Easy Songs for the Ukulele – perfect for beginners

Easy Pop Ukulele Songs

1. Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke – tab
2. Déjà vu – Olivia Rodrigo – tab
3. Stay with Me – Sam Smith – tab
4. Sunday Morning – Maroon 5 – tab 
5. Into the Wild – LP – tab 
6. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett – tab 
7. Poker Face – Lady Gaga – tab
8. Cut My Lip – Twenty One Pilots – tab
9. Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine – tab
10. Foundations by Kate Nash – tab
11. Riptide by Vance Joy – tab

Unlike more complex styles like jazz or blues, pop music often makes use of very simple structures and chord progressions. You rarely find pop songs with more than four chords being used. Some use as few as two chords, while some even go as far [maybe not so far] as using only one chord. Below are some of the simplest pop songs you can play on the ukulele as a beginner. 

1. “Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell Williams (Chords used: G, D)

With simplicity, being the first thing we consider before including a song in this list, the song 

Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke paradigms simplicity. First, it makes use of only two chords—which also happen to be very simple and rudimentary ukulele chords that every beginner player knows. If you are a beginner, you will agree that the G major and D major chords are among the first chords you will ever learn on the ukulele. Thanks to Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams because you are about to play a hit song with those two chords you learned. 

As for the strumming pattern, you will pretty much make use of just downward strums in the playing of the entire song. Unarguably, this is one of the easiest pop songs you will ever play on your ukulele. However, despite its simplicity, it is also quite interesting to play. If you have any plans of going further into songwriting, a mere playing of this song will teach you about simplicity–in pop music, it is always best to keep it simple and smooth. Below is a link to the full tablature.

Blurred Line ukulele tab. 

2. “Déjà vu” – Olivia Rodrigo (Chords used: D, A)  

This is another typical example of simplicity. This song makes use of only the D and A chord and a simplified blend of upward and downward strums. It is one of the easiest pop songs that you can play on the ukulele in 2022. For most beginner ukulele players, the D major and A major chords are not unfamiliar chords–this means most beginner players will not find it hard playing this song on the ukulele. Both the D and A-major chords are open chords and are pretty much very easy to fret and sound on the ukulele. 

Being a mid-tempo psychedelic pop, pop rock, and indie pop song, with some musical influences from alternative music, this song will introduce you to both the compositional and accompaniment approach of diverse genres and subgenres. However simple this song is, it still remains harmonically and melodically interesting with some nuances that will be quite useful in future ukulele playing. Below is a link to the tablature. 

Deja Vu ukulele tab. 

3. “Stay with Me” – Sam Smith (Chords used: Am, C, and F)

In most cases, a beginner ukulele player will always start by learning chords like A-minor, C major, F major and others. These are the bedrock chords for playing rhythm on the ukulele. Even if you have not yet learned this chord, you need not fret as the chord shapes are pretty simple and easy to grasp–even on your first try. The chord progression Am–C–F is a pretty common chord progression in popular music—some songs might just slightly vary this. By playing “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith on the ukulele, you are most likely not to be very surprised when you encounter other songs with similar or almost identical chord progressions.

Apart from being one of the simplest songs you can play as a beginner on your ukulele, it is also a very popular song. So, you can definitely use it to impress your non-musician friends and family (they’ll never know it’s such a simple song to play). The strumming pattern is pretty much very straightforward and rudimentary as it makes use of only downward strums throughout the entire song. This is a fun song to entertain yourself with and also learn chord transitions as a beginner ukulele player. Below is a link to the full ukulele tab of the song. 

Stay with Me ukulele tab. 

4. “Levitating” – Dua Lipa ft. Da Baby (Am, Em, and Dm)

This is a bit of a deviation from the tonality you are probably used to—this song is in a minor key—the key of A-minor, precisely; the relative major key is the key of C major. If you are yet to explore minor chord progressions as a beginner ukulele player, then you are in luck as this is one of the best songs to help you do that. The chord progression is basically 1–5–4 in a minor key. If we relate this to a major key (C major, to be precise), 1–5–4 will be something like C–G–F. You can try it out for experimentation and you will see that it will sound a bit happier than what is actually being played on the record. But for the sake of learning, let’s stick to the progression of Am–Em–Dm. 

