The Aloha ‘Oe ukulele chords can be a bit tricky for some, however you’re likely to know some of the common chords already.
Written by Jay Searle / Published August 9, 2024
Last updated: August 4, 2024
“Farewell to Thee” or “Aloha ‘Oe” is a remarkably popular Hawaiian folk tune dating back to the 1880s. Princess Lili’oukalani, the last sovereign queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom, wrote it.
Over a century later, Aloha Oe remains a trendy ukulele song and has influenced a plethora of other artists from various lands.
Aloha Oe is a gorgeous, emotional ballad that has a remarkably simplistic structure despite a relatively challenging first half due to the stretch and bar chords as we play an octave higher . If you’re looking to learn how to play it on your ukulele, you’ve come to the right place.
Download “Aloha ‘Oe” Ukulele Chords Sheet
Aloha ‘Oe Ukulele Chords Explained
Technically, Aloha Oe can be a moderately tricky ukulele song because it consists of five chords.
However, these are all elementary chords that most beginners may already know, with the song’s tempo at a moderately slow pace of just 71 beats per minute (or 142 BPM at double-time).
Aloha ‘Oe ukulele chords include C, D7, F, G, and G7, so let’s briefly cover each of them in turn.
C Chord
As simple as it is beautiful in sound and vibe, the C Chord is a beginner-level ukulele chord present in virtually every line of Aloha Oe. It follows the G chord in the first and third bar of the verses and starts the opening lines in the refrain.
To play the C chord, all you need to do is press the third fret of the A string and strum the G, C, and E strings openly.
D7 Chord
A bar over the second fret and a ring finger on the third fret of the A string are all you need to press to form the shape of the D7 chord. It briefly appears in the last lines of the verses and choruses, but its mellow sound is an integral component of Aloha Oe.
F Chord
Another easy ukulele chord, the F chord, only appears in the third verse. Press the second fret of the G string with your ring finger and the first fret of the E string to play it.
G Chord
The G chord opens Aloha Oe’s verses and the second lines of the chorus parts. It’s just slightly more challenging to play than the C chord, but it is among the most basic ukulele chords.
Place your index finger as a bar over the second fret of your ukulele, and use your ring finger to press the third fret on the A string. This will cover the g, D, G, and B notes that comprise the G chord.
G7 Chord
As opposed to the opener, the G Major chord, G7 is closing the verses and refrains in Aloha Oe.
The easiest way to memorize the G7 chord is to think of it as an “inverse G Major.” They both feature G and D on the first two strings and the B note on the A string. But instead of a high G on the E string, you should press the first fret to play the F note.
Aloha ‘Oe Ukulele Chords and Lyrics
Intro:
G C G
Ha ‘aheo e ka ua i na’ pali
D7
Ke nihi a’ela i ka nahele
G C G
E hahai ana paha i ka liko
C D7 G G7
Pua a’hihi lehua o uka
Chorus:
C
Aloha ‘oe
G
Aloha ‘oe
D7 G D7
E ka onaona noho i ka lipo
C
One fond embrace,
G
A ho ‘i a ‘e au
D7 G
Until we meet again
Verse2:
G C G
‘O ka hali’a aloha i hiki mai
D7
Ke hone a’e nei i ku’u manawa
G C G
‘O ‘oe no’ ka’u i po aloha
C D7 G G7
A loko e haua nei
[Chorus]
Verse3:
G C G
Maopopo ku’u ‘ike i ka nani
D7
Na’ pua rose o Maunawili
G C G
I laila hia ‘ia na’ manu
C D7 F
Miki’ala I ka naui o ka lipo
[Chorus]
Final Words
Aloha Oe is a slow-paced ballad featuring the easiest chords every ukulele player should know. We hope that our Aloha ‘oe ukulele chords guide helped you learn this beautiful tune.
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.
