The ukulele is the friendliest instrument to beginner music students out there by a long-shot. Everything from the uke’s small size down to its easily playable nylon strings makes this instrument a must-have for anyone wanting to break into the world of music. In addition to being easy to play, it’s also an incredibly affordable instrument. The best place to start mastering the uke is by learning how to play some basic chords before moving on to tackling easy ukulele songs. Today, we’re going to help you get started with the ukulele by showing you how to play three songs that are easy to learn and a blast to play on this incredible instrument.
Before we get started, make sure the uke you’re playing is a real ukulele. By “real,” we mean that the instrument you’re playing is able to stay in tune. There are lots of cheap, unplayable ukuleles floating around out there on the internet, so make sure that your instrument is the real deal. A cheap ukulele will make these easy ukulele songs much harder! A quick “ukulele tuner” internet search will give you access to notes to tune your uke strings to. By the way, the uke’s strings should be tuned to G-C-E-A. Ready to get started?
“Yellow Submarine,” by The Beatles
This is an easy, fun song adapted for ukulele that players of any age will enjoy. The only challenging chord transition here is the opening D to C progression where the D quickly transitions to the C after two pickup notes. Do your best to match the strumming pattern of the acoustic guitar, but feel free to simplify it if you need to.
D C G
In the town where I was born
Em Am C D
Lived a man who sailed to sea
G D C G
And he told us of his life
Em Am C D
In the land of submarines
G D C G
So we sailed up to the sun
Em Am C D
Till we found the sea of green
G D C G
And we lived beneath the waves
Em Am C D
In our yellow submarine
[Chorus]
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
[Verse]
D C G
And our friends are all on board
Em Am C D
Many more of them live next door
G D C G
And the band begins to play
Em Am C D
[Chorus]
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
[Instrumental]
[Verse]
G D C G
As we live a life of ease
Em Am C D
Everyone of us has all we need
G D C G
Sky of blue and sea of green
Em Am C D
In our yellow submarine
[Chorus]
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
G D
We all live in a yellow submarine
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
“Don’t Stop Believing,” by Journey
While it might not be the first thing you think of when looking for easy ukulele songs, Journey’s timeless hit “Don’t Stop Believing” can easily be transported from karaoke night to your living room with just a few simple ukulele chords. What you’re playing here essentially mimics the piano part from the song, so do your best to follow the rhythm but don’t worry if your version doesn’t sound exactly the same (it won’t).
[Verse]
C G Am F
Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world
C G Em F
She took the midnight train going anywhere
C G Am F
Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
C G Em F
He took the midnight train going anywhere
C G Am F
A singer in a smoky room, a smell of wine and cheap perfume
C G Em F
For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on
[Chorus]
F C
Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard
F C
Their shadows searching in the night
F C
Streetlight, people, living just to find emotion
F C
Hiding, somewhere in the night
[Verse]
C G Am F
Working hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill
C G Em F
Paying anything to roll the dice, just one more time
C G Am F
Some will win, some will lose, some were born to sing the blues
C G Em F
Oh, the movie never ends; it goes on and on and on and on
[Chorus]
F C
Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard
F C
Their shadows searching in the night
F C
Streetlight, people, living just to find emotion
F C
Hiding, somewhere in the night
[Outro]
C G Am F
Don’t stop believing hold on to the feeling
C G Em
Streetlight people
C G Am F
Don’t stop believing hold on to the feeling
C G Em
Streetlight people
C G Am F
Don’t stop believing hold on to the feeling
C G Em
Streetlight people
“Viva La Vida,” by Coldplay
Coldplay’s powerful music translates surprisingly well to the ukulele. You can either imitate the syncopated rhythm played by the orchestra in the band’s version or you can play the chords with an easier, more straightforward strumming pattern.
Intro – F – G – C – Am x2
– Am – F G
I used to rule the world
C Am
Seas would rise when I gave the word
F G
Now in the morning I sleep alone
C Am
Sweep the streets I used to own
F – G – C – Am x2
– Am – F G
I used to roll the dice
C Am
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
F G
Listen as the crowd would sing:
C Am
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
– Am – F G
One minute I held the key
C Am
Next the walls were closed on me
F G
And I discovered that my castles stand
C Am
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
F G
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
C Am
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
F G
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
C Am
My missionaries in a foreign field
F G
For some reason I can’t explain
C Am F G
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
Bm Am
That was when I ruled the world
F – G – C – Am x2
– Am – F G
It was the wicked and wild wind
C Am
Blew down the doors to let me in.
F G
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
C Am
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
– Am – F G
Revolutionaries wait
C Am
For my head on a silver plate
F G
Just a puppet on a lonely string
C Am
Oh who would ever want to be king?
F G
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
C Am
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
F G
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
C Am
My missionaries in a foreign field
F G
For some reason I can’t explain
C Am
I know Saint Peter will call my name ,
F G
never an honest word
Bm Am
But that was when I ruled the world
F – Am x3
G x2
F – G – C – Am x2
– Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh –
F G
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
C Am
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
F G
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
C Am
My missionaries in a foreign field
F G
For some reason I can’t explain
C Am
I know Saint Peter will call my name ,
F G
never an honest word
C Am
But that was when I ruled the world
F – G – C – Am and fading…
Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh
These are just three of the thousands of easy ukulele songs you can learn to help you get acquainted with this amazing instrument. Before moving on to learning these songs, take some time to memorize the included chords and master the transitions. The simple chords you’ve learned here apply to a countless number of other songs that can be played on the uke.
Awesome! This will give me some incentive to finally get that Ukulele out of my closet. I am a piano player myself and Ukulele was just a small hobby and consider myself as a complete beginner so these couple of cool songs will come handy. Thanks Patrick!