Ukulele Songs to Learn: 40 Easy Songs for Beginners (2026)

The ukulele is the friendliest instrument you'll ever pick up. Four strings, soft nylon, and a naturally happy sound — plus you can learn your first song in under an hour.

What Makes a Ukulele Song "Easy"? Songs with C, G, Am, and F chords. These are the first four chords every ukulele player learns, and they open up hundreds of songs.

The Magic 4-Chord Songs

These songs use ONLY C, G, Am, and F — the first chords you'll learn:

Pro tip: Learn these 4 chords and you have instant access to 8+ songs. That's a solid setlist for your first week.

Super Easy 3-Chord Songs

Even simpler — just three chords:

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Practice with backing tracks! StemSplit can remove instruments from songs — leaving just the drums and bass so you can strum along without competing with the original.

Create Practice Tracks →

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Easy Pop Songs

Modern songs that sound great on ukulele:

Easy Campfire Songs

Songs everyone knows and can sing along to:

Easy Disney/Kids Songs

Perfect for playing with family:

The Essential Ukulele Chords

The First 4 (Learn These First)

C        G        Am       F
  o o o    o o o    o o o    o
| | | 3  | | 2 3  | | 2 | |  2 | | |
| | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
| | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |

C = One finger (ring finger, 3rd fret, A string) G = Three fingers (index 2nd fret C, middle 3rd fret E, ring 3rd fret A)
Am = Two fingers (middle 2nd fret G) F = Two fingers (index 1st fret E, middle 2nd fret G)

The Next 4 (Week 2)

D        A        E        Em
  o
| | | 2    | 1 | |  | | | |  | | | |
| 1 | |    | 2 | |  2 | | |  | | | |
| | | |    | | | |  | | | 1  | 4 3 2

Why These Chords?

• C, G, Am, F: Work in the key of C (most pop songs)
• D, G, A: Work in the key of D (common for rock)
• E, Am: Often appear as transitions

Common Strumming Patterns

The Island Strum

The most popular ukulele strum:

D  D U   U D U
1  2 & 3 & 4 &

(D = down, U = up, space = miss)

Works for: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," reggae songs, Hawaiian music

The Simple Strum

For beginners:

D  D  D  D
1  2  3  4

Just downstrums on every beat. Build from here.

The Folk Strum

D D U U D U
1 2 & 3 & 4

Works for: Folk, pop, campfire songs

How to Learn a Song

Step 1: Find a Chord Chart

Search "[song name] ukulele chords" — sites like Ultimate Guitar and Ukutabs have thousands.

Step 2: Practice Each Chord

• Can you make each chord shape?
• Do all strings ring clearly?
• Practice switching between chords

Step 3: Listen to the Original

• Where do chord changes happen?
• What's the strumming pattern?
• How fast is the tempo?

Step 4: Strum and Sing

• Start slower than the song
• Don't worry about exact strumming yet
• Focus on chord changes with singing

Step 5: Play Along

• With the original song
• Or with a backing track (vocals removed)

Creating Ukulele Practice Tracks

Want to practice strumming without competing with the original instruments?

Remove Instruments, Keep Vocals

1. Upload a song to StemSplit
2. Remove "Other/Instruments" stem
3. Keep vocals and drums
4. Strum along — you're the ukulele player

Remove Everything Except Drums

Practice keeping time:

1. Extract just the drum track
2. Strum along with the beat
3. Great for developing rhythm

Practice Tips for Beginners

10 Minutes a Day > 1 Hour a Week

Consistency beats intensity. Your fingers need daily practice to build muscle memory.

Master Transitions

The hardest part isn't the chords — it's switching between them:

• Practice C to G fifty times
• Then G to Am
• Then Am to F
• Then all four in order

Let It Ring

After playing a chord, lift your fingers and check:

• Did each string ring clearly?
• Any buzzing? Adjust finger placement.

Don't Death Grip

Beginners squeeze too hard. You need less pressure than you think.

Sing While You Play

Even badly! It trains your brain to multitask and makes you a performer, not just a player.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Muting Strings

Your finger is touching an adjacent string. Curve your fingers more.

Strumming Too Hard

Ukulele is a gentle instrument. Let the strings do the work.

Ignoring Rhythm

Playing the right chords at the wrong time sounds bad. Rhythm matters more than perfect chord shapes.

Changing Chords Too Early

Wait until the beat to change. Don't rush the transition.

Never Singing

The ukulele is a singer's instrument. Practice singing and playing together.

FAQ

What size ukulele should I buy?

Soprano is the classic small size. Concert is slightly larger and easier to hold. Both are great for beginners.

How much should I spend?

$50-100 gets you a decent beginner uke. Avoid the $20 toy ones — they won't stay in tune.

Do I need to read music?

No! Ukulele uses chord charts and tabs. Traditional notation is optional.

My fingers hurt — is that normal?

Yes, for the first 2-3 weeks. Play through it (within reason) and calluses will form.

How long until I can play songs?

First simple song: 30 minutes to a few days. Playing and singing comfortably: 2-4 weeks.

Should I use a pick?

Most ukulele players use their index finger to strum. Felt picks are an option but not necessary.

The Bottom Line

The ukulele is perfect for beginners because you can make real music almost immediately. Learn C, G, Am, and F — you now have access to hundreds of songs.

Start with "I'm Yours" or "Riptide" — both are crowd-pleasers that use only four chords and simple strumming. You'll be playing at your next gathering before you know it.

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Practice with Your Favorite Songs

Create custom backing tracks to strum along with.

• ✅ Remove instruments, keep vocals
• ✅ Practice with real songs
• ✅ Sound like a full band
• ✅ Works with any song

Create Practice Tracks →

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