to be set to exact pitches in order to play music in modern scales. This process is called tuning, in which the instrument is carefully tuned to specific pitches. String instruments like the ukulele have tuning pegs, which can be turned in both directions to either raise or lower the pitch that corresponds to one of the ukulele strings. Each time you play your ukulele, it is very important to ensure that the instrument is in tune. This is particularly important when playing with other musicians, in order to create harmonies and avoid discordant sounds. Below, we'll go through more details of the common ukulele tunings.

Microphone Ukulele Tuner

The simplest method for tuning a ukulele is to use a microphone-based tuner. You can play each string on the ukulele directly into a microphone, which can provide real-time feedback as you play. You will be able to see visually whether the note is either too flat or too sharp, which you can use to adjust the tension of the ukulele string. As long as you are on a device with a microphone (like a phone, tablet, or laptop), you can use our microphone-based tuner above.

Ukulele Tunings

While the ukulele can be tuned to a wide range of notes, there are a handful of commonly used tunings that are recommended for playing popular music. It is recommended to use these tunings, but other tunings can be useful for more experimental work. On the uke, the botttom-most string is typically tuned to a note that is higher than the note on the 2nd bottom-most string. Tunings denote this with a lower case letter, as in the standard tuning, gCEA. Each of the four letters of the tuning name denote the corresponding string on the ukulele, starting from the bottom (the string closest to your chest).

gCEA - Standard Tuning

The most popular ukulele tuning is known as gCEA. The vast majority of song tabs, chord charts, and other ukulele resources, are written with the assumption of gCEA ukulele tuning. This makes it the easiest tuning option for playing along to songs, or when jamming with other uke players. This tuning makes it very easy to play in the key of C major, which is a popular song key for a lot of music.

aDF#B - D Tuning

D Tuning, which uses the notes aDF#B, just takes the original standard tuning and shifts everything up by one whole tone (two frets). Just like how standard tuning makes it easy to play in the key of C major, this D tuning makes it simple to play in the key of D major. This tuning was more popular during the 1920s and 1930s, so it will match up better when playing songs from that era.

DGBE - Chicago Tuning

The DGBE tuning, which is sometimes referred to as Chicago tuning, is more popular on some of the larger ukuleles, and is the most common tuning on the baritone ukulele. This tuning matches up exactly with the top 4 strings of the guitar in standard tuning. Because of this, DGBE tuning works very well when translating songs and chords between guitar and ukulele. It is an excellent tuning for playing along to more guitar-based songs.

fA#DG - A#/Bb Tuning

The fA#DG tuning is less common than other ukulele tunings, but it still useful in some situations. This ukulele tuning shifts all musical pitches down by one whole tone (two frets), which makes it easier to play music in the key of A#/Bb. This tuning is also useful for cases where you would like to bring the ukulele pitches slightly lower, to fit with certain song keys that benefit from access to these lower notes, or to make it easier to sing along in certain musical keys.

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All instruments need to be set to exact pitches in order to play music in modern scales. This process is called tuning, in which the instrument is carefully tuned to specific pitches. String instruments like the ukulele have tuning pegs, which can be turned in both directions to either raise or lower the pitch that corresponds to one of the ukulele strings.

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This link provides the chords in the order of how they are played and how they align with the lyrics. The chords used are F, G, C, and Am

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QnSHVp1OLTGjTb1Kb1au6tOPbvX4jZty/view?usp=sharing

I have reached my goal in check in 1 to be able to know basic strumming techniques and a few chords, such as the F and G chords. I found the most difficult part of playing the chords is trying to only hold down one fret (the little line markings), because the ukelele is very small and it is easy for my fingertip to hold down the chord on the string adjacent to it. It took me a while to practice only using my fingertips and making my fingertips more flexible. Watching the video has provided me with insight on how to hold a ukelele, and how to strum it. I also learnt that you should tune your ukelele every time you play it.

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1. How would you critique some of the strategies and techniques you have used so far?

Some of the strategies and techniques I have used so far have been helpful, such as researching different techniques to help me play the ukelele better. However, when learning the next chords, I will focus on one at a time which will make it easier to remember. I will also change my practice strategies and play for longer periods, as I feel as if my micro-habit could go for longer.

2. What feedback is the most useful for this stage of developing your skill?

The most useful feedback I have found at the stage of developing this skill is feedback on my strumming techniques. I found that it is easy to make a mistake and that one slight incorrect movement can ruin the strumming sound. Feedback to improve the consistency of my strumming is the most useful.

3. Can you identify causes for any setbacks you have faced?

A setback I have faced is finding time to practice. Usually I do my homework after school and I would ideally find time to practice at night. However, because this can be loud and my room is next to my brother's, practicing at night can be hard because of the disturbance it can cause.

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As you can see, one of my hands is supporting the base and I have tilted it on a higher angle. My ukelele is positioned to rest on my hip to free my hand to strum.

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On the provided music sheet, there is a diagram of the chords required. However, this only applies when the strings are tuned specifically to meet these chords (at the bottom of the image where it says chords below each string in light grey). To adjust, I had to research the actual chords for the tuning arrangement of my strings.

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This is how the song sounds with lyrics (sing-along).

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VIVA LA VIDA - Coldplay (Ukulele Play Along with Chords and Lyrics)

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1. I think that researching the techniques is a good way to learn the basics so that it is easier when you play. I also think more practice will be good as practical experience is more important than knowledge experience.

2. I think that practicing technique will help improve your playing skills as you are able to focus on familiarizing with the instrument rather than focusing how to play the song.