The strumming pattern might seem a bit tricky and maybe just a bit too groovy at first, but it is actually very simple to grasp—only if you can take it slowly at first. The strumming pattern is simply a down strum, up and tap, and then a down strum again. This song is not only simple, it is also harmonically interesting as it will help you explore the minor tonality as a beginner ukulele player. Below is a link to the full ukulele tablature. 

Levitating ukulele tab. 

5. “Counting Stars” – OneRepublic (Chords used: Am, C, G and F)

This is another befitting pop song for the beginner ukulele player, as it uses pretty much very rudimentary chords. So far, if you have played the previous songs on this list, this one would not be much of a challenge anymore. You can see its similarity [in terms of chords] with Sam Smith’s “Stay with Me.” The chord progression is just repetitive from the beginning to the end. The chord shapes and voicings are pretty rudimentary, which makes it very suitable even for the total beginner.  

A simple downward strum will get the job done for most parts of it. However, you can spice things up a bit by mixing up the strumming patterns in certain sections. Feel free to try things out in terms of strumming patterns—chances are that it will work just fine. Below is a link to the full ukulele tab. 

Counting Stars tab. 

Easy Rock Ukulele Songs

1. All Along the Watchtower – Bob Dylan – tab 
2. I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty  – tab
3. Down On The Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival – tab 
4. All the Small Things by Blink 182 – tab
5. Bad Moon Rising by CCR – tab
6. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol – tab
7. Still Haven’t Found by U2 – tab
8. La Bamba by Ritchie Valens – tab
9. Love Me Do by The Beatles – tab
10. Mustang Sally by Wilson Picket – tab
11. Oye Como Va by Santana – tab
12. Run-Around – Blues Traveler – tab
13. Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry – tab

Rock songs are pretty simple but interesting in terms of chordal movement. This makes Rock music a major consideration when selecting songs to learn as a beginner ukulele player. However, regardless of its simplified approach to chords, rhythm, and harmonic progression, Rock music still remains diverse and interesting—diverse enough to create a vast and rich learning ground for the beginner ukulele player who is trying to understudy not only the ukulele but music and musical structures as a whole. Below are some of the simplest Rock songs you can play on the ukulele as a beginner: 

1. “All Along the Watchtower” – Bob Dylan ft. Hendrix (Chords used: Am, G, and F)

This is a legendary Rock song with a simple chord progression that you can use to understudy not just Rock music but also playing rhythm on the ukulele. It is true that the ukulele is not typical of Rock music, but that is not a rule. With just three chords—familiar and simple enough for even the total beginner, this is one of the simplest Rock songs you can ever play on the ukulele. With its descending/ascending chord progression and minor tonality, you will have a fresh perspective of Rock music from the standpoint of a ukulele player. 

As for the strumming pattern, a simple but creative blend of down and upward strums will do the rhythmic magic. Having only three chords, you definitely can focus on techniques like rhythm, timing, and even your strumming tone because you will not have to bother so much about chord changes. Below is a link to the full ukulele tablature. 

All Along the Watchtower tab. 

2. “I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty ft. The Heartbreakers (Chords used: Em, D, G, and C)

Https://Youtu.Be/QVSkpv5nf8Y

Unarguably, Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” not making it to any list of classic rock songs would render that list incomplete. His simplified approach to chords, lyrics and melodies makes this song such an awesome choice for any beginner ukulele looking to try out some classic Rock tunes. This song makes use of a very rudimentary and simple chord progression—it will excite and also school the beginner player on chord changes and even songwriting. The strumming pattern is also pretty basic and easy to grasp. While learning, it is best you take it slowly or at least, slow down on any overly challenging part till you get it right. Below is a link to the full tab. 

I Won’t Back Down tab. 

3. “Down On The Corner” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (Chords used: C, G, and F)

In my opinion, this is one of the easiest songs to make it to this list. Using the famous 1–5–4 chord progression which is a progression often used across many styles and genres like pop, rock, African, etc. Being in the key of C, chances are that most beginners have already learned and mastered the chords used in this song. All you have to do is progress from your C major to your G major and then F major chord. The strumming pattern is just a simplified mix of downward and upward strums—nothing overly complex. Most beginner ukulele players will find this song quite fun to play. Below is a link to the full ukulele tablature. 

Down On The Corner tab. 

