Beginners will quickly learn the G, C and D chords while practicing a steady DUDU pattern during verses and single strums in chorus.
This song requires more patience as it requires learning a barre chord, yet is still easy for beginners to pick up. Feel free to try different fingering patterns until you find what best works with your fingertips!
1. Hakuna Matata
Hakuna Matata, a Swahili phrase meaning “no trouble” or “take it easy”, became internationally recognized through Disney’s 1994 animated feature film The Lion King, where Timon and Pumbaa sang the iconic tune as part of teaching Simba how to let go of his past and live in the present moment. Elton John composed its music while Tim Rice provided its lyrics.
The song has become a cultural touchstone and an emblematic representation of Disney’s family-friendly brand, often heard at resorts, hotels, and theme parks owned by them.
Hakuna Matata has long been used in commercials and quiz shows. But recently it’s also become the subject of heated debate – Kenyan writer Joseph Ndubuisi spoke out against Disney’s attempt to trademark Hakuna Matata as cultural appropriation; NPR’s Esther Ngumbi interviewed him to explore this and other issues surrounding this timeless catchphrase.
2. Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters and Men are an Icelandic folk band who released their debut album My Head Is an Animal in 2012.
The band boasts a sound that blends modern and traditional folk music, with lyrics featuring numerous symbols and metaphors.
Fever Dream, their latest album released in 2017, showcases an assortment of sounds and instruments and stands as a stark departure from their earlier work.
One of the most striking elements of this album is that it features a full orchestra. However, its use does not detract from the music; making this album worth listening to – moving and giving goosebumps! Stream on Spotify or download from their website in various languages;
3. Just The Way You Are
This timeless ballad is an inspiring tribute to unconditional love and self-acceptance, featuring its soulful melody and tender vocals which have resonated with listeners worldwide – earning numerous accolades along the way and cementing its place in musical history.
This song offers an elegant and sophisticated arrangement, mixing traditional and contemporary elements. Piano takes center stage while melodic saxophone solo adds depth and texture. Syncopation gives an added element of rhythmic urgency, keeping listeners engaged throughout.
Billy Joel originally recorded and released the song as his debut US Top 10 and UK Top 20 single in 1977. Later, Bruno Mars wrote and performed an alternative version featuring Peruvian-Australian actress Nathalie Kelley on his 2010 album Doo-Wops and Hooligans, topping European charts and receiving wide airplay.
4. John Fogerty’s “It’s Gonna Be Alright”
Just three chords will do for this inspiring tune – C, F and G are enough! The lyrics are heartwarming while its relaxing arrangement makes it ideal for playback at events or just chilling with friends. Additionally, this song provides the ideal way to practice strumming techniques and perfect rhythm.
Once you learn and practice playing only four chords, any ukulele song becomes possible using only that method. This is particularly effective for beginners who have already learned C chord, the cornerstone of beginner ukulele playing. Plus, palm muting becomes even easier! Use the buttons below to perform demo searches based on chord skill level and genre preferences; similar search features are available through Ukulele Songbook and Advanced Ukulele Songs as well. Advanced Songs allows users to quickly locate songs by chord progression or strum pattern!
5. “Margaritaville”
Jimmy Buffett’s Island-Inspired Beachside Tune, often referred to as Keys Disease, transports you into an idyllic tropical setting where sea breezes blow gently among palm trees and tall glasses of rum cocktails are passed around for toasting and cocktails are served up tall glasses.
Though this song celebrates paradise, its narrator appears to be suffering and in anguish. The first verse illustrates this contrast by showing him turning to alcohol to soothe away his minor irritations and deeper frustrations that appear to be impacting his life.
This popular tune utilizes three basic chords – Em, C and G – with a reggae strumming pattern as its foundation. Keep this in mind when learning this song and you’ll soon find yourself singing along!
6. “Brown Eyed Girl”
Van Morrison’s iconic song “Brown Eyed Girl” offers straightforward chords and strumming pattern, making it an excellent tune to practice solo or with others.
