Let’s be honest, you didn’t start learning the ukulele to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain.” But too often that’s what you’re stuck doing as a beginning ukulele player. It’s boring, and it’s a little bit discouraging.
Learning instruments should be fun, and none more so than the ukulele. After all, the ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to learn. And some of the coolest songs out there are also easy songs to play on the ukulele, even if you’re a complete beginner.
With just a few simple chords and basic strumming patterns, you can be playing popular tunes and fun songs on the ukulele in no time. In fact, you can play many easy ukulele songs with only four basic ukulele chords.
In this post, we go over a bunch of fun and easy beginner ukulele songs that you can play, with just a few chords. And at the end, you can check out a mega list of even more easy ukulele songs for beginners (including uke chords and Youtube tutorials). With this page, you’ll be jammin’ on your uke in no time!
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These Four Ukulele Chords Will Help You Play a Ton of Easy Songs
The four easy ukulele chords you should start off with are C, A minor, F, and G. Here’s how to play them:
Three major ukulele chords and a minor chord. They look easy, right? The C and A minor chords only use one finger, the F chord uses just two fingers, and the G chord is a simple shape that many uke players find easy to make. If you’re a guitar player, you may notice that it’s the same shape as the D chord on your guitar.
Using just these four chords, you can play a long list of 2, 3, and 4 chord ukulele songs. And we’re talking about well known, popular ukulele songs that you’ll actually want to play.
Although these are just four chords, they can be combined into all sorts of different chord progressions, as you’ll see below.
What About Strumming Patterns?
Many of the video tutorials for these easy ukulele songs below include tips on strumming patterns. But you can make your ukulele strumming as simple or as complex as you’re able to.
If you’re just starting out, try simply strumming one downstroke for each downbeat (when you tap out the rhythm of the song with your foot, a downbeat is when your foot hits the ground).
If you’re a little more experienced, you can try this syncopated strumming pattern that includes some upstrokes and strums on the upbeat (the numbers represent the downbeat and the ‘&’ symbols represent the upbeat):
1 & 2 & 3 & 4
D – D U – U D
That should be enough to get you started playing these songs, but check out this great guide over at Ukulele Hunt for more strumming patterns and advice on strumming the ukulele.
Beginner Ukulele Songs Using Only C, Am, F, and G
These popular songs for ukulele use only the C, Am, F, and G chords. We’ve included a video tutorial and links to the easy ukulele tab for each song to help you get started playing them today.
“Let it Be” – The Beatles (C, Am, F, G)
Although there are many great Beatles songs you can play on the ukulele, “Let It Be” is perhaps the best because it uses a simple chord progression that’s easy for beginners to play.
“Let It Be” is a fun song to jam on as a beginner ukulele player. The progression remains practically the same the whole way through the song, so you don’t have to worry about changing things up part way through the song. And best of all, your friends can sing along right away!
Click here for the full chords.
“I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz (C, G, Am, F)
This early 2000s earworm by Jason Mraz is a super popular choice for beginner ukulele players, and with good reason. Unlike some of the other easy ukulele songs for beginners on this list, “I’m Yours” prominently features a ukulele on the actual record. This means that your version will sound very similar to the original. The strumming pattern is simple and consistent. You should be able to pick it up quickly just by listening to the song.
“I’m Yours” features a simple chord progression that is one of the most common in popular music – I, V, VI, IV progression – the same ukulele chords in “Let It Be”. And the original song is in the key of C, which makes it easy to play for beginning ukulele players.
Click here for the full chords.
“All Along the Watchtower” – Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix (Am, G, F)
“All Along The Watchtower” was originally released by Bob Dylan in 1967. Just six months later, Jimi Hendrix recorded the song and it became a smash hit. Regardless of which version you are more familiar with, this is a great beginner ukulele song to make your own (and with just three chords to boot).
The song repeats the same three-chord progression all throughout the verses and chorus. Instead of steady four bar changes, the G chord is more of a leading tone at the end of a phrase switching between the Am and the F. If you’re struggling with making the G chord stand out, practice just popping your fingers into the chord shape and popping off to try to get used to a quick switch.
Click here for the full chords.
