Modern pop music features simple chords and strumming patterns that make it easier than ever to play popular songs on ukulele – Counting Stars being an excellent example!
Ed Sheeran’s track “Wonderwall” works particularly well when played on the ukulele. Though you will have to expand your chordal repertoire a little bit, its overall structure remains straightforward.
1. Take Me Away by The Beatles
Chuck Berry originally wrote this tune, but the Beach Boys brought it back into prominence by revamping it in the 60s. Their version features an infectious funk groove and will be accessible to ukulele players of any skill level; using only three chords with an easy strumming pattern of D-DU-UDU you should find no trouble learning this song!
The most iconic Beatles track, this timeless track serves as an outstanding demonstration of how simple chords can create such an infectiously catchy tune. Additionally, playing this duet style tune on ukulele allows for easy duet style playing experience.
As an added treat for fans of The Beatles, John Lennon wrote and didn’t officially record this song with them – making it extra special! Ringo takes lead vocals in this country-influenced ukulele song for beginners.
Hank Williams is next up on this list and his classic track about Creole and Cajun food known as Jambalaya should be part of every new ukulele player’s repertoire. Like many of the tracks here, it serves as an effective means of exploring how you can play to different moods or feelings by altering strumming patterns.
2. Jambalaya by Hank Williams
Classic country tune that is great fun to learn on the ukulele! The chords are straightforward and the strumming pattern offers an engaging experience, perfect for practicing rhythm. One key point about this song: bass part of strum should be more forceful than usual for more authentic sounding strums.
This song is also ideal for trying muted sixth string playing to ease strain on fingers. Beginners can benefit from using bass strum patterns; though doing this requires hitting lower strings more often – but will still sound great and be easier on hands.
While many know Hank Williams as a country artist, he also had a significant impact on rock and roll music. One song which highlights that is “This Song”, as it blends elements from country and rockabilly in equal measures with tremendous crossover appeal – it would likely have hit number one during its heyday but is not nearly as widely-known today.
Like “Take Me Away”, this song demonstrates just how easily songs that were originally intended to be performed on larger instruments can translate to the ukulele. Learning this tune will not only give you plenty of enjoyment when traveling with your ukulele but will also provide plenty of use if ever taking yours on tour!
3. The A Team by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran has established himself as an exceptional song writer since his debut album ‘Plus’ was released. His lyrics often use metaphors and double entendres in their writing; his song ‘Because’ serves as an excellent example of this style; featuring only four chords and an easy strumming pattern it should be straightforward even for beginning guitarists to master.
If you want to amp up the excitement, incorporating a bouncing accent in the strumming pattern can really add the perfect extra bit of flair and energy for your performance. Furthermore, adding this type of accent will also help your ukulele sound stand out amongst other instruments and become even more distinctive!
An ideal track to play would be Sheeran’s newer song ‘Happier’, co-written with Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco and hinting at past relationship breaks ups. This tune’s pop-rock genre will get people tapping their feet and singing along quickly!
It works really well when played on both G chords and D minor, making this song worth exploring with a low G note ukulele if possible – it will add another level of amusement that doesn’t exist with standard G chords!
4. I Will Follow You Into the Dark by The White Stripes
This fun and upbeat track from The White Stripes works exceptionally well on the ukulele due to its simple chord sequence – just Am, F and C chords used here, some of the basic pop chords. Beginners will find this track especially easy to pick up; additionally you can add an extra dimension by hitting each downstroke of each chord more forcefully – adding some percussion can really bring out its authenticity!
Switch up this list from upbeat songs that keep you moving with their simple rhythms to an emotive track from Van Morrison that demonstrates how ukulele music can convey all sorts of musical emotions. It’s an excellent opportunity to practice strumming pattern and sing along.
This contemporary ukulele hit is perfect for anyone hoping to show off their singing and ukulele skills in front of friends and family. Learn it solo or with someone else, as the key of Bb can easily be reached with just the placement of a capo on the first fret. Plus, this catchy tune makes an excellent cover song!
5. Hakuna Matata by The Lion King
This iconic song from Disney’s beloved 1994 film The Lion King is an ideal introduction to playing ukulele for beginner. Utilizing only three simple chords, this piece can be played without needing a capo or capo-less. Additionally, its tempo can easily be adjusted – speed up for more pop style tunes or slow it down for melodic ballad-esque compositions.
