Upbeat songs with simple chord structures make great starting-out ukulele songs for beginners. Hey Jude by the Beatles is an iconic three-chord tune that is easy to learn on the uke.
Chord diagrams (or frames) are an efficient way of learning the ins and outs of fingering ukulele strings. They display standard notation as well as tablature that ukulele players can read, with fretting finger positions indicated by small numbers.
La Bamba
Ritchie Valens made La Bamba famous as part of Chicano rock, becoming an important piece in its own right as part of Ritchie Valens’ cultural pride movement and rock and roll history. La Bamba quickly became one of the classic Mexican folk songs to reach a mainstream audience during that period and remains one of its hallmarks today.
The song is inspired by Veracruz’s traditional Son Jarocho music, performed by people of mixed heritage from that state. This rhythmic style combined African, Caribbean, and indigenous cultures and was played on stringed instruments like harps and requinto/guiraro guitars; popular dance performances often used it during weddings in Mexico.
Valens’ original rendition was only moderately successful; however, Los Lobos recorded it for their 1987 biopic about him and it quickly rose in popularity – becoming a #1 single 28 years after Valens had passed. Furthermore, its lyrics written entirely in Spanish made history; Weird Al Yankovic even covered this song! The song remains popular today among musicians as many artists cover its version; moreover it even earned Weird Al his place among his top hits list!
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee and quickly showed an aptitude for music as she sang and played guitar from an early age. Soon thereafter she began performing locally on radio and TV broadcasts in Knoxville before making the move to Nashville, the country music capital of America, after graduation from high school. Soon thereafter she became a regular on Grand Ole Opry performances while her recordings with RCA records brought fame across America.
In the late ’60s, she sought to broaden her appeal by singing crossover hits that increased both her country music and pop artist visibility. Hit albums and box office movies followed along with successful syndicated TV series.
In 1987, she collaborated with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt to record Trio, earning Grammy recognition. Two years later she founded Dolly Records under her own name; 9 to 5 debuted on Broadway later that same year as well. Dolly Parton has received numerous accolades such as Library of Congress Living Legend award and National Medal of Arts recognition; her charitable initiatives include her Dolly Parton Imagination Library which sends free books directly to children.
Blink 182
Blink 182 is an American rock band founded in Poway, California in 1992. Since then it has undergone various changes, hiatuses, and reunions, but remains one of the most acclaimed pop-punk acts from this era. Current members are bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus; guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge; and drummer Travis Barker – members that remain popular members. Blink 182’s live shows are famously energetic while their irreverent humor adds another level.
Blink-182’s first demo tape, entitled Flyswatter, was recorded using a 4-track recorder in drummer Scott Raynor’s bedroom in 1993 and given out as gifts. A second demo called Buddha was later produced; fifty copies were given away to friends and family members as giveaways.
Band members began performing gigs around San Diego and quickly established themselves as popular local acts, eventually signing with MCA Records for their debut release, Cheshire Cat, in 1995 which proved to be a massive hit, followed by Dude Ranch in 1997 and Enema of the State three years later.
In 1998, drummer Scott Raynor made an unexpected exit. To replace him temporarily on tour and ultimately permanently join their group. Travis Barker of support band The Aquabats offered to join them as their drummer; after learning all the songs for that leg of their tour, he officially joined their ranks permanently.
A Horse With No Name
A Horse With No Name” by American folk-rock band America and written by frontman Dewey Bunnell has become a classic track on their album and featured prominently in Breaking Bad as well.
This song depicts a desert landscape filled with plants, birds, rocks, and mysterious “things”. The singer feels isolated but content in their solitude; being reminded who they really are helps keep their identity in tact – an especially relevant message for anyone who has achieved fame as they may become overshadowed by crowds of followers that follow them around.
This song was initially released as a single in 1971, but later added to their self-titled debut album when it reached #1 in January 1972. Re-releasing the track in both UK and US also proved successful.
This song was recorded in E Dorian (a key with two sharps, F# and C#), using acoustic guitars, bass guitar, and bongo drums – and Gerry Beckley (one of America’s founding members) says they decided on this tuning as it sounded very country.
Dancing in the Moonlight
Dancing in the Moonlight was written and recorded by Sherman Kelly and recorded by Boffalongo, a band featuring Wells Kelly’s brother Wells as well as drummer Harvey Brooks, guitarist Larry Hoppen, bassist Doc Robinson and Peter Giansante. Released in 1970 with regional success for this group, Wells Kelly later joined French-American band King Harvest and its version featuring lead vocals by Robinson reached number 13 on Billboard Hot 100 chart before it would later be covered globally by English group Toploader in 2000.