This Land Is Your Land Ukulele Tutorial

by | Jul 22, 2019 | Video lessons

This week, we’re featuring “This Land Is Your Land” ukulele tutorial. “This Land Is Your Land” is a very famous American folk song. Woody Guthrie composed the first version of the song in 1940. Accordingly, Guthrie wrote the song because of  “God Bless America.” Guthrie was exasperated and weary of hearing Irving Berlin’s composition on the radio. Actually, he initially entitled the 1940 version “God Blessed America.” However, Guthrie later replaced the line “God blessed America for me.” This became “This land was made for you and me.” Subsequently, he renamed the title as “This Land Is Your Land.”

By the way, you might want to check our easy ukulele tutorial for “God Bless America”. Or visit our blog main page for a list of more ukulele lessons. Also, subscribe here  to receive bi-weekly ukulele updates including sheet music. Sheet music contains ukulele chords, lyrics of the song, strumming pattern and melody tabs.

 

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND UKULELE TUTORIAL

To play along with “This Land Is Your Land” ukulele tutorial, we’ll need five chords. “This Land Is Your Land” ukulele chords are all open chords, no bars: C, C7, F, Am and G7.

In addition, strumming pattern follows a D-U-D-U (D-down, U-up) repetition. But there are some cases where Jenny rests on strumming to give focus to the lyrics. And also to give the song more interest.

 

 

GUTHRIE’S MOST FAMOUS AND INFLUENTIAL SONG

Although Guthrie composed hundreds of folk songs and ballads, many consider “This Land Is Your Land” as his most famous and influential song. The National Recording Preservation Board included “This Land Is Your Land” on the list of recordings to be preserved in the US National Recording Registry in 2002.

Many love the song for its powerful description of America’s beauty and promise. But many also consider it as a protest and political song. In fact, the original version of the song that Guthrie penned in 1940 expressed his sadness with the country’s economic inequality and apathetic greediness. When he recorded the song in 1944, however, he replaced several political verses in the song.

Woody Guthrie, singer, songwriter, dean of American folk artists in a 1947 publicity photo. (AP Photo/RCA Victor)

Nonetheless, the song’s influence, and Guthrie’s in general, cannot be disputed. “This Land Is Your Land” remains to be a revered American folk song. Some even claim it to be as popular as the national anthem. On the other hand, Guthrie influenced many generations of American singers and songwriters. To name a few, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen cited Guthrie as an inspiration.

Like other popular folk songs, “This Land Is Your Land” inspired numerous versions and variations. In fact, singers from many countries have recorded the song. They adapted the lyrics to their own language and national narrative.

 

Do you want to sound convincing on folk songs? You know basic chords and strumming patterns. And you’re interested in folk music. You’d like to take it to the next level.

Get your copy now!

Related posts:

Woman playing ukulele, chords for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" ukulele lesson.Ukulele Lesson on The Lion Sleeps Tonight Woman playing ukulele, singing "The Lion Sleeps TonightHow to Play The Lion Sleeps Tonight Orange tabby cat with white chest, looking directly at the camera.The Cat Came Back Beginner Ukulele Tutorial
  1. Teach a Rest Position

Create a standard position players use whenever they are listening:

  • Place the ukulele flat against the body.
  • Rest the strumming hand gently on the strings.
  • Keep both hands still.
  • Look toward the leader.

Call it “rest position” and demonstrate it at the group’s first meeting. Use the same phrase consistently: “Ukuleles in rest position, please.”

This physically mutes the strings and gives everyone a clear visual signal that playing has stopped.

  1. Use One Attention Signal

Choose a signal that can be seen or heard across the room. Possibilities include:

  • Raising one hand
  • Playing a short, distinctive chord
  • Saying, “Rest position”

Explain the signal before rehearsal begins: “When you see my hand raised, finish the chord you are playing, mute your strings, and look up.”

Avoid competing with the group by repeatedly talking over the instruments. Give the signal, pause, and wait until everyone is ready.

  1. Set a Clear “No Noodling” Expectation

Many players noodle because they are excited, nervous, practicing a difficult chord, or unaware that it is distracting. Address the behavior without embarrassing anyone.

Try saying:

“Between songs, please mute your strings so everyone can hear the instructions. We’ll always give you a moment to check chords before we begin.”

Then build short, intentional practice windows into the session:

  • “Take 20 seconds to find the opening chord.”
  • “Quietly check the change from C to G7.”
  • “Let’s try that strum together once.”

Players are more likely to stop playing at random when they know when practice is welcome.

  1. Amplify the Leader, Not the Entire Room

In larger groups, a small microphone, portable speaker, or amplified ukulele can save the leader’s voice and make directions easier to follow. Amplification should provide clarity—not to overpower the players.

Test the equipment before the session, position the speaker where everyone can hear it, and keep spoken instructions short. A microphone cannot replace an attention routine, but it makes a good routine much more effective.

  1. Create Predictable Transitions

Noodling often fills uncertainty. Tell players exactly what is happening next:

    1. “Finish the final chord.”
    2. “Rest position.”
    3. “Turn to page 14.”
    4. “Find a C chord.”
    5. “Watch for my count-in.”

Use a visible or audible count-in before every song. Once players learn that nothing begins until the leader counts them in, spontaneous starts become less common.

6. Operate iPads for music.

Many ukulele groups read off iPads, and everyone buys the same app. forScore is one of the common ones, but don’t get anything until the group leader tells you which one they use. From there, the leader or the singer/songwriter shares the music by AirDrop, so everyone is reading off the same page. Corrections land with the whole group at once, and nobody is working from an outdated copy.

 

A Simple Group Agreement

At the beginning of a session, say:

“To help everyone hear and learn, we use rest position whenever someone is speaking. When I raise my hand, please mute your strings and look up. You’ll have time to check chords before each song, and we’ll always start together on the count-in.”

The goal is not silence for its own sake. It is to create a group in which instructions are brief, rehearsals move smoothly, and everyone gets more time to make music together.

 

Here’s a list of etiquette expectations from ukulele group members to make the group learning more effective and fruitful for everyone. 

Download PDF

Keep me posted about the release of 21 Easy Ukulele Hymns

Thanks for signing up - we'll keep you posted about the launch of 21 Easy Ukulele Hymns