“Counting Stars” – One Republic (Am, C, G, F)
OneRepublic has been turning out radio hits for almost two decades now. They continue to innovate and reimagine their sound to keep up with current pop standards. “Counting Stars” is a fun, uptempo song to bring to the ukulele because it offers a really different sound than the original recording.
Ukulele lends itself to lighter pop songs really easily, but it can be fun to reinvent songs for the ukulele as covers. Since “Counting Stars” is built on a lot of production in the original recording, stripping it down to just the ukulele is a fun challenge. The song uses the same four chords in C that we’ve used for a lot of other popular ukulele songs for beginners, but you get to really try your hand at making this one your own.
Click here for the full chords.
“Riptide” – Vance Joy (Am, C, G, F)
Vance Joy has a great library of songs to cover on the ukulele, but his best known is definitely “Riptide.” This stripped down pop hit is fun to play because of the unique rhythm of the strums and chord changes. The chords are again our simple Am, C, G, and F chords so you can really focus on nailing the strumming pattern, since the chord shapes should come easy.
Singing along while playing the ukulele for this one can be a bit trickier, if that’s your thing. The rhythm of the strumming and the vocals are just different enough that it can take a bit of extra work to get used to. Try practicing just the strumming along with the recording for a while, and then maybe try singing along with the recording if you find yourself struggling.
Click here for the full chords.
“Down on the Corner” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (C, F, G)
“Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a really fun and easy three chord ukulele song to groove on. The chords are simple for beginners, but the strumming pattern provides a bit of a challenge. But once you nail the pattern, it is a blast to strum out.
The groove is quick and involves some palm muting to really nail it. Palm muting is a common technique that you’ll want to get comfortable with. It helps create a percussive sound to the uke, and allows a lot of variety within the same strum patterns. All you are really doing is using your palm to push down on the strings in rhythm to “mute” the sound of the uke. Once you get the hang of this technique, it will take your playing to the next level.
Click here for the full chords.
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – U2 (C, F, G)
Legendary Irish rock band U2 has a deep catalogue of music to explore. Bono and The Edge have been churning out new music for decades now, and they don’t really seem to be slowing down. They have plenty of tracks you can adapt to a ukulele successfully, but their popular 1987 hit “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is an excellent choice for beginners.
This laid back Grammy-nominated song can be played with just three chords all the way through, and they are once again our familiar friends, C, F, and G. U2 is known for their sort of sweeping buildup and pullbacks in intensity in their music. Try experimenting with how you can adjust your strumming to make this song capture that same buildup and pullback with just the ukulele version.
Click here for the full chords.
“Whistle” – Flo Rida (Am, F, C, G)
“Whistle” by Flo Rida is another contemporary pop hit built on the same chords as many of our other tunes. Am, F, C, G will take you a long way in playing pop music. You can have a lot of fun jamming on this song and changing up your strumming pattern between the verses and chorus.
Try practicing your finger picking on the verses to pull things back, and then turn up to bigger strumming on the chorus. All you have to really do for the finger picking on this one is roll your thumb down the strings one at a time in rhythm. Practice it slowly, making sure to give equal weight to each of the strings. No need to worry if you can’t whistle either! Try the melody on some “Doo doo doos.”
Click here for the full chords.
“Hey, Soul Sister” – Train (C, G, Am, F)
“Hey, Soul Sister” by Train is quite possibly the most successful pop song to not just feature a ukulele, but to be entirely driven by the ukulele. Just hearing those first few strums immediately sends you back to 2009 shouting along with the “heys.” Best of all, the song is fairly simple, making it one of the best ukulele songs for beginners.
The original recording of “Hey, Soul Sister” is actually in the key of E major, and presents a few trickier chord shapes than the familiar ones in C. But, the song transposes easily to make it more accessible for beginner ukulele players who only know easy chords. Just know that if you are trying to play along with the original recording, then the C, G, Am, F, chord progression will sound different than the chords on the record.
Click here for the full chords.
“Someone Like You” – Adele (C, G, Am, F)
Adele is well known for her-piano driven pop ballads, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a pianist to play her songs. Although this is a great easy ukulele song, “Someone Like You” features a haunting melody that offers a unique challenge for ukulele players. The original recording is built up of repeating sequences of notes called arpeggios. These arpeggios are when the notes of a chord are played individually from one to the next.
