Colors of the Wind Ukulele Tutorial for Beginners

by | Feb 18, 2019 | Kids and school, Video lessons

Now is your chance to learn to play the Pocahontas theme song on ukulele with this Colors of the Wind ukulele tutorial.

COLORS OF THE WIND UKULELE TUTORIAL

First of all, you’ll need to know seven chords for this Colors of the Wind ukulele tutorial. The chords are C, Am, Em, F, Dm, G and Bb. Although Bb is a bit more challenging to make than the other chords, you’ll only need to do it once in the song. Secondly, you’ll follow a D-DU-D-DU pattern (D-down, U-up). Additionally, Jenny also shows how to do a fingerpicking accompaniment on the second verse. So you can choose to work with the standard strumming pattern, the fingerpicking style or both.

 

If you want more of Colors of the Wind ukulele tutorial, check out the video section of our Facebook page for a recording of the Live lesson on this song.

In addition, don’t forget to subscribe here and get weekly email notifications of ukulele tutorials. Most importantly, these notifications include downloadable sheet music with lyrics, chords and/or tabs for the featured song.

WRITTEN BY ALAN MENKEN AND STEPHEN SCHWARTZ

The multi-awarded composer Alan Menken created the music for Colors of the Wind. Equally acclaimed lyricist Stephen Schwartz wrote the lyrics for it. Menken and Schwartz worked on the film score for Disney’s Pocahontas and Colors of the Wind was the first song they composed. Before Pocahontas, Menken had worked previously on the score of various Disney films including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. When Menken’s frequent collaborator Howard Ashman died, Disney recruited Schwartz to work with Menken. Despite not having worked in the film industry, Schwartz accepted and Pocahontas which was released in 1995 was their first collaboration. In addition, Menken and Schwartz also worked together to create the score for The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996 and Enchanted in 2007.

WIDELY RECOGNIZED PHILOSOPHICAL SONG

Sunset over a mountain valley.Many critics and writers consider Colors of the Wind as a philosophical and though-provoking ballad. The song’s lyrics touched on the subjects of racism and equality as well as environmental awareness and harmonious nature. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored Colors of the Wind with the award for Best Original Song.  Likewise, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association bestowed the Best Original Song award to the Pocahontas theme song. Moreover, the Recording Academy also awarded the Grammy to the musical team of Menken and Schwartz for Best Song Written for Visual Media.  

Judy Kuhn, who played the singing voice of Pocahontas, first recorded Colors of the Wind. But Vanessa Williams performed the song for the film’s soundtrack. Williams’ version, released as a single, charted in many countries reaching number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

Happy strumming!

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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. 

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