If you’re just beginning to play the ukulele, here are some songs that require only three chords – perfect for new players!
U2 are a rock band known for their varied repertoire, but this easy-going song is ideal for beginning ukulele players. It requires only three chords and an easy strumming pattern that uses mostly downstrums.
Of Monsters and Men – “Hello”
Icelandic folk-pop duo Of Monsters and Men have become a worldwide sensation with their international breakthrough hit “Little Talks.” No surprise then that they made an appearance on Saturday Night Live as well as providing the official soundtrack for The Hunger Games.
Their music is a captivating blend of minimalism and maximalism, featuring delicate melodies and poignant lyrics full of nostalgia. Additionally, they captivate their audiences with the energy of their live shows.
They don’t often engage in small talk between sets, but they make you feel like an essential part of this beautiful world they create. Nanna Hilmarsdottir’s voice is so captivating that you can’t help but get lost in its whimsical charm and exquisite music.
The band played a set filled with songs from their most recent album Fever Dream, and brought the confetti cannons onto the stage to keep everyone enthralled. Their performance concluded with an energetic four-song encore which concluded with “Yellow Light.” It was truly unforgettable; everyone in attendance felt as if they were part of something truly remarkable.
U2 – “With or Without You”
U2’s iconic acoustic track “Unforgettable Fire,” became one of their most beloved hits and quickly earned itself the status of classic rock anthem. With its haunting guitar effects that echoed its painful lyrics, this live staple quickly gained a devoted following.
Established in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland, U2 are renowned for their anthemic musical style and lyrics which often incorporate spiritual imagery, themes of personal and sociopolitical importance, as well as vocalist Bono’s expressive confessional delivery. They have achieved worldwide success with sales of 150 million records to date.
U2’s musical styles have evolved over the years, but their anthemic quality remains constant. Their vocals are expressive and their guitar work features various effects-based textures. They are renowned for their live performances which often get featured on concert films or compilations.
Hallelujah – “Hallelujah”
Leonard Cohen’s iconic song, with an intense vocal melody. Recorded by Jeff Buckley, it remains a staple in many music fans’ collections.
This ukulele version of Hallelujah is an absolute joy to play, featuring straightforward chords and rhythms that don’t require much complexity in your playing. Plus, its upbeat, light sound makes this an ideal song for beginners to learn.
This melody is built upon three basic chords: A, G and C. You can play it in a variety of ways, such as with strumming or fingerpicking patterns; however the most straightforward approach is to simply pick up your uke and start strumming! Let the music begin!
Ed Sheeran is a contemporary pop artist renowned for his intricate lyrics and acoustic guitar sounds. To emulate Ed’s aesthetic on your cover of this track, try using the ukulele in similar fashion.
The Beatles – “With or Without You”
A classic rock song that’s easy to play on the ukulele, The Beatles’ “With or Without You” is an ideal choice for beginners. It features a simple chord progression that will teach you how to add more flavor to basic chords while also becoming acquainted with capo positioning.
This classic British rock song is a timeless classic for its poignant lyrics and unforgettable guitar line that every British rock fan will recognize instantly. Additionally, its simple melody can create an atmosphere much more ethereal than what appears at first glance.
Paul McCartney composed this soothing yet somber song to reflect the difficulties faced by band members during times of stress. Whether you prefer listening to the original version or the album version, take some time to appreciate its rich musical landscape.
The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Established in the early 1960s as a band that covered American rhythm and blues (R&B) music as well as Chicago blues artists and rock n roll acts, The Rolling Stones soon began writing their own pop rock songs due to lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards pushing them in this new direction.
In the end, they achieved great success. Though often compared to The Beatles, they had their own distinct style and sound that combined R&B, country with garage rock, funk and disco elements.
An iconic example is their 1965 hit single, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Released as a single in only six weeks, the song quickly gained mainstream success.
This classic rock and roll song has been covered by many bands. The intro of the track begins with two guitars playing simultaneous riffs and chord progressions.
It was an enormous hit in the United States, reaching number one on the charts. It remains a timeless classic piece of music to this day.
The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
This song marked the Beatles’ first US number one hit and sold more copies than any other single by the group. It remains one of music history’s great singles, appearing on Rolling Stone’s list of 500 Greatest Songs Ever Written.
This song serves as an example of how The Beatles explored different song structures. They began writing with a standard aaba (verse/ verse/ bridge/ verse) format, but gradually started departing from it as they became more daring.
On this track, a strange drum/guitar/vocal sound follows each line of the chorus; it sounds like a falling whoosh or labored breath and occurs right after each line on the third beat.
The Rolling Stones – “I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
This song marked the Rolling Stones’ entry into stardom. It became their most successful single in 1965 and propelled them to become second only to The Beatles as world’s second biggest band.
The song’s signature guitar riff, the fuzz guitar riff, is one of rock music’s iconic melodies. This easy-to-learn series of ascending and descending notes makes it ideal for learning on the ukulele.
It’s the opening riff that you will hear when playing the song, so it’s essential to get it correct. Once you master this riff, you can progress onto learning all of the chords used throughout this track.
This track is ideal for beginners, as it contains basic chord shapes and an accessible Lou Reed solo. Furthermore, there’s some sloppy strumming throughout – perfect practice ground for this technique!
The Beatles – “You Can’t Do That”
On the first day of rehearsals for The Beatles’ “Let It Be” project, George Harrison played an instrumental of his song that had yet to be named to the group. This 12-bar blues pattern would eventually become what we now know as “For You Blue,” an outstanding example of this genre and one of George’s most memorable solo contributions to their canon of songs.
The song begins with a subdued guitar and vocal performance. John plays his lap steel while Paul plunks out some piano chords, Ringo fills in on snare drum while George adds some quiet lead guitar lines.
The opening verse is six measures long and features both John’s solo vocal and Paul’s lead vocal. For most of this verse, George’s ad libs accompany Paul’s vocalizations; however, when both singers are close together, George takes over with an intense performance that some might call their best moment ever – complete with guitar rave-up at the end. This performance stands as one of Beatles’ finest moments ever recorded.