As you get more comfortable with these easy ukulele chords, you can experiment with finger picking arpeggios on your ukulele to more closely mimic the style of this song. But you can also have fun making it your own and playing it with your own unique strum pattern.
Click here for the full chords.
“Cane Fire” – Peter Moon Band (Am, G, F)
Peter Moon was a famous Hawaiian musician known for his diverse musical styling including Hawaiian music, reggae, samba, jazz, and swing music. He may not be as big as The Beatles, but he was a master of the ukulele, and as such, his music is great for beginning ukulele players to study.
“Cane Fire,” is a soulful power ballad from the 1980s that sounds really complicated when you listen to it, but can be broken down to simpler components so that even a beginner can enjoy it. The whole song can be played with just three simple chords, but as you get more confident with it you can start to experiment with both the palm muting technique and the variations on the chords to change the tones.
Click here for the full chords.
“One Love” – Bob Marley (C, F, G, Am)
Bob Marley and the Wailers are reggae superstars, and many of their tunes are some of the best ukulele songs to learn. “One Love” is a feel good classic with a bouncy reggae sound you can totally capture on the uke. The chords are again simple, so you can really focus on the style of the song.
Capturing the light and bouncy quality of the track is what is most important for playing an easy ukulele cover of this song. Try using a palm muting technique to replicate the guitar’s bounce on and off the beat. The palm muting also helps create a percussive effect between strums so that you can try and capture the feeling of the steel drums in the background.
Click here for the full chords.
“Just the Way You Are” – Bruno Mars (C, Am, F)
Bruno Mars is a modern day superstar with a crazy diverse catalogue of music. His debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, was made of a mixture of pop ballads and contemporary hip hop, including this smash single, “Just The Way You Are.” It catapulted him to international popularity in no time, and it is still a favorite amongst beginner musicians.
This song is catchy and simple for any level of musician. It can be played with just three chords from start to finish. This is a fun ukulele song to experiment with the tempo too. You can speed things up for a distinct pop feel or slow it down to capture a more melodic ballad.
Click here for the full chords.
“Four Five Seconds” – Rihanna (C, F, Am, G)
“Four Five Seconds” by Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney was a surprising collaboration project that really found its footing in the mainstream for a bit. This sorta acoustic, pop, hip hop tune is a light and fun one to play on the ukulele anytime.
This easy ukulele song for beginners uses just four simple chords, with slight variations between the verse, chorus, and bridge. You can keep a simple downstroke strumming pattern on the verses, but then add in some upstrokes on the chorus to pop things out a bit. In the bridge you’ll change the chord progression just a little bit by omitting the C major chord, so stay mindful of those changes.
Click here for the full chords.
“All of the Stars” – Ed Sheeran (F, C, Am, G)
Ed Sheeran is one of the most widely recognized contemporary singer songwriter pop artists in the world. He is best known for his detailed storytelling in his lyrics, often alongside acoustic guitar grooves that make for modern day classics every time. “All Of The Stars” is another prototypical Sheeran love song that is a fun to play and among the best easy ukulele songs for beginners to learn.
Like many of Sheeran’s songs, this one has a pulled back verse that builds into a dramatic chorus and then pulls back again for the next verse. You can experiment with single strumming or fingerpicking on the verses to leave room for a more intense chorus when you get there.
Click here for the full chords.
“Little Talks” – Of Monsters and Men (Am, F, C, G)
Of Monsters and Men is a cool, Icelandic, indie rock group that managed to break into the mainstream with this 2012 hit. The original recording juxtaposes brassy blaring horns and relaxed single strum guitar sections to create an interesting journey for the listener and a great opportunity for a musician.
On the ukulele, you can have a lot of fun playing with the different dynamic levels of this song. Try leaning harder into the chorus sections and pulling back on the verses. This easy ukulele song is great for practicing your dynamics and intensity. Once you get more comfortable with it, you can even try capturing that horn melody with some more complex fingering.
Click here for the full chords.
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith (Am, F, C, G)
Sam Smith rose to stardom largely thanks to this powerful and emotional pop ballad. A lot of the power in this song comes from the vocals, which means that it is fairly manageable for beginner uke players who also fancy themselves a singer.