“Octopus’s Garden” – The Beatles (Chords used: C, F, Am, and G)

Making a list of Rock tunes and not including a song from The Beatles will render that list incomplete. Being a four-chord song, it utilizes only beginner-friendly chords. The chord progression is also pretty much doable for even the total beginner. Even if you had not learned the chords prior to this, fret not—you can still look up the chord shapes in the tablature below and start playing along. This song is very ukulele-friendly as the tone of the ukulele just fits this perfectly. You can get creative with the strumming pattern, but a simple down-up/down-up pattern will pretty much get the job done. Below is a link to the full tab. 

Octopus’s Garden tab. 

 4. “All The Small Things”–Blink 182 (Chords used: C, G, and F)

Using one of the most familiar chord progressions in popular music, Rock music and other modern styles, this song is obviously very beginner-friendly. The tempo and overall form of the song are simple and pretty basic. For beginners who are also learning songwriting, it is important you take notice of how one chord progression can birth diverse melodies—remember that this was the same progression used on “Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The strumming pattern is pretty basic and very easy to grasp, even for the total beginner. Below is a link to the full tab. 

All the Small Things tablature. 

Easy Folk Ukulele Songs

1. All Through The Night – Traditional Welsh – tab
2. Amazing Grace – Traditional – tab 
3. Scarborough Fair – Simon And Garfunkel – tab 
4. The Yellow Rose Of Texas – Traditional – tab 
5. Yankee Doodle – Traditional – tab
6. A Horse With No Name by America – tab
7. Achy Breaky Heart By Billy Ray Cyrus – tab
8. Leaving On A Jet Plane By John Denver – tab
9. Ring of Fire By Johnny Cash – tab
10. Buckets of Rain by Bob Dylan – tab
11. Shelter from the Storm by Bob Dylan – tab
12. See The Light by Stephen Sanchez – tab
13. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon – tab

1. “All Through the Night” – Traditional Welsh (Chords used: Bb, C7, Dm, F, G7, Gm)

Because we are not just playing for fun but also playing to learn, it makes sense that we stretch ourselves a bit in order for us to learn new things. After all, what is learning if you are not learning anything new? At first, taking a look at the chords above might be a bit scary to some beginner players, but you need not fret as these chords are very easy chords to play on your ukulele. Folk music is always fun and harmonically interesting. Although I would advise that you play these chords just as written, the truth is that you can substitute all the extended chords (don’t be intimidated by the word “extended,” they are very simple chords) for major chords. Here is what I mean; instead of playing C7, you can play C major and instead of playing G7, you can play G major. A simple blend of both downward and upward strums will do the magic. 

All Through the Night tab. 

2. “Amazing Grace” – Traditional (Chords used: C, D, Em, G, and G7)

The list of traditional songs wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of the popular Amazing Grace. The chords used are very easy, even for the total beginner. As a matter of fact, you can look it up for the first time and just begin playing along—they are that simple. The chord progression is pretty much similar to that of an average pop song, except for the use of the G7 (G dominant chord) which also happens to be a very simple chord on the ukulele. A simple downward and upward strum will get the magic done on this song. Below is the full tablature for the song. 

Amazing Grace tab. 

3. “Scarborough Fair” – Simon and Garfunkel (Chords used: A, D, Em, and G)

This is another folk tune that every beginner ukulele player must learn. It follows a pretty straightforward pattern with surprise chords in any section. If you are still learning to master switching from different chords in the circle of fifths, then this song will help you understand chord movement a lot better. For some players, the transition from D major to E minor is always a tricky one—with this song, you will master that somewhat tricky transition a lot better—while also enjoying yourself. You can make use of downward strums all through, but also feel free to bring in some upward strums too. 

Scarborough Fair tab. 

4. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” – Traditional (Chords used: F, C, and C7)

With only three chords, which also happen to be very beginner-friendly chords, this is one of the easiest folk songs for the beginner ukulele player to learn. As a matter of fact, you can simplify it by making it only two chords by playing just the F major and C major chords—substituting C major for the C7 chord. But there wouldn’t be any need for that as the C7 chord is also very simple to play on the ukulele—you will need only one finger to play it. A simple downward and upward strum will get this song ringing out clearly. 

The Yellow Rose of Texas tab. 

5. “Yankee Doodle” – Traditional (Chords used: G, D7, and C)

With just three chords, this is another super-easy folk song to try out on the ukulele as a beginner. Just like we did in other songs, you can always substitute the D7 for a D major chord—depending on what is easier—or suitable for you. As a matter of fact, some ukulele tabs will use the D major chord in place of the D7 chord for this particular folk song—they both play just well—however, they will sound slightly different. The strumming pattern should be something like Down–Up–Down–Up. But feel free to get creative and change things up. 

