Ukulele Tutorial for Yankee Doodle – Easy Ukulele Song for Fourth of July

by | Jun 28, 2018 | Video lessons

With Fourth of July just around the corner, we present a ukulele tutorial for “Yankee Doodle.” “Yankee Doodle” is an easy ukulele song that may sound nonsensical but actually has an interesting history as to how it became one of America’s favorite patriotic songs.

Ukulele Tutorial for “Yankee Doodle”

Let’s first proceed to the ukulele tutorial for “Yankee Doodle.” Jenny plays the song on the ukulele in two keys – key of G and key of C. With both keys – you only need three chords. For the key of G, you’ll need G, D7 and C. While for the key of C, you’ll need C, G7 and F. Jenny also illustrates fingerpicking for the melody on the last part of the tutorial.

 

(Added 21 October 2020)

How to Play Melody Tab for “Yankee Doodle”

We have received requests for Jenny to teach how to play the melody tab of “Yankee Doodle” so here’s a new video to grant these requests!

 

Sheet Music for “Yankee Doodle”

Don’t forget to download a lyrics and chords sheet of the song here so you can easily track the tutorial.

Ukulele chord chart for Yankee Doodle. Easy tutorial for beginners.

A melody tab sheet is also available here.

Song History

“Yankee Doodle” became famous during the American Revolution in 1775 to 1783. At that time, songs were already used not only for entertainment and worship but also as a medium for satire and parodies to tell funny or fascinating stories, to send a message to public figures or even to insult adversaries.

The opposing sides of the ongoing war traded insults through satirical songs. “Yankee Doodle” was one of these songs which British soldiers sang to get back at the American soldiers by calling them “Yankee Doodles.” Yankee was a disdainful word to describe a colonist and a doodle is fool or a simpleton. In addition, the song depicts the ‘Yankee Doodle’ as ridiculous, portrayed by a poorly dressed man riding a pony as opposed to a horse.

Reappropriation

The American rebels though embraced the song and created other versions of it to return the insult to the British redcoats. With the Americans eventually winning the war, Yankee Doodle became their  favorite anthem. Instead of being received as an insult, the “Yankee Doodle” label brought pride to the Americans. On the other hand, it was difficult for the British to hear the song while marching to their surrender.

What the American soldiers did – embrace what was meant as insulting or disparaging and claim as their own – would later be known during modern times as reappropriation or reclamation. Nevertheless, the song “Yankee Doodle” has lived on to become one of the most well-known patriotic songs in America.

Have fun learning the song and happy Fourth of July!

Yankee Doodle is one of the songs in the first book of our book series: 21 Songs in 6 Days: Learn Ukulele the Easy Way!

Are you struggling with strumming?

With our book and course, you’ll become a fluent 3-chord strummer.

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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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