There are a lot of ways you could approach this one. You could go for a sort of single strum pattern throughout, or you could try and up the intensity with a little bit more of a rolling strum pattern. Whatever you decide to do, you can really get into your feelings on this one and let the emotion guide your playing.
Click here for the full chords.
“Red Red Wine” – UB40 (C, F, G)
“Red Red Wine” was originally written and released by Neil Diamond in the 1960s. UB40 recorded a reggae cover of the song in the 1980s that went on to great success, particularly in the UK. Much like Bob Marley and The Wailers’ songs, this is another light and bouncy one that is tons of fun on the uke.
This ultra simple three chord ukulele song can be learned in no time. Practice bouncing on and off the chords to achieve that really light sound like the recording. You can also experiment with different strumming patterns, like alternating between a down, mute, up/down, mute sort of pattern. Something like that should amplify the bouncing feel.
Click here for the full chords.
“Octopus’s Garden” – The Beatles (C, Am, F, G)
Many Beatles records make great easy uke songs. Although many of their songs feature simple chord progressions, the catalogue runs deep and some are a bit more intense. But “Octopus’s Garden” is exactly the kind of relaxed pop ballad that sounds excellent on a ukulele.
The ukulele lends itself naturally towards light and joyful tunes. This song is definitely both of those, with more than a touch of whimsy thrown in. It keeps things interesting by switching up the chord progression between the verse and the bridge and the chorus, but still manages to be a simple song. This is a strong choice for someone who wants to keep things light while working on getting used to changing themes.
Click here for the full chords.
“Blowin’ in the Wind” – Bob Dylan (C, F, G)
“Blowin’ In The Wind” is a Grammy Hall of Fame song that has been covered dozens of times in many different styles. This classic “protest song” is led by an acoustic guitar and can be easily brought over to your ukulele.
In the original recording, Dylan does a lot of complicated finger picking on the guitar. Once you start to get more comfortable with the chord shapes, you can experiment with some finger picking of your own and find a groove that works for you. It doesn’t have to be exactly like the original, just something that you feel effectively captures the spirit of the song, and most importantly, is fun to play on the ukulele.
Click here for the full chords.
“One Day” – Matisyahu (C, G, Am, F)
“One Day” is a bold pop ballad that feels very distinctly 2009. It is a little bit hip hop, a little bit indie, a little bit reggae, and features a lot of drama in the feel good build up from verse to chorus. And in true pop fashion, it is made up of a standard I, V, VI, IV progression. This makes it super beginner friendly, since many popular ukulele songs have the same chord progressions.
The song’s variety comes entirely from the rise and fall of intensity, so this is where you should focus your efforts. Play around with different ways to build and pull back on the song to capture this. This song is a lot of fun to play around with on the ukulele.
Click here for the full chords.
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (Am, F, C, G)
This 1970’s rock classic is a beautiful and haunting song that many people believe to be about the Vietnam War. Though John Fogerty has since said that it was more about the turmoil happening within the band and the imminent departure of his brother from the group.
Whatever the song is actually about, it is an awesome classic rock tune to cover on your ukulele. The original is emotional and a bit shouty, so try adapting it to be a bit more relaxed. The ukulele doesn’t lend itself as naturally to aggressive tones, so this is a fun one to play with really changing the original style into something new. It can still be equally as haunting, just in a bit of a different way.
Click here for the full chords.
“Stand By Me” – Ben E. King (C, Am, F, G -OR- G7)
Just about everyone is familiar with “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. The popular chorus has been played and sung along to for decades. This is a popular cover song for beginner musicians, and one of the most fun ukulele songs out there. The original record is guided heavily by the bass track, but you can easily adapt it to a ukulele riff.
This song is built on a classic 60’s pop rock structure. The I, VI, IV, V chord progression was hugely popular with artists of that time and this song fits it perfectly. The chord changes walk down to the next chord using leading tones at the end of the second bar. This is something to work up to, but you can get started with just the easy chords right away. The G chord works just fine, but if you’re looking to spice things up, you can add in a G7 chord instead.
G7 is another easy ukulele chord that’s good to know. It’s a simple variation on the G chord shape:
7th chords add a jazzy feel to any tune, and are a great way to spice up easy ukulele songs. But, you can always play a normal G chord instead.