Yankee Doodle tab.

Easy Hawaiian Ukulele Songs

1.  “E Ku’u Morning Dew” -Sons Of Hawaii – tab
2. “Over The Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – tab 
3. “Waimanalo Blues” – Country Comfort – tab 
4. “Aloha ‘Oe’” – Queen Liliuokalani – tab 
5. “Island Style” – John Cruz – tab 
6. E Huli Makou By David Chung – tab
7. Haleakala Hula By Alice Namakelua – tab
8. I Kona By James Kelepolo – tab
9. Koke’e By Rev. Dennis Kamakahi – tab
10. Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho – tab
11. Summer to Winter by Kolohe Kai – tab
12. Ehu Girl by Kolohe Kai – tab
13. To Be Lonely by Country Comfort – tab
14. Island Style by John Cruz – tab

With the ukulele as an instrument having its roots in Hawaii, it only makes sense that we learn songs from Hawaii. Most of these songs will be very natural to the ukulele, as it is a traditional Hawaiian string instrument. The list below will feature some interesting but simple songs from Hawaii that you can learn on your ukulele. 

1. “E Ku’u Morning Dew” -Sons of Hawaii (Chords used: Am, D7, G)

Although it might sound a bit complex at first hearing, this song uses very familiar chords and a very simple chord progression. It follows a sort of laid-back tempo, which makes it naturally playable for the beginner player. Unarguably, this is one of the bedrock songs for understanding traditional Hawaiian music. It uses easy fingerpicking techniques which are shown in the video above. 

E Ku’u Morning Dew tab.

2. “Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Chords used: Am, F, E7, G, and C)

Although there are five chords, all five chords are pretty much very easy and beginner-friendly ukulele chords. If you are learning or just enjoying Hawaiian music, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole is one musician and ukulele player you can never ignore. As a matter of fact, this lust would not be complete without including a song from him. His voice and dexterity on the ukulele have touched the hearts of millions of Hawaiians and even people from outside Hawaii. The strumming pattern goes something like, Down–Down–Up–Down–Down–up. A pretty easy but harmonically interesting song to learn on the ukulele. 

Over the Rainbow tab. 

3. “Waimanalo Blues” – Country Comfort (Chords used: G, D7, and C)

In the 1960s and 1970s, the band Country Comfort championed the renaissance in Hawaiian music, thus making them one of the most loved and respected bands in Hawaii, to date. If you have taken note, you will notice the recurrent use of 7th (dominant) chords in all the Hawaiian songs we have listed so far. The 7th chord is a commonly used chord in Hawaiian music—it is used to create a strong effect of tension and release, which is a major characteristic of Hawaiian music. By playing these songs, you will get to learn how the 7th chord can be used in music composition. Being a three-chord song with an easy strumming pattern, this is one of the easiest Hawaiian songs you can play on your ukulele. 

Waimanalo Blues tab. 

4. “Aloha ‘Oe’” – Queen Liliuokalani (Chords used: C, F, G7, and E7)

Unarguably, this is one of the most significant songs in the history of Hawaiian music. The song Aloha ‘Oe is a beautifully written poetic love song that was originally composed by Queen Liliuokalani (she was a princess by then). This song is believed to be inspired by an embrace that the princess shared with Colonel James Harbottle Boyd. This song is so old that the earliest known recording of it was released as far back as 1898. Apart from being one of the simplest Hawaiian songs you will ever play, the cultural significance is also another great reason that anyone interested in the ukulele and Hawaiian music should learn to play this song. Also, take note of the use of 7th chords. 

Aloha Oe tab.

5. “Island Style” – John Cruz (Chords used: C, F, and G7)

A soul-touching song about family love and Hawaiian culture. With Only three chords, which also happen to be very beginner-friendly chords, John Cruz tells a story of love for family and the beauty of Hawaii. Because of its simplicity and cultural significance, this is an important song you must learn if you truly have any interest in Hawaiian music or the ukulele. The song Island Style is an amazing choice if you’re searching for a lighthearted but soul-touching song to include in your ukulele repertoire. The strumming pattern is a very simple one that any beginner player can follow. However, don’t be constricted, feel free to try out something new and different. Below is a link to the full tablature.

Island Style tab. 

