Easy Ukulele Songs: Perfect Tunes for Beginners

by Mark Pereira | Jun 25, 2025 | Beginners

Learning to play the ukulele can be a fun and rewarding experience for music lovers of all ages. It’s a great instrument for beginners due to its small size and simple chords. Discovering easy ukulele songs can help you build confidence and quickly improve your skills.

kids learning easy ukulele songs

By focusing on songs that are simple to learn, you can spend more time enjoying the music and less time struggling with difficult techniques.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to add to your repertoire, plenty of easy songs are perfect for new uke players.

1) “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole is a popular ukulele song.

The chords used in this song are C, Em, Am, F, G, Fadd9, and E7.

Here’s Jenny’s tutorial video on how to play the first of our easy ukulele songs “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”:

2) “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz is a great song for beginner ukulele players.

You will need to know only four chords: C, G, Am, and F.

Let’s watch Jenny’s tutorial video on how to play “I’m Yours” below:

3) “Riptide” – Vance Joy

“Riptide” by Vance Joy is a great choice for beginners. The tune is catchy and easy to play.

The song uses four basic chords: Am, G, C, and F.

Here is a video tutorial for “Riptide:”

4) “Counting Stars” – OneRepublic

“Counting Stars” by OneRepublic is a catchy song that you can easily play on your ukulele.

The chords you’ll use are: Am, C, G, F, and Dm.

These chords are simple and great for beginners.

Here’s a couple of videos that you can use to learn the song, one is a ukulele tutorial video and the other one is a play along video.

5) “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber

“Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber is a great song for beginners on the ukulele.

The chords you will need are C, G, Am, Dm, and F.

These are some of the most basic chords and are easy to play.

Here is a video tutorial for this song:

6) “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King

“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King is a favorite for ukulele players.

The chords you need are C, Am, F, and G.

These chords are suitable for beginners and sound great together.

Here’s a play along video you can use for this song:

7) “Hey Jude” – The Beatles

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles is another great song for beginners on the ukulele.

The chords used in the simplified version by Jenny are: C, G, F, and G7.

Let’s watch Jenny’s ukulele tutorial on this song here:

8) “Hallelujah” – Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is a beautiful song to play on the ukulele.

The chords you need for this song are: C, Am, F, G, and Em.

Here is Jenny’s ukulele tutorial on this song:

9) “Love Me Tender” – Elvis Presley

“Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley is a beautiful and simple song to play on the ukulele. The song has a gentle melody that’s perfect for beginners.

You’ll need a bit more chords for this song and these are: C, D7, G7, E7, Am, C7, F, Fm, and A7.

Here’s Jenny’s video tutorial for this song:

10) “Hey, Soul Sister” – Train

“Hey, Soul Sister” by Train is a popular song to play on the ukulele.

To be able to play simple chords, you’ll need to put a capo on the 4th fret of your ukulele. You will then be able to use these chords: C, G, Am, and F.

Here’s a video tutorial for this song:

Essential Ukulele Chords for Learning Easy Ukulele Songs

Learning essential ukulele chords helps you play many songs. Major and minor chords are key to mastering this instrument.

Basic Major Chords

Major chords are bright and happy. You need to know the C, G, F, and A major chords to start.

C Major: Place your ring finger on the third fret of the A string.

C Chord is used for many easy songs on ukulele

G Major: Place your index finger on the second fret of the C string, middle finger on the second fret of the A string, and ring finger on the third fret of the E string.

G chord is used for many easy songs on ukulele

F Major: Place your index finger on the first fret of the E string and your middle finger on the second fret of the G string.

A Major: Place your index finger on the first fret of the C string and your middle finger on the second fret of the G string.

These chords can help you play a lot of famous songs.

Basic Minor Chords

Minor chords have a sadder sound. Practice the A minor, E minor, and D minor chords to expand your playing.

A Minor: Place your middle finger on the second fret of the G string.

E Minor: Place your index finger on the second fret of the A string, your middle finger on the third fret of the E string, and your ring finger on the fourth fret of the C string.

D Minor: Place your index finger on the first fret of the E string, your middle finger on the second fret of the G string, and your ring finger on the second fret of the C string.

These chords add depth to your music.

Strumming Patterns for Easy Songs on Ukulele

Learning strumming patterns on the ukulele is key for beginners. Two easy patterns to start with are the Down-Up strumming pattern and the Island strum pattern.

Down-Up Strumming Pattern

The Down-Up strumming pattern is very simple and a great starting point. You play a down stroke followed by an up stroke. It repeats itself throughout the song.

Here’s a diagram:

To practice, strum down with your thumb or a pick, and then strum up with your finger or the pick. Keep your wrist loose.

You can count “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” for timing. This rhythm helps you keep a steady pace. Try it slowly at first, then speed up as you get more comfortable.

Playing this pattern on simple songs helps you get used to the movement. Songs like “Red River Valley” work well with this pattern.

Island Strum Pattern

The Island strum pattern, also known as the Calypso pattern, is popular and fun. It goes Down, Down-Up, Up, Down-Up.

To break it down:

Strum down on the 1st beat
Strum down-up on the 2nd beat
Skip the 3rd beat and strum up
Strum down-up on the 4th beat

Practice this pattern slowly: down, down-up, up, down-up.

It’s perfect for island-style songs and gives a lively feel.

Songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” fit well with this pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

When starting to learn the ukulele, it’s helpful to know which songs are easiest and most enjoyable to play. This section provides clear answers to common questions about beginner-friendly ukulele songs.

What are some simple ukulele songs suitable for children to learn?

Some great songs for kids include “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “You Are My Sunshine,” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

These songs use simple chords and are easy to sing along to.

How can I find tabs for easy ukulele songs?

Websites like Ultimate Guitar, Ukulele Tabs, and YouTube offer a wide variety of tabs.

You can search for a specific song or browse through beginner playlists to find easy tabs.

Which songs can I play using just the basic ukulele chords?

Songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz can be played with basic chords like C, G, Am, and F.

Can you recommend beginner songs for the ukulele that include chord diagrams?

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz and “Riptide” by Vance Joy both include simple chord diagrams in many tutorials.

These help you visualize where to place your fingers.

What are the first chords I should practice as a ukulele beginner?

Start with the C, G, F, and Am chords.

These are the foundation for many songs and are easy to learn. Practice switching between them smoothly.

Could you suggest a list of ukulele songs that only use two chords?

Songs like “Hush Little Baby” (C, G7 or F, C7), “Clementine” (C, G7 or F, C7) and “Jambalaya” (F, C7) use just two chords. These songs plus 30 more easy ukulele songs are in our classic book, “21 Songs in 6 Days.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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