Sam Smith shot to superstardom thanks to this stirring, emotional pop ballad. While its choruses contain more complex chord progressions, most of this song can be built around four simple chords in C – although you may require using a capo in order to match Sam’s original recording’s tempo; otherwise it should be straightforward enough for any level musician.
OneRepublic is another modern pop band whose songs make for excellent ukulele covers, including this hit that features brassy horns and relaxed single strum guitar sections. Playing their cover version is particularly straightforward if a capo on fret 2 is used to remain in key with the original recording.
Ed Sheeran is one of the world’s best-known contemporary singer-songwriter pop artists, and his songs make great beginner ukulele practice material. One such tune by him, which explores love and commitment, can easily be played on the ukulele due to its simple chords and tempo; its variation in intensity also serves as an excellent opportunity to practice building up into dramatic choruses before backing down for subsequent verses.
6. Over the Rainbow by The Wizard of Oz
Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic and should be studied by every ukulele player. Beginners should find it straightforward, while experts will find this an impressive way to present an audience-pleasing melody for singing along purposes.
Adele’s Someone Like You is another popular song to learn on ukulele, although its complexity makes it somewhat challenging. Beginning with an easy G-D-Em-C progression for its verse section and repeating five times during prechorus before going onto chorus is still manageable for anyone starting out on learning the instrument.
Lava by John Legend is an easy and fun song to learn on the ukulele. Utilizing only seven basic chords, Lava features both verse and chorus sections with an easy C-E7-G-C-G progression throughout.
Imagine is a powerful song by John Lennon that invokes peace and unity around the globe. Released as a protest song in 1971, Imagine became an anthem for counterculture movements worldwide. Learning this piece on ukulele should be straightforward – try strumming in an ascending pattern for maximum effectiveness; our strumming technique lessons may come in handy here as well!
Beginner musicians will quickly grasp this delightful three chord ukulele song, even with limited strumming experience. Although its strumming pattern might prove challenging at first, with time it will come naturally.
Ukuleles lend themselves well to piano-driven pop ballads like Adele’s ballad “Hello”. It is straightforward and accessible, with shifting chord progressions at various times during its playing.
Hakuna Matata
This classic Disney tune should be on every ukulele player’s repertoire. Not only is it fun and straightforward to learn, but its message – which comes from Swahili language meaning no trouble or worries – is powerful reminder that we should take life lightly without stressing over things that are out of our hands.
OneRepublic’s Grammy-nominated hit is an easy song for any beginner ukulele player to pick up, featuring familiar chords such as am, f, c and g. Play around with different strumming patterns to match different dynamics or intensity levels of the song; click here for full chords.
Let It Be
Paul McCartney composed “Get Back,” during his Get Back sessions, to encourage himself and his band mates to remain passionate about what they were fighting for. While its meaning remains open to interpretation, many see it as an appeal not to let the dissolution of The Beatles get them down and trust that everything will eventually work out for the best.
This easy ukulele song features an I, IV, V, VI chord progression that’s ideal for beginners. Sharpen your strumming and singing skills as you practice playing this classic rock tune! Adjust the intensity of your play to bring out its emotion – try practicing with your band before performing this song together! Click here for complete chords.
Red Red Wine
Red Red Wine by UB40 provides a powerful narrative of emotional escape and human complexity that transcends genre. The lyrics use wine as a metaphor for temporary escapes only to return back into reality’s harsh realities.
Ed Sheeran’s acoustic pop ballads often contain dramatic up-and-down dynamics. The ukulele makes an excellent accompaniment for these songs – simply start off with simple single-strum patterns on verses before progressing to more complex chorus sections.
Adele’s haunting melodies may prove challenging for novice ukulele players to master, but this beautiful ballad by Adele is well worth your efforts if you are up to it! The chords are relatively straightforward and follow an I, IV, V and VI pattern; try playing it with an alternate down mute up/down strumming pattern to further intensify its feel.