Easy Fingerstyle Ukulele Songs

1. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley – tab 
2. Happy Birthday” – Traditional – tab
3. Hey There Delilah,” By The Plain White Ts – tab
4. “Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles – tab
5. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John – tab
6. “My Girl” by The Temptations – tab
7. “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul, and Mary – tab
8. Baby Can I Hold You? by Tracy Chapman – tab
9. Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen – tab
10. Que Sera Sera by Doris Day – tab

1. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley (Chords used: C, Em, Am, F, G, G7, B7, A7, and Dm)

This is one of the most popular songs by Elvis Presley. Although it might seem like there are way too many chords in this song for it to be played by a beginner, the truth is that these chords are pretty much beginner-friendly. If you played other songs on this list, then you definitely have played all of these chords. If you have not played some of these chords yet, then the trick is to avoid rushing to fingerpicking at first. Take some time out to strum the chords and just get very familiar with all of them. Then you can proceed to the fingerpicking shown in the video above. 

Can’t Help Falling in Love tab. 

2. “Happy Birthday” – Traditional (Chords used: C, F, and G7)

This is one of the songs in the world you must include in your repertoire. The good part is that it is quite easy to grasp. Even as a total beginner, you most likely have played these three very easy chords. As a matter of fact, these chords might have been the first chords you ever learned on the ukulele. Approach the fingerpicking rather slowly and don’t rush things. If you are not comfortable with the G7, you can replace it with G major, it will still sound just right. 

Happy Birthday, tab. 

3. “Hey There Delilah,” by The Plain White Ts (Chords used: D, F#m, Bm, G, and A)

With only five chords you can play this beautiful fingerpicking tune. Don’t be discouraged with the F#m chord as it is not impossible for a beginner. All you need to do is avoid being in a haste, take your time and strum out every chord first. Don’t rush to fingerpick on your first try. Get the chord transitions by first strumming them. Then progress to fingerpicking and always make sure that your metronome has been slowed down to a more comfortable tempo. 

Hey, There Delilah tab.

4. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – Bobby McFerrin (Chords used: C, Dm, and F)

This is one popular song in the world that would boost your repertoire if only you can play it. The good part is that it is quite simple to play. As a matter of fact, you can play this song with just three basic and very simple chords. The progression goes like this, From C major, to D minor, and to F major—it is that simple. You can even decide to strum it and it will still sound awesome. Below is a fingerstyle arrangement for this beautiful song that you can practice. 

Don’t Worry, Be Happy tab. 

5. “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles (Chords used: G, C, D, A7, Bb, F, and D7)

Written as far back as 1969, this tune still remains an all-time favorite. The fingerpicking in this song is not that complex, it is pretty much beginner-friendly. Although the chords might seem a bit many, they are all very familiar chords that you most likely have played before. However, it is still important that you avoid rushing things, take your time, strum out the chords first, and then take it slow on the fingerpicking. 

Here Comes the Sun tab. 

 

Why to learn ukulele by playing actual songs?

One of the best and most fun ways to learn how to play the ukulele is by learning to play easy songs even in your earliest stage of learning. As a matter of fact, this is one of the most effective ways to learn any musical instrument. Over time, many ukulele tutors have come to not just see this method as truly effective, but also encouraging for beginner players. Come to think of it, what is the main essence of learning to play the ukulele? Of course, it is to be able to make music and play songs with it. It only makes so much sense that you [as a beginner] start playing songs even from the earliest stages of your ukulele learning. 

This not only eases the supposedly arduous learning process but also helps you discover specific musical nuances and intricacies you normally wouldn’t have discovered if you had not started playing songs. For example, you will get to understand timing, harmony, accompaniment, dynamics, and many other things in actual practice. Some beginners who always postpone playing songs for later stages of learning always get to experience or experiment with these things too late. Aside from the learning aspect, it gives you unmeasurable fulfilment and encouragement to keep learning, knowing that you can make music with your ukulele even as a beginner. That being said, it is and will always be a great idea to learn the ukulele by playing actual songs. 

How We Selected these Easy Songs for Ukulele 

While selecting these songs, we used a couple of things as yardsticks for the selection of these songs. Firstly, we considered how easy it is to play these songs. We also made sure that these songs are interesting and fun to play. Although we did not prioritize the song’s popularity, we also made sure that these songs are pretty popular and known not just by pliers like you but also by known ukulele players. We don’t