3. Some setbacks that you may have faced is the time-constraint and flexibility of the practice.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OsW6Y3s-RAXLYFksqOIS6ZcTlaQTOdn-/view?usp=sharing

By now, I know how to play the F, G, C and Am chords by heart. I am able to strum in the order of F G C Am, which is the the order of the strumming throughout the whole song. I had to overcome the challenge and use more than just the website I had used to find the chords, because although it showed where the chords were in the song and the pattern, it did not tell me the strumming pattern. I had been strumming the chord on the beat that it was aligned with in the strumming motion D, which was one strum downward. This made the song sound quite incomplete and messy, because I was playing the notes where it said to on the music sheet and therefore leaving gaps in the song, making it sound incomplete and messy. Hence, to combat this, I turned to Youtube to find a live performance of this song. When I saw the person playing the song, I understood that I had been using the wrong strumming pattern. The sheet music and the video had the same chord pattern, and once I identified that it was the same 4 chords in the same order through the same song, I began to focus on transitioning between each chord quickly to create the F G C Am pattern. However, it still takes me some time to change my finger from each chord to the next. Next, I will focus on doing this faster, and then repeating these chords to produce the song.

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1. I think that your techniques so far are good, because you have a lot of videos that will help teach you how to play ukulele. I think that if you have a go at more practice yourself, or position your hands with the strings, this would be very effective.

2. I think that by prioritising practice and learning the basics, you can gain some knowledge on how the ukulele works and slowly begin your journey to improvement.

3. Some setbacks that you may face is frustration with learning how to play the instrument, and the amount of practice you are committing to.

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The song follows a D DU UDU strumming pattern. It does not say this on the website, which confused me a bit and is why I found a video for more help, and learnt through watching the man's hands when he played and the text that stated this on the screen. The D represents strumming downwards, and the U represents strumming upward, hence the D and U.

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1. What could I do to become more consistent with my strumming technique?

2. What is something that can keep me motivated to play the ukelele?

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1. I think that to be more consistent with your strumming technique, you can try practicing it more. Try playing pieces that have slow and fast speeds, so that you can test out your technique's effectiveness and see what you can improve on next. You can also try having a metronome, to make sure that you don't divert from the tempo you're aiming for.

2. Something that can keep you motivated to play the ukelele is playing pieces that you like, or playing in front of your family. Just be yourself, and do what you like, I think that will keep you the most motivated.

I can see that you are going very well Charlotte! And you are committing to a lot of purpose and practice. Keep going! <3

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I think practicing more consistenly can help you be more comfortable and confident in strumming.

You can keep motivated by having small rewards each time you learn a chord or you practice 10 times in a row perfectly.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bupKRs3btI4ZjD2ljOxdysJ5X8iIEqu0/view?usp=sharing

I finally reached my end goal, to be able to play a song on the ukelele! This took me a while, and a challenge that I faced was an error on my behalf, that I didn't read the music sheet properly. I believed the chord order to be in F-G-C-Am throughout the entire song, but I found out quite late that there were parts where this pattern was repeated but there was an extra Am chord. Towards the end of the song, for the bridge, there was a part where there was F - Am chords 3x and G chords 2x. This confused what I had previously been doing and to overcome this I found the easiest way to memorise or attempt to memorise was to write a brief note overview on a piece of paper. I also messed up a bit in the video through the strumming, where in some parts I would overthink the strumming pattern and mess it up. However, one part of the goal that I did not meet was that I could play the song by memory. I had to write down the chords in a shorter form and put it on the side while I played to remember the order and when to play specific chords. So although I could play the song, it was not by memory and was not as consistent as I wish it was.

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Playing the ukelele was very challenging. I found it quite painful on my fingers when strumming for long periods of time from holding down the strings on different fret. The ukelele I was using was also a little bit broken, which is why in clips of me playing it sounds like it is rattling a little bit. I found it quite difficult to learn to change from the F to G chord due to a high amount of finger movement, and even in my end goal, in some cases it took me a pause t find my footing and move my fingers. However, in the end I eventually got there and it really tested my persistence and resilience considering it took me 1hr to record without making a major mistake. I am proud of how far I have come since the beginning of my EIF journey.

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For further reflection, I asked myself the following questions:

1. If I was to do something different next time, what would I do?

Next time, I would spend less time at the beginning learning how to strum and spend that time memorising chords. As I never played before, I did not understand how truly challenging it was, but I would also spend a part of my practice time moving from chord to chord in different orders. This would allow me to memorise the chord better and be able to adapt to any changes in music as I encountered this time. I could also add a reward system in as my accountability buddy Bojin suggested.

2. Explain how your method for practicing changed over the course of this task.

Through this EIF task, I tried many different methods of practicing. I would practice strumming at night, and strumming chords. When this got too loud, after school I prioritised playing the ukulele for a bit after school.

3. What is a key reason you think you did not fully reach your goal?

I think a key reason was that I had put in wrong check in steps. If I had known to speed up the strumming and chord-learning stage I would be able to piece chords together faster. This would have allowed me to have extra time to memorize my song to play it smoother and although I did not focus on ths, have extra time to make the transition between each chords clean and fast.

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When I found out the song had extra parts to it that was not the same pattern over again, I counted consecutive patterns and wrote the general layout of the song as follows:

x2

Am

x4

Am

x2

Am

x2

Am

x8

Am

x2

Am

x6

F-Am x3

G x2

x7

For each of the x2 or x(number) this shows how many times to repeat the F G C Am pattern before moving to another chord or pattern. The Am chord was often repeated hence why in between lines it says Am. In the bridge of the song, F and Am are repeated 3 times and G is repeated twice.