Top 10 Ukulele Songs for Kids in 2020

Today we are offering our top 10 ukulele songs for kids. This is a curated list, and you can scroll down to download the songs now! Jenny has taught these songs to kids from kindergarten up to 8th grade. We recommend the ukulele as a great instrument for kids. Read more about why you should buy a ukulele for your kid here.

We all agree that music plays an important role in our society. It’s safe to say that we humans can’t do without music.

Our connection with music begins when we are infants. Music is an essential part of every child’s development. Researchers have found that singing is one of the most meaningful ways we bond with our children.

“Infants pay more attention to singing than speech” says Dr. Sandra Trehub at the University of Toronto.

But most parents don’t need scientists to tell them this. Anyone who has lulled a child to sleep with a lullaby knows how important music is to children.

As children grow, music remains a crucial part of their development. One of the best ways your child can reap the benefits of music is to learn how to play an instrument.

We’ve provided a video tutorial and chords for each song so that you can play along. We hope you and your kids have fun playing through these online ukulele lessons!

And here’s our top 10 ukulele songs for kids…

10. Puff the Magic Dragon

To start us off, we have Puff the Magic Dragon at number 10. This popular classic was written in 1959 by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow and recorded by the American folk group trio of Peter, Paul, and Mary in 1963. Here is our lesson.

9. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

At number 9, we have Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. In 2002, the song was added in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. Here is our lesson.

8. Edelweiss

Next up, we have Edelweiss. Most of us will recognize the song from the musical The Sound of Music , which it was created for. Edelweiss refers to a type of flower that is rare and short-lived. Here is our lesson.

7. Buffalo Gals

Buffalo Gals comes in 7th. This is an old American folk song, having first been written in 1844 by John Hodges and since then, it has been widely popular in the United States. Here is our lesson.

6. Clementine

Clementine takes position 6 in our top 10 ukulele songs for kids. This old western folk ballad is believed to have been inspired by Down by the River Liv’d a Maiden by H. S. Thompson. Here is our lesson.

5. The Yellow Rose of Texas

We are at number 5! The Yellow Rose of Texas takes the position. This song can be traces all the way back to the 1850s and it was chosen by Western Writers of America as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. Here is our lesson.

4. Happy Birthday

This is perhaps one of the most popular songs in the planet and it is in the Guinness book for being the most recognized English song. It comes in at number 4 in our list. Here is our lesson.

3. The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Of course The Lion Sleeps Tonight had to make it in the list. The song was written and recorded by Solomon Linda, originally in Zulu, but was made popular when it was adapted in English by the doo-wop group, The Tokens. Here is our lesson.

2. Buffalo Gals

Buffalo Gals is a great folk song with only two chords. It is really fun to sing and strum. Here is our lesson.

1. Molly Malone

Molly Malone takes first place! It is recognized as an Irish folk song although there is no conclusive evidence that it of Irish origin. The lyrics of this famous song are interesting as it tells the story of a pretty girl who sells fish and seafood in Dublin from her wheelbarrow. Enjoy. Here is our lesson.

So there you have it, top 10 ukulele songs for kids. We hope you enjoyed playing through them. You can subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch more video tutorials.

Happy strumming!

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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.

Top 10 Ukulele Songs for Kids