This song employs several musical techniques, such as symbolism and metaphor. For example, its opening lines “Days go by so slowly” refer to time passing quickly while its chorus lyrics invoke nostalgia.
If you’re in search of more songs similar to these, check out the Uke Hunt collection arranged by chords used. Or use any of the buttons below to search songs using specific chords or genres – these searches will allow you to quickly locate tunes that suit your skill level quickly; and can even help create custom song lists to aid your practice sessions!
7. “Octopus’s Garden”
Octopus’s Garden features an engaging underwater theme and vibrant illustrations from bestselling illustrator Ben Cort. This book makes an easy and engaging way to share Ringo Starr’s timeless Beatles tune, “Octopus’s Garden”, with young children.
This mellow rock song utilizes three super simple chords – C and F! Beginning ukulele players will find this tune enjoyable and straightforward to play, using patterns like “DD UD on the C chord and quick succession of downstrums on the F chord to make learning to play this song easy and enjoyable.
Any song that can be played on guitar can also be performed on the ukulele. Use the blue button to run a search for songs suited for your skill level; or click Genre or Decade buttons for even more specific results. Give it a try – you might be amazed how many ukulele songs are within reach!
8. “Margaritaville”
Blink-182’s hit song on the ukulele is simple to learn with just four repeating chords – G, D and Em along with its simple strumming pattern of DD UU UDU making learning this song and staying within its tempo effortless.
While most kids begin learning C, using the index or middle finger instead may help strengthen it and create the cleanest sound possible. Practice pressing the back of your finger against your neck to increase force for an audible sound.
Want to see which songs can be played using beginner chords below? Simply click any button to launch a demo search for songs using those chords. These rock chords open up most songs; but there is also genre search functionality with other sets.
9. “Hakuna Matata”
This timeless reggae classic is an absolute ukulele classic! While its chords (C and F) may prove challenging at first glance, playing them proves simple! Just remember to palm-mute when strumming for that authentic Bob Marley sound!
“Hakuna Matata” derives its lyrics and melody from Swahili, an East African language, embodying an East African philosophy meant to alleviate problems. Timon and Pumbaa teach it to Simba in order to help him overcome his traumatized start in life. Composed by Elton John with lyrics written by Tim Rice (known for working on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biggest hits including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar), “Hakuna Matata” can help Simba recover.
Click any button to launch a DEMO search of these 4-chord songs, using genre and decade filters for more tunes. Or try searching by chord order if you are newer to music!
10. “Let It Be”
This Beatles classic shines bright on ukulele. Using simple C, F and G7 chords with an effortless D DU UDU strumming pattern, it makes this piece truly enjoyable to play.
On this recording (take 27b), Paul ran through the song again to refresh himself with its arrangement from their session the day prior. He had intended to record one that included its coda but it may have been overlooked or felt less essential than wrapping up Apple Studios and moving forward.
These ukulele songs with only C chord are perfect for both novice and experienced musicians alike, offering easy learning and lots of enjoyment when played. Click any button below for more ukulele songs to learn and practice chords and strumming!
This classic rock tune from the 1970s is great fun to learn and is relatively straightforward for beginning players – only requiring chords of C, F and G which should already be familiar to many ukulele players.
Another classic Sheeran love song, this one can be played using just three chords throughout. Try different strumming patterns to give this track its lively and buoyant sound.
Hallelujah
The word hallelujah is one of those magical words that bridge the sacred with everyday life, linking deep spiritual practices with pop culture. Sung correctly, its power can make one feel everything from pure joy to sadness.
It first made its first appearance in the Hebrew Bible as an amalgamation of two Hebrew words: hallel (which means to praise) and jahweh. But later adopted into Christianity and often reduced to just alleluia sung at churches or arenas worldwide as well as used to express our thanks for anything small such as losing weight or getting the last taxi ride home.
Though it has been used in multiple contexts, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen in 1984 remains one of the best-known instances. This emotive piece explores themes of good/evil, loss/gain and faith/fear but ultimately reinforces that even through life’s challenges there are plenty of reasons for gratitude.
