A Guide to Learning Beginner Ukulele Songs & Reading Tabs

Ukulele tabs are often used by beginners when learning new songs. We’ll teach you how to read them and offer up some beginner ukulele song suggestions.

Written by Jay Searle / Published January 3, 2024

Last updated: February 25, 2024

Certain songs are just perfect for instruments like ukulele, even if they were originally composed on a piano or guitar. If you ever wondered what some of the most popular songs would sound like on an uke, you’ve come to the right place.

We’re here to help you learn how to play some of the best beginner ukulele songs and how to read tabs, so without any further ado, let’s dive straight into it. 

How to Read Ukulele Tabs

Even though you could always try to learn popular songs by ear, the best way to do it is through ukulele tabs. Tablature or “tabs” refer to a type of music notation that contains the notes and chords for a particular song, as well as descriptions of recommended techniques (e.g., when to do upstrokes/downstrokes, slides, etc.). 

Without delving too deep into music theory, we’ll describe the essentials of ukulele tab reading in the following sections.

The “Staff”

The “Staff” is essentially a visual representation of the fingerboard. It contains four lines, each representing a ukulele string, as well as numerous vertical lines that divide the tab into equal “measures”. 

Time Signature

Time Signature tells you how long each “measure” lasts. The most common time signature is 4/4, meaning that one full note, two half notes, or four fourth notes (and so on) comprise a single measure. 

Notes & Note Length/Value

Arguably one of the most important aspects of learning how to read tabs is understanding note values. A simple way to think about it is: notes are letters, chords are words, and chord progressions are full sentences. 

As illustrated above, a “full note” lasts four beats and occupies the entire 4/4 measure. It has the same length as two half notes, four fourth notes, or eight eighth notes. Typically, when you learn how to play easy ukulele songs for beginners, you’ll encounter a myriad of unique combinations for each measure, such as two-quarter notes followed by four eighths or a half note followed by one-quarter note and two eights. 

Tempo

Tempo determines the speed at which a song is played. Most ukulele players use “BPM” (beats per minute) rather than official tempo names like Moderato or Largo since it’s easier. 

A “beat” is a single unit used to track time and define each note’s “value” or length. The slower the tempo is, the longer each note will last, and vice versa. For example, a full note at 60 bpm would be a half note at 120 bpm.

Chords

You’ll come across two types of ukulele tabs – traditional and digital. Traditional tabs usually feature chord names or letters that represent them (e.g., C, Am, G, A, and so on). 

Digital tabs use numerical expressions to illustrate the finger positioning of each chord; more advanced programs like Guitar Pro 6 (and later versions) also feature a function that allows players to include both chord names and numbers. 

We recommend using digital tabs (or tab apps like Songsterr) for beginners since you can easily use them from your phone or print them on paper if you prefer reading tabs from a physical format. 

Easy Ukulele Songs for Beginners

Now that you understand how to read tabs, let’s dive into the most popular simple songs you can play on a ukulele. We’ve handpicked tunes from different genres and music styles while prioritizing songs that are as fun to play as they are easy to learn. 

“Zombie” by The Cranberries

• Chords used: C, D, Em, G.
• Tempo: Allegro, 167 BPM.

Circulating on heavy rotation at all major radio stations, “Zombie” is a song that most people know by heart, and the chance is that you’re at least familiar with its melody, if not with its actual content. 

Easy chords, a moderately-paced tempo, and plenty of repetitions make it an ideal song for new uke players to learn. Its simplicity stems from the standard “verse-chorus-verse-chorus” concept nearly all hits from the 90s were based on. “Zombie” is quite a contagious song, so even after you’ve listened to it just once, you’ll likely be able to memorize its core parts. 

This song can teach beginners how to execute simple chord progressions fluidly. It’s just a tad faster than an average classic, but its chords are basic, so you shouldn’t have any problems playing it in its entirety after a few tries. 

“Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People

• Chords used: A, D, Em, G.
• Tempo: Allegro, 128 BPM.

Another pop hit that is considerably slower than “Zombie” (even though they’re in the same tempo tier), “Pumped Up Kicks” is an easy ride on the four most common ukulele chords – A, D, E Minor, and G. 

The only potentially challenging aspect of this song is the peculiar pattern of strumming, although the sluggish pace of the tune makes it easy to pick up on. Just like The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” only features verse and chorus parts, as well as a small interlude based on the same four chords. 

“Pumped Up Kicks” teaches beginners how to play songs with a slightly more advanced structure. Featuring both an intro and an outro that are somewhat different from the main parts, you’ll have to rely more on “actual” rather than just muscle memory. 

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

• Chords used: C, Am, F, G, Em.
• Tempo: Andante, 84 BPM.

One of the most emotional and moving songs of our time, “Hallelujah,” is as historic as it is beautiful. It’s an essential uke song for beginners looking for a challenge since it drifts away from the 4-chord norm, featuring C, A Minor, F, G, and E Minor throughout. 

“Hallelujah” verses are remarkably simple, comprised of two runs of C and Am followed by a simple progression of F, G, C, and G. If you take the time to listen to its lyrics, Leonard leaves hints to the “secret chords” he’s using in lines “the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift”. 

With singing and ukulele parts almost completely removed from each other, “Hallelujah” will teach you how to accurately play chords over melodies that don’t necessarily always overlap with rhythm. 

“Hotel California” by The Eagles

• Chords used: Am, E7, G, D7, F, Dm, C.
• Tempo: Andante, 75 BPM.

Many beginners panic when they see more than four ukulele chords being used in a song, but what if the song is played extremely slow and you already know it? 

“Hotel California” has reached all corners of the globe with its gorgeous acoustic parts, and playing it on a ukulele is a lot simpler than you may think, even though it does involve chords that some beginners are yet to learn, like E7 or D7. 

Just remember these two patterns, and you’ll have learned the entire “Hotel California” in a minute:

• Am, E7, G, D7
• F, C, Dm, E7

The entire song is played by repeating the cycle of these parts, and what you’ll learn from “Hotel California” is how to string seven simple chords in a single progression. 

Eventually, you’ll want to explore other styles of music, and as soon as you drift away from classic 4-chord hits, you’ll start seeing tunes that use upward of 10. For instance, Hey Jude by The Beatles has 12 chords, even though it’s considered a “simple” song. “Hotel California” will prepare you for such ventures. 

“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves

• Chords used: C, F, G, F.
• Tempo: Moderato, 110 BPM.

Every ukulele player should have at least a couple of happy, upbeat tunes in their pocket for parties, birthdays, and similar events. “Walking on Sunshine” is not only among the most popular iconic pop songs, but it’s also an extremely simple tune that you’ll be able to grasp in a few minutes. 

It’s essentially a loop of C-F-G-F and F-G-F-G patterns, but its fast-paced, upbeat tempo makes it stand out from the most straightforward ukulele songs. 

“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves will teach you how to play uke chords with relatively complex strumming patterns fast. It’s an ideal introduction to faster playing since the chords are as simple as they come, so you can completely focus on your strumming hand. 

Final Words

The majority of iconic songs got famous because they’re catchy and memorable. However, each of these tunes has something unique, whether it be a special selection of chords, arrangements, or the specific tone being used. 

We recommend learning these songs since each tune will teach you a different lesson. From elementary chord progressions to unique strumming patterns and controlling your tone, you’ll eventually get the hang of all fundamental ukulele chord-play techniques by mastering these tunes. 

Jay Searle

Website Founder & Writer

Jay 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.