Click here for the full chords.
Songs Using a Few More Easy Chords
These next songs are also easy to play, but they throw a few new chords into the mix. Learn these chords, and you’ll be able to play some of the best ukulele songs for beginners.
Those chords are E minor, D, D7, and A. Here’s how to play them:
The D7 chord uses a barre, which means that you lay your first finger straight across the strings. This might take a little practice, so if you’re having trouble playing it you can always play a regular D chord instead.
And now for the songs!
“I Will Wait” – Mumford and Sons (Am, G, C, F, Em)
Mumford and Songs quickly gained recognition for their banjo folk rock style and have gone on to tremendous success. But you don’t have to be a banjo player to enjoy strumming away at their tunes. “I Will Wait” is a fun challenge for beginner ukulele players.
This song involves five chords instead of the usual four or three on the list. The Em chord shape might take a little bit of time to get used to, but it is definitely manageable with some practice. The real trick to focus on in this song is crafting a strum pattern that captures that up tempo folk feeling and nailing those sharp chord changes.
Click here for the full chords.
“Love Me Do” – The Beatles (G, C, D)
Another Beatles classic for you to try your hand at, this is a great three chord ukulele song for beginners. “Love Me Do” features a very memorable harmonica riff alongside some otherwise fairly simple instrumentals. You can nail this song with just three major chords, G, C, and D.
The D chord may be a new one for you, but it is super simple. Depending on the size of your fingers you may find it easier with one or two fingers. Try it different ways and focus on which way captures the best sound. It may not always be the most comfortable at first, but the sound is what’s important. After some more practice, it’ll start to feel more natural.
Click here for the full chords.
“Hallelujah” – Leonard Cohen/Jeff Buckley (Am, C, Em, F, G)
Who could forget this timeless piano ballad by Leonard Cohen? “Hallelujah” has become a standard for the contemporary ukulele player because it is beautiful and just complex enough to stay interesting. You can play with some simple strumming, or take things to the next level with some simple finger picking.
The song switches between a couple of different chord progressions, but they all are built on the same five chords. If you’re struggling to keep the progressions separate, try practicing them as separate pieces and then putting them together.
Click here for the full chords.
“Otherside” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (Am, F, C, G, Em)
When you think of easy ukulele songs, the Red Hot Chili Peppers probably may not be the first band on your mind. But they’ve got a couple of songs that sound great and are super fun to play on the uke, including “Otherside.” This five chord ukulele song is an awesome way to transition your uke playing into a grungier rock sound.
This is also an awesome song for duets, if you’ve got a friend who plays music. You can pick up on simple vocal harmonies just by listening to the song, and depending on what instrument your partner plays, you can have a lot of fun with the instrumentation once you’ve got the basic progression down.
Click here for the full chords.
“Heartache” – One Ok Rock (C, F, G, Dm)
“Heartache” by One Ok Rock is a low key pop rock hit that also serves as a great easy ukulele song for beginners. You can play it as up tempo or as slowed down as you want and it still sounds nice. The chords fall into a simple and repetitive I, IV, V, VI pattern, so once you lock that in, you don’t have to think too hard about them.
Try experimenting with playing this fun ukulele song with just single strums in the beginning and then increasing your intensity as you play. These pop rock power ballads are all about storytelling, and it is tough to build tension and excitement if you start the song at super high intensity without leaving yourself somewhere to build up to.
Click here for the full chords.
“Let it Go” – Frozen (Em, C, D, Am, A)
Every ukulele player should have a few Disney classics in their repertoire. This way you are always ready to entertain and impress a crowd of kids and families. While “Let It Go” from Frozen quickly became a bit overplayed, it is still a supremely popular and widely recognized tune that is a lot of fun on the ukulele.
This is another one that plays with dramatic build up and storytelling. Try to experiment with how you can turn up the intensity at the chorus and pull back on the verse to introduce some variety. This is a bit of a simplified version here, so that big dramatic middle section might sound a little different with just a uke, but you can totally make it work for you. Don’t get hung up trying to sound exactly like the full orchestration.
Click here for the full chords.
“Sweet Home Alabama” (D, C, G)
Southern rock is another style that may not be top of mind on the ukulele, but this classic is easy, and tons of fun. “Sweet Home Alabama” is an iconic piece of American music and it is the same three chords for the entire song.