Musical expression “Hallelujah” has been translated to numerous different musical genres from rock and roll to classical. Leonard Cohen’s rendition is perhaps most recognized; John Cale and Rufus Wainwright have covered it as well. No wonder “Hallelujah” has become such an integral part of modern musical culture — its beautiful melodies and poetic lyrics truly transcend time.
While many associate “hallelujah” with religious celebrations, it’s important to remember that it can also serve as an appropriate response for something already occurring – whether that be good health or landing your ideal job! Hallelujah serves as a powerful reminder that there’s much for which we can be grateful – making it a fitting way to end this list of songs you can play on ukulele!
Love Me Do
This Beatles classic song makes an excellent ukulele song for beginners since it only requires three chords to play and doesn’t involve complex strumming techniques. While some novice players might find the D chord challenging at first, once mastered it becomes simple.
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen is an easy ukulele song for beginners. While playing this tune requires using a capo to raise your ukulele’s nut up and change its key, this is not the only option available to you for playing this piece – C#/Db tuning may also work, as is more popular among folk musicians.
“Otherside” from Red Hot Chili Peppers may not be top of mind when thinking about ukulele songs, but “Otherside” by them makes an ideal song to transition your uke skills towards more grungy rock sounds. While more complex than some other choices on this list, if you take your time practicing each chord progression individually and gradually you’ll soon master this song in no time!
“Whistle” by Flo Rida is another ideal ukulele song for beginners interested in contemporary pop. Built around a familiar chord progression found in other pop tunes, “Whistle” should make learning the ukulele easier for most beginning ukulele players. Furthermore, you can speed it up for more pop feels or slow it down for melodic ballad tones!
Riptide
Riptide by Vance Joy can make you feel many emotions at the same time, from happiness due to its melody to confusion from its lyrics. The meaning behind this song could be someone used to be shy but now has all sorts of money and success which causes all his friends to turn green due to envy of him.
Counting Stars
OneRepublic’s Counting Stars is an inspiring and beautiful song that should be part of every ukulele player’s repertoire. It speaks about ambition and dreams while emphasizing material wealth over them – the music video even depicts burning money while people swim along rivers symbolizing this desire to pursue more important experiences over material possessions.
This song is perfect for beginners to the ukulele as its easy chords and laid-back island vibe make it accessible. Beginners who are just learning how to play will find this tune particularly fun and catchy – perfect for learning the instrument!
Kermit the Frog’s What A Wonderful World sounds great when performed on the ukulele; rhythm and strumming techniques will come in handy since ukuleles tend to be melodic instruments rather than powerhouse guitars.
There are many wonderful songs you can play on ukulele for beginners who are just getting started, even those just learning. From simple three chord arrangements that provide an ideal opportunity for building finger strength and strumming technique to those that utilize more chords like Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up” and John Lennon’s Imagine; click any button below to run a demo search and locate these songs and more!
One Day
“One Day”, from U2, is an ideal song to begin your ukulele journey as its three chords (C, F and G) make learning this beautiful tune simple and enjoyable! Plus it features some of the most beautiful lyrics ever heard – making learning it that much sweeter!
“Brown Eyed Girl”, composed by Van Morrison, is another great song to start learning the ukulele with. A timeless classic that works at any tempo while still sounding great; its simple chord progressions and lots of repetition make this piece great for practicing on.
OneRepublic’s hit song Counting Stars is another ideal pop hit for beginning players of the ukulele. This track blends pop and hip hop influences and is easy to play as it utilizes an I, V, VI, IV chord progression found frequently in popular music.
Ed Sheeran is an award-winning contemporary singer-songwriter known for his vast catalog of hits that span multiple genres and subgenres. His songs combine rich storytelling with simple acoustic guitar grooves for easy learning of ukulele songs for beginners like Otherside (which features an laid back verse that builds into an explosive chorus). These tracks can help beginners master strumming techniques as well as dynamic control!