Morning Has Broken Ukulele Tutorial

by | Apr 2, 2018 | About our books, Beginners, Video lessons

LYRICS & CHORDS SHEET

First of all, “Morning Has Broken” ukulele tutorial includes a copy of the lyrics and chords sheet to make it easy for you to follow the video. Don’t forget to view or download it here.

UKULELE TUTORIAL

Since “Morning Has Broken” has four verses, Jenny played half of it in C major and the other half in G major so you have the option of going with whichever key is more comfortable for your voice. The chords for the C major version are C, D minor, G, F, E minor, A minor, D and G7. On the other hand, the chords for the G major version are G, A minor, D, C, B minor, E minor, A and D7.

In addition, Jenny also illustrates three different strumming patterns in the video. First, we have the simple all down strums with 3 beats per measure.  Second, there is the down (1 beat), down (1 beat), up-down (1 beat) flow. Finally, Jenny shows a plucking method which would be a hit with those who love playing solo ukulele.

 

BUNESSAN TUNE

The melody of “Morning Has Broken” was based on a Gaelic tune called “Bunessan”. Bunessan is a small Scottish village located in the island of Mull. However, “Morning Has Broken” was not the first song to be based on the Bunessan tune. A Christmas carol written in the 19th century entitled Leanabh an Aigh (translated into English as “Child in the Manger”) was also set in the Bunessan tune.

LYRICS BY ELEANOR FARJEON

Sunrise over a field of barley, reminiscent of "Morning Has Broken".

“Morning Has Broken” is a blissful and well-loved Christian hymn which was published in 1931. Eleanor Farjeon, a famous writer of children’s tales and poems, wrote its beautiful lyrics. Because Eleanor’s father was a novelist and her grandfather was an actor, she had been exposed to literary and dramatic arts since she was a child.

“Pan Worship,” “Nursery Rhymes of London Town,” “Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard,” and “Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field” are some of Eleanor’s popular books. Also, she has written plays for children as well as for adults in collaboration with her brother.

Because of the success and popularity of her work, the compilers of a widely used English hymnal called the Songs of Praise requested Eleanor to work on a gratitude poem that fits the Bunessan tune. Consequently, Eleanor came up with the hymn “Morning Has Broken”. The Songs of Praise hymnal creators included the song in the second edition of the hymnal. Today, this feel-good hymn is Eleanor’s best known work.

CAT STEVENS VERSION

While “Morning Has Broken” was already popular in England since its release in 1931, the song’s reach has widened when Cat Stevens included it on his Teaser and the Firecat album. The recording was released in 1971 and gained popularity outside of the UK. It placed sixth on the 1972 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and even made number one in the Billboard Adult Contemporary list. The song also ranked on the top ten of 1972 music charts in several countries like Australia, Canada, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

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

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

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

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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.

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. 

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