How to Play Arirang on Ukulele

by | Mar 18, 2018 | Video lessons

DOWNLOAD LYRICS AND CHORDS SHEET

Before viewing the video on how to play Arirang on ukulele, download the lyrics and chords sheet here. Then you can easily follow the ukulele tutorial.

Ukulele chords for Arirang: C, Am, F, G7

CHORDS AND STRUMS

We here at ukulele.io present you a tutorial on how to play Arirang on ukulele. We think it’s pretty easy to learn for two reasons. First, the song uses just four chords: C, Am, F and G7. Second, the strum is a simple down-down-down flow with three strums per measure.

There is also a part in the middle where you get to play the melody. Jenny illustrates this fingerpicking method in the video. To get a copy of the tab sheet, please purchase our new book, Ukulele for All.

 

KOREAN FOLK SONG

Arirang is a famous and revered Korean folk song. In fact, UNESCO has inscribed it on their Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list, first in 2012 then again in 2014.

Although the song is known to be first recorded in 1896, it is said to be around for more than six centuries. An American ethnologist named Alice Fletcher made the 1896 recording of three Korean students while they were singing the song at her home.

A SONG THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND VARIATIONS

While many consider Arirang a simple song  – the song having just a few lines and an easy melody – it undoubtedly inspires creativeness and replication that it is believed to have more than 60 versions. Additionally, these 60 versions have their own different variations that in total add up to more than 3,600 variations.

Koreans, whether from the South or from the north, universally love this immortal song. Many regions have their own variations, each one improvising new lyrics to incorporate their local culture.

The different versions of Arirang are usually named after the place they originated. The Jeongseon Arirang is widely accepted as the original version which originated from Jeongseon town in Gangwon province. However, the most commonly known version is the Bonjo Arirang which was made popular by a 1926 film also entitled Arirang. There are many other popular regional versions such as the Jindo Arirang and Miryang Arirang.

A SONG THAT UNITES A DIVIDED NATION

Since the Korean War in 1953, Korea is still a nation divided but the song Arirang is well-loved in both countries. Both North Korea and South Korea successfully submitted the song to UNESCO’s ICH list. The former submitted in 2012 and the latter in 2014.

In the 2018 Winter Olympics, athletes for both countries marched together to the tune of Arirang. As such, many refer to it as a melody that unites a divided nation. In addition, an 80-year old Korean named Kim Nam-ki sang Jeongseon Arirang during the opening ceremony. The message of peace and harmony that the Olympics hopes to deliver is also embodied in Arirang.

Arirang is one of the songs in our book “Ukulele for All.”

Ukulele for All book cover featuring two ukuleles; easy learning method.

  • Unique UFA pedagogy begins with one chord songs to give students instant success as they learn solo and ensemble skills.
  • For today's digital learners, the INTERACTIVE Practice studio - included free - offers multi-screen video lessons, play-along recordings, and more for every song in the book.
  • The informative Teacher Edition will make it easy for you to succeed with teaching ukulele.

Get your copy now!

Buy From Amazon Link

 

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  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. 

Download PDF

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