Playing songs from start to finish may seem like a daunting task if you just picked up an uke. However, there are many easy tunes that virtually anyone can learn in a few hours, regardless of skill level or experience.
We’re here with a few recommendations and a comprehensive guide to help you begin your learning journey with confidence.
Written by Jay Searle / Published October 11, 2024
Last updated: October 9, 2024
What Constitutes a “Beginner’s” Uke Song?
Many songs may appear easy to play when you’re listening only to be revealed as challenging when you grab your ukulele. A “Beginner’s” song typically features only three or four basic chords, has a clear-cut structure (e.g. a repetition of verse-refrain patterns), and will sound good even when played slower.
All the tunes I’ll cover in the following section fit this description perfectly, so let’s take a quick look before jumping into the beginner’s guide to playing your first song.
Top 5 Basic Ukulele Songs to Learn
1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Arguably one the easiest beginner ukulele songs you can begin with is the old English lullaby called “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. It’s built on four elementary uke chords, including C, F, G, and G7, and it has only two parts.
The first verse is a breeze since you only need to pluck C-F-C and follow it with F-C-G7-C. You’ll repeat the same pattern after the second part, which is a straightforward combination of C-G7-C-G7, and C-G7-C-G. This song will help you learn the essentials of timing/tempo since the notes and chords are as easy as they come.
2. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
If you’re looking for the simplest uke song, look no further than Row, Row, Row Your Boat. This is a children’s song with only one part (repeated four times), where you’ll only have to memorize four strings of chords – A-Gbm-D-A, A-Gbm-E, A-E-A-D, and E7-A-A.
The repetition of the same notes in the same order makes this tune suitable for all ukulele beginners, especially if you’re trying to teach your child how to play.
3. You Are My Sunshine
Similar to my previous recommendation, You Are My Sunshine is another simple uke song built on four chords, Am, C, Dm, and F. This tune teaches you how to weave different chords into easy progressions.
You start with A Minor, followed by C and A Minor, then C and F, C and A Minor, C and F, then C and A Minor twice, and finish with D Minor and A Minor. Play this pattern precisely four times, and you’ll get to a small bridge part comprised of Am-F-Am, F-Am, and Am-Dm-Am.
4. Riptide by Vance Joy
If you’ve had a few lessons or noodled on your ukulele a bit, you may wish to skip children’s tunes and jump into an easy pop song. Vance Joy’s Riptide is one of my top recommendations, as it is catchy and built on only four chords, including Am, G, C, and Gsus4.
The verses revolve around playing Am-G-C four times. When you get to the pre-chorus, you’ll simply have to play Am-G-C twice before heading into the refrain, which is played exactly like the verse (Am-G-C).
5. Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Even though Somewhere Over The Rainbow has six chords, it’s so popular that it can be considered the instrument’s very own anthem. What makes it a bit more difficult than your average children’s song is that it has two different parts – verses and choruses.
Verses are built around C-Em-F-C and F-C-G-Am-F lines. Verses are even easier, featuring a C-Em-Am-F riff played twice. This song should help you understand that even tunes with 6 or more chords can be simple.
Beginner Tips for Playing Your First Basic Ukulele Song
The first playing experience may not be superb from a technical perspective, but most people remember it forever. You’ll look back and see how much you’ve grown, and to ensure your memory is as pleasant as possible, I have a few tips to help you prepare:
- Noodle on your ukulele freestyle whenever you can. This will help familiarize yourself with the fretboard, the instrument’s weight, and how the strings feel.
- Learn how to read chord diagrams and tabs. We have comprehensive guides on most beginner-level uke chords, which can greatly accelerate your learning progress.
- Choose a song you’re at least somewhat familiar with. Knowing the melodies beforehand can help you pinpoint mistakes quickly, and it makes chord memorization a breeze.
- Learn every part of your chosen song. Practice them individually until you’re confident that they’re close enough to the original.
- Play all the repetitive parts for as long as you’re having fun. Even if you’re not overly focused, your fingers will remember what you may forget (the so-called “muscle memory” works and builds up autonomously).
- Strive to learn the lyrics and melodies, even though you may not be playing them. They’ll help you find your way back into the chord progression if you happen to make a mistake.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Basic Ukulele Songs
Mistakes are almost unavoidable when you’re starting to learn any instrument, including the ukulele. With over a decade of experience, I can write an encyclopedia of oversights and flaws in my playing, but let me list some of the most common ones so that you can avoid them in your first few weeks and months of playing:
- Playing only the parts you like: This is arguably the biggest inhibitor to progress, as you’ll learn countless bits and have only a handful of songs in your repertoire.
- Forced practicing schedules: Practicing for an hour every other day (or when you feel like it) is incomparably more productive than having a schedule when you “must” play.
- Overconfidence in choosing super-difficult tunes: While every ukulele tune can be broken down into quantifiable bits and almost “mathematically” learned, you’re bound to face unneeded frustration if you start with overly complex songs.
- Setting fun as your last priority: Some people try to learn as many songs as possible. Others strive to learn every chord in the book or acquire as many techniques as they can. This can overshadow the first and most important thing about playing any instrument, which is to enjoy and have fun.
Conclusion
Picking up your uke and learning how to play one song from start to finish can be a breeze if you have the desire to do so. Your experience is bound to be far more enjoyable if the first tune you’ll learn is a simple one with 3-4 chords, so I encourage you to use this guide to embark on your uke-playing journey.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & WriterJay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.
