In this lesson we’ll teach you how to play “Let It Be” on ukulele. Learn the chords, the strumming pattern and sing along to this absolute classic hit from The Beatles!
Written by Jay Searle / Published December 18, 2023
Last updated: April 05, 2024
“Let It Be” by The Beatles is a powerful tune with inspiring lyrics, but more importantly, it’s also a very simple song that most ukulele beginners can jump into.
Similar to most songs that dominated the airwaves throughout the ‘70s, “Let It Be” ukulele chords are C, G, Am, and F – the four fundamental uke chords that sound great together and are fairly easy to fret.
Before diving into our tutorial, let’s have a brief history lesson about why this song is still relevant over 50+ years later and for immediate beginners, how to play the required chords.
Song Tabs: Jump to Let It Be Chords & Lyrics Sheet
About “Let It Be” by The Beatles
Paul McCartney composed “Let It Be” with John Lennon’s help. He recently revealed that the inspiration for this song came from a dream he had during a time when The Beatles were going through a turbulent phase.
Paul dreamt of his late mother, noting that she appeared “aware” that he was going through a stressful time, and the words “let it be” rang even as he woke up.
Even though it was originally composed on a piano, Lennon’s powerful chords right before the solo give “Let It Be” a unique dynamic, doubling down on the heartfelt emotions poured into the tune.
The simple Let It Be uke chords add to its strength and delivery, allowing the melody followed by Paul’s voice to shine their brightest.
“Let It Be” Ukulele Chords Explained
You only need to know four ukulele chords to play “Let It Be” – the C chord, the G Chord, the A minor chord, and the F chord.
All of them are considered “beginner” chords, meaning that even if you just started playing, you’ll be able to learn them in a few minutes by following our guides and illustrations below.
C Chord
The C chord is among the easiest uke chords since there is only one fret that needs to be pressed. Fret the C note on the third fret of the A string while leaving the other strings (G, C, and E) “open” and strum.
G Chord
Of all “Let It Be” uke chords, the G chord is arguably the only one that some beginners may struggle with. Unlike the C chord with only one fret position, the G chord has three – the notes D and B in the second position of the strings C and A, respectively, and the note G in the third position of the string A. The G string is still supposed to be played open.
Even though different players may have different fretting preferences, the ideal fretting system for this chord is as follows:
- Put your Index finger on note D
- Put your Middle finger on note B
- Put your Ring finger on note G
Alternatively, you can form a bar chord over D and B using only your index finger while fretting G with your middle finger. However, using three fingers to fret each note separately is recommended for the sake of more accurate playing.
Am Chord
The “saddest” chord in “Let It Be” is the opener of the second verse. It’s as easy to play as the C chord since it also revolves around fretting a single note – A. The strings C, E, and A are left open, while the note A in the second position of the G string is the only one you need to press.
Keep in mind to not accidentally form a bar chord over the entire second fret position, as this might ruin the sound of your Am chord by muting the open strings. Ideally, hold the A note with your middle finger slightly bent so that you can transition into the F chord immediately after fluidly.
F Chord
The F chord requires only a simple change to the A minor chord in order to play. While fretting the A note with your middle finger, place your index finger on the F note in the first position of the E string while the strings C and A should remain open.
One of the most common mistakes beginners tend to make is fretting the Am chord with their index finger. If you’re changing to an F chord then this requires a shift in hand position. Practice using your middle finger to fret the A note on the g string when playing both the Am and F chords in “Let It Be”.
A Major and Bb/A# Major (Bridge Section)
These chords only make a very brief appearance in the song in the bridge section but they have such an impact. The change between the two is quite quick but fortunately you can simply slide the whole shape down a fret from the A# chord to the A chord.
NB: Bb and A# are the same chord.
“Let It Be” Ukulele Tutorial
Now that you know the chords, let’s have a quick rundown of the entire song – complete with strumming patterns:
Verse Sections
“Let It Be” opens with what is basically a full play through of all the chords contained in the verse, only without any lyrics. The verse contains all the chords we’ve just been through but in the following order:
C-G-Am-F-C-G-F-C
This progression is played through twice to complete each verse.
Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern that we recommend can be used for the entire song. It follows a simple D-DU-D-DU pattern with chord changes on each of the single downstrokes on beats 1 and 3 of the bar.
The only real time we deviate from this pattern is at the end of the progression during the quick “walk down” accompanying the line ‘let it be’. This occurs during the last F-C chord change and is entirely optional to play. If you’d rather keep it simple, feel free to continue using the above strumming pattern over the F-C chord change.
Walk Down to C Major – Let It Be Ukulele Tabs
If you’re feeling game, I recommend you give it a go. We’re essentially adding in two “chords” between the F and the C. These chords are Em and Dm, but we’re not playing the whole chord, just the two notes on the C and E strings. See the tabs below:
We’re basically using our two fretting fingers in roughly the same shape as per the F chord, only bringing them together to adjacent strings. After strumming the F chord on the first down beat, shift your hand to position your fingers on the third fret of the E string and the fourth fret of the C string. I tend to use my thumb and middle finger to pluck the two fretted strings.
Then all you do is slide that shape down two frets, pluck the strings, and then release your fingers and pluck the same two strings only this time letting them ring open.
Chorus
The chorus features the same chords as the verses but in a different order:
Am-G-F-C-(C)-G-F-C
You’ll notice that the last four chords, C-G-F-C, are the same as above in the verse sections. Similarly, if you’re playing the walk down section simply play it as you learnt above, between the last F and C chord.
Bridge Section
The bridge part starts off by repeating the walk down from F to C as we’ve already covered. It then adds another walk down from A# to A, then G, then F and C.
F-(Em)-(Dm)-C-A#-A-G-F-C
The strumming pattern for the A#-A-G walk down is the same as that for the F-Em-Dm-C section.
Let It Be Ukulele Chords and Lyrics
Intro
C, G, Am, F, C, G, F, [Em, Dm] C
1st Verse
C G Am F
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me.
C G F [Em, Dm] C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
C G Am F
And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me.
C G F [Em, Dm] C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Chorus
Am G F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
C G F [Em, Dm] C
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Verse 2
C G Am F
And when all the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
C G F [Em, Dm] C
There will be an answer, let it be.
C G Am F
But though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see.
C G F [Em, Dm] C
There will be an answer, let it be.
[Chorus]
Bridge
F, [Em, Dm], C, A#, A, G, F, C
Solo
C, G, Am, F, C, G, F, [Em, Dm], C [x2]
Verse 3
C G Am F
And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me,
C G F [Em, Dm] C
Shine until tomorrow, let it be.
C G Am F
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me.
C G F [Em, Dm] C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
[Chorus] x2
Outro
F, [Em, Dm], C, A#, A, G, F, C
Conclusion
The Beatles started a revolution with their unique, quirky riffs and antics, but most of their songs are quite simple at heart. Let It be isn’t an exception, although transposing a song composed on a piano on a small uke might be difficult for new players. We hope that our Let It Be ukulele tabs helped you learn how to play this legendary song.
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.