The piano and guitar riffs of the original recording are a big part of the appeal, but there’s no reason you couldn’t bring your own ukulele flair to it. Once you get really comfortable with the chords for this one, you can play with adding some taps on your ukulele body for a pseudo percussion effect.
Click here for the full chords.
“Margaritaville” – Jimmy Buffet (A, D, D7, G)
Jimmy Buffett and the ukulele go together like Hawaiian shirts and the beach, or cheeseburgers and french fries. His easy going, relaxed style translates excellently to the simplicity and joy of the ukulele. Buffet has plenty of easy ukulele songs to start with, but perhaps best of all is the tremendously popular “Margaritaville.”
Playing “Margaritaville” on your ukulele takes you away to an island beach with a cold drink in your hand. Best of all, the chords are simple and remain constant throughout. So you can sing and sway and lose yourself in the music with all your friends. Try and accent the difference between the D and the D7 so you can really hear that subtle but important chord change.
Click here for the full chords.
“Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison (G, C, D, Em)
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison is a true rock classic that has managed to stand the test of time. The song first debuted in 1967 and holds a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Something about that “Sha-la-la-la” riff is just so catchy and enticing.
It is also amazing that such an acclaimed and memorable song is also such an easy song to play on the ukulele. Another four chord ukulele song for any beginner to knock out of the park. This time we’re following the I, IV, V, VI chord progression in the key of G. The E minor chord can cause some stumbles with getting each finger in the right place quickly, so be sure to practice punching that chord on and off to get used to it.
Click here for the full chords.
“Ocean Eyes” – Billie Eilish (C, D, Em, G)
Even Billie Eilish had to get her start somewhere. Having attained the lofty heights of a headlining slot at the iconic Glastonbury Festival and recorded her own Bond theme song, it’s almost hard to believe that one of her most commercially important recordings in her early career was “Ocean Eyes”.
This youthful take on infatuation and passion uses illustrative imagery to tremendous effect, which is made all the more stronger by Eilish’s alluring, cool vocal performance. She blends her effortless singing with the smokey, ethereal instrumental and backing vocals to create a recording that is deeply memorable and subtly moving. Not bad for a 15-year-old.
Click here for the full chords.
“I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty (Em, G, D, C)
This 1989 Tom Petty anthem is a simple and effective song that can be stripped down to a powerful ukulele cover. The strumming pattern is a fun groove, but it is a little more complicated than some of the other easy ukulele tunes on this list.
To really nail this song, you need to feel comfortable with your muting abilities. The verses alternate between two different themes, one using the C major chord and the other omitting it, so be sure to keep track of which section you are on. Then things change up again for the chorus, but still make use of these beginner ukulele chords.
Click here for the full chords.
“Hakuna Matata” – The Lion King (C, F, G, D, G7, Am)
If you only learn one Disney song on your ukulele, make it this one. “Hakuna Matata” from Disney’s The Lion King is an absolute classic. The song, performed in the movie by Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba, is a snappy little earworm that never fails to lift people up.
This one is a bit more involved than several others on the list, featuring a total of six different ukulele chords and a few different themes. Practice each theme carefully, and then string them all together. It can be challenging to remember which progression comes up with which theme, but take it piece by piece and you’ll have it in no time. You can have a lot of fun playing with the intro and the bridge as well, taking your time through those spoken parts.
Click here for the full chords.
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” – John Denver (C, G, D)
John Denver is an awesome story teller who managed to create interesting and memorable songs using very simple structures. “Leaving On a Jet Plane” falls neatly into Denver’s iconic style and is friendly for beginner ukulele players. You also get to practice your D chord shape.
A neat and consistent strumming pattern will help you ease into the cool and rhythmic vibes that Denver creates in the original recording. You can practice the strumming pattern independent of the chords by just placing your fingers over the frets and focusing exclusively on strumming. Lots of beginner uke players ignore practicing their strumming and just focus on chord shapes, when really both are equally important.
Click here for the full chords.
A Few Bonus (Slightly More Complicated but Still Easy) Songs for the Ukulele
These last easy ukulele songs are a little more complicated to play, but they’re also some of the most fun songs to play on the ukulele.
“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” – Four Tops (C, G, Dm, F, Am)
One of the biggest R&B songs of all time, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” is a saccharine yet charming confessional love song that propelled the Four Tops to their first number one hit. The song has since been covered extensively, with faithful renditions by disco, country, rock, girl group, and pop artists charting around the world across the decades.
While the Four Tops were renowned for their incredible, varied vocal performances, their backing band at the time of their recording “I Can’t Help Myself”, the Funk Brothers, was also the stuff of legend. The Funk Brothers’ bassist at the time was the iconic James Jamerson, who went on to be named the greatest bass player of all time by publications like Bass Player magazine and Rolling Stone.
Click here for the full chords.
“House of Gold” – Twenty One Pilots (Am, A7, Bbm, C, Dm, F, G)
Wait a minute – there are a whole bunch of chords in this song, including a few we haven’t learned yet! That’s true, but the verses of this great song by Twenty One Pilots are entirely composed of the four basic ukulele chords of C, F, G, and Am.
The choruses do throw in some new chords (A7, Bbm, and Dm), but if you’ve followed along so far you should be able to learn these with just a bit of practice.
Twenty One Pilots is a hugely popular modern pop band, and their frontman Tyler Joseph is a prolific ukulele player. Although their songs don’t typically include ukulele, Tyler Joseph has performed solo ukulele versions of many of their most popular songs.
Click here for the full chords.
“Wagon Wheel” – Old Crow Medicine Show/Darius Rucker (G, D, Em, C -OR- A, E7, F#m, D)
This fiddle-led country classic is a ton of fun to play on the ukulele (or any instrument). “Wagon Wheel” bounces along so easily that it’s hard to play without a smile on your face. The chord progression alternates between the first line and second line, so just keep close attention to which part you are on so you don’t get confused.
Most tutorials will tell you to play “Wagon Wheel” using G, D, Em, and C like you would on a guitar. And that’s perfectly fine to do, but it’s actually much easier to play on the ukulele using the chords A, E7, F# minor, and D.
We’ve already gone over most of those chords, but here’s how to play E7 and F# minor:
However you decide to play it, Wagon Wheel is one of the most fun ukulele songs out there!
Click here for the full chords.
“Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Am, C, D, Dm7, E7, Em, F, G)
This is one of the most famous ukulele songs out there, and it’s the song that starts a lot of people out on their ukulele journey.
And it’s actually not that difficult to play. “Over the Rainbow” uses all the chords we’ve gone over so far, with the addition of D minor 7. Here’s how to play this chord:
This is a great song to tie everything together and reinforce all the new chords you’ve learned. And get ready to have a blast playing all the easy ukulele songs on this list!
Click here for the full chords.
FAQ
Is it easy to learn to play the ukulele?
The ukulele is considered one of the easiest instruments to learn. This is because it’s small, it’s simple to create chord shapes, it’s easy to press the strings, and you can very quickly get to a point where you’re playing tons of easy ukulele songs.
What are the 4 basic ukulele chords?
The four basic ukulele chords are C, Am, F, and G. These chords are both easy to play, and are used in a lot of songs. With just these four chords, you can play a whole range of easy ukulele songs.
What’s the easiest song to play on ukulele?
While there’s no one easiest song on the ukulele, here a few classic ukulele songs for beginners. (See the mega ukulele song list below for more).
- “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
- “Riptide” by Vance Joy
- “Hey, Soul Sister,” by Train
- “One Love,” by Bob Marley
- “Octopus’s Garden” by the Beatles
Mega Song List (with uke chords, tab, and Youtube tutorials)
Song | Artist | Chords | Tutorials |
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i dont know any of the songs other than the newer ones
#7 is me after reading all the songs
sweet home alabama
Your article has a really good information and awesome tips. Please keep up the good work. Your information helps me a lot to increase my guitar skills. Photos are well arranged.
Thank You….
Thanks, my uke class of 6th graders will be thankful they can play more than hot cross buns and the farmer in the dell.
great information! house of gold by twenty one pilots is a good one as well.
Thanks a lot!
Great Information Fourth one is classy and I really enjoyed this song
good job
Thank you for the great information
It is a great and warm effort to help learners. Thanks a lot .