Play Ukulele Hymns During Quarantine and Make the Best of a Difficult Situation

by | May 3, 2020 | About our books

Some of us play ukulele hymns during quarantine to help us get through these trying times. We try to make the best of a difficult situation and remain hopeful.

The novelty of being at home is wearing off

Now that most of the world is sheltering in place during the outbreak of Covid 19, the novelty of being home is wearing off. Some places are beginning to re-open here in the United States, but none of us know when we will go back to “normal” and if the “new-normal” will look anything like how we were living before. There is a sense of loss and grief that all of us are experiencing and that is for those of us who are lucky enough to simply be stuck at home.

Why play ukulele hymns during quarantine

In this time of crisis, we need something that offers us light and hope. What better than easy ukulele hymns? The lyrics are uplifting to your spirits. The songs are easy to play and can either be sung, or simply played. Many of the songs are presented in two different keys so you can choose the key that is best for your voice or is easier to play. Some of the songs with more complicated strumming patterns have the strumming pattern written underneath the melody so you can easily figure out how to fit the strumming pattern with the melody. Each song comes with a suggested strumming pattern and melody tab underneath so you can play the melody even if you don’t read music.

Our songs are beautiful to look at:

Each hymn has:

  1. chords used at the top of the song.
  2. suggested strumming pattern.
  3. melody tab underneath the lyrics.
  4. many verses.

What is included?

So, now you’re probably wondering what hymns are included. There are several options available. If you simply purchase the book, you will get 22 hymns.

If you decide to get one of the online hymn kits, you’ll get online video lessons, instruction on how to move from one song to another using tags and turnarounds, and thirteen chord melody versions of the hymns. You also get either six or twelve extra songs depending on which kit you get.

We are planning on having our hymn book and hymn kits ready sometime in May, so we hope you will keep a lookout for it. Here are the hymns in our book and online hymn kit.

What songs are in the hymn book?

  • Simple Gifts
  • What a Friend We have in Jesus
  • Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
  • Church in the Wildwood
  • Shall We Gather at the River?
  • Nearer My God to Thee
  • Fairest Lord Jesus
  • Jesus Loves Me
  • Give Me That Old Time Religion
  • Blest Be the Tie That Binds
  • How Great Thou Art
  • Rock of Ages
  • This Little Light of Mine
  • I Come to the Garden Alone
  • For the Beauty of the Earth
  • Be Thou My Vision
  • The Doxology
  • Amazing Grace
  • Prayer of Thanksgiving
  • All Things Bright and Beautiful
  • Be Still My Soul-Finlandia
  • A Mighty Fortress

Get our hymn kits and play ukulele hymns during pandemic

These hymn kits include:

  1. Online video lessons
  2. Thirteen chord melody versions of the hymns.
  3. Six or twelve extra songs depending on which kit you get.
  4. Instruction on how to move from one song to another using tags and turnarounds.

 

 

Extra Songs in the Hymn Kits:

  • Chatter With the Angels
  • He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
  • Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In 
  • Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 
  • Michael Row the Boat Ashore 
  • Kumbaya
  • Beautiful Robes So White
  • We Shall Overcome
  • In My Heart There Rings a Melody
  • Wayfaring Stranger
  • Wondrous Love
  • Eternal Father Strong to Save

 13 Chord Melodies included in Hymn Kits:

  1. Simple Gifts
  2. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
  3. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee- 2 Key
  4. Shall We Gather at the River?
  5. Nearer My God to Thee
  6. Jesus Loves Me-2 keys
  7. Amazing Grace
  8. A Mighty Fortress is Our God
  9. Fairest Lord Jesus
  10. Prayer of Thanksgiving
  11. Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
  12. Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In
  13. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

We hope you purchase our ukulele hymn products and play ukulele hymns during quarantine. We thought you might also want to check our playlist of ukulele hymns on YouTube.

Do you want to play hymns with confidence?

In our Hymn Kits you'll find something for varied learners, from beginners to a little more advanced.

Get your Hymn Kit today!

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll enjoy these related posts:

These posts will show you how to play other hymns on the ukulele.

Related posts:

Default Thumbnail21 Songs In 6 Days Helps Teachers Lone tree silhouetted against a vibrant sunset.How to Play Nearer My God to Thee – Easy Ukulele Song How to Play Silent Night Ukulele Chord Melody
  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.

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. 

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