Margaritaville
Although not the first song that comes to mind when contemplating ukulele songs, this classic rock tune is an easy and enjoyable ukulele song for beginners. The composition features several themes which must be learned individually before the piece can be performed flawlessly – an excellent starting point!
This song’s combination of blaring brass and an easy single strum pattern provides the energy required for novice musicians. Furthermore, its dynamic range provides ample opportunity for experimentation; try speeding it up to add intensity or slow it down for more melodic feel – this will also allow you to practice chord progression skills! Click here for full chords.
Brown Eyed Girl
This classic rock song is an ideal introduction to ukulele for beginners as its chords, strumming pattern, and strumming pattern all make learning to play easy for anyone starting out on their musical journey. Try adding upstrokes for added flare!
Ed Sheeran is an esteemed contemporary singer-songwriter renowned for his emotive love songs featuring intricate lyrics and guitar-driven melodies. This one follows suit, featuring a slow-building verse leading up to an explosive chorus before receding back down again.
Ukuleles don’t typically lend themselves to creating loud and boisterous sounds, making this song an excellent opportunity to try a more subdued rendition. Furthermore, it will allow you to practice complex chords that might otherwise prove challenging for beginners.
Hey Soul Sister
Hey Soul Sister is an engaging, upbeat song that is ideal for beginners. Using only four simple chords throughout, with only slight changes between verse and chorus strumming patterns, Hey Soul Sister offers great opportunities for experimentation in terms of tempo – fast for an upbeat pop feel or slow for melancholic ballad style performances.
This song explores the experience of falling head over heels in love, regardless of age or stage of life. It was inspired by Train singer Pat Monahan’s interest in Burning Man festival where participants build wooden sculptures of human figures before burning them off in the desert – Monahan claims this inspiration came to him like a dream and is currently their highest charting single to date.
Love Me Do
Love Me Do is one of the simplest ukulele songs to learn and an excellent way to practice dynamics and intensity. Practice leaning into chorus sections with heavier strumming patterns while pulling back for verses; click here for full chords.
Mumford and Sons may not immediately spring to mind when thinking of playing the ukulele, but this lively folk rock hit is really enjoyable and an excellent way to gain experience playing five chords at once!
As with many songs on this list, this song follows the standard I, V, VI progression. Feel free to add in an alternate G7 chord if desired or simply stick with regular G chord. Reverb would work wonders here too.
Riptide
This sultry pop rock tune can be played with an easy strumming pattern on ukulele. Beginners can learn this song easily as it requires few chords and features familiar progressions. Furthermore, this tune allows them to practice dramatic building up and releasing intensity levels during performance.
This classic love song can be easily identified with by many ukulele players, with emotive lyrics and catchy music making it an excellent selection for Valentine’s Day celebrations.
This modern pop hit can be played using just four chords. Learning it will be an enjoyable experience that can be made even more captivating by switching up the strumming pattern between verse and chorus – or adding taps on your ukulele body to emulate drum rhythms!
Just The Way You Are
This song offers a soothing, relaxed sound perfect for playing on a ukulele. Using an easy I, VI, IV and V chord progression – perfect for beginners to learn! – as well as some unique touches like leading tones to walk down into each new chord progression, this tune makes an excellent ukulele song choice.
Ed Sheeran has become one of the most beloved contemporary singer-songwriters, and this song showcases his vivid storytelling ability. Ukuleles make for great piano ballad accompaniment, and its simplicity should help new ukulele players pick it up easily.
This 1989 Tom Petty tune should be straightforward for beginner ukulele players to learn and master. Experiment with various strumming patterns until you capture its bouncing feel.
Let It Go
One of the more beloved ukulele songs, this laid back southern rock classic can be an engaging challenge to play on. The three chords lend itself well to being played on an ukulele; you’ll enjoy trying to recreate its crescendo-decrescendo intensity of its original recording with your strumming patterns.
Anyone familiar with Frozen will recognize this song. It has become a hit earworm and often pops up when discussing personal freedom or mental health.
This Ed Sheeran love song makes a fun and easy ukulele tune for beginners. While its melody may be simple, its strumming pattern may present challenges to new players. Try switching up the rhythmic style or using more of a rolling strumming to add variety. The meaning behind this song is that letting go of fears can empower yourself – however it mustn’t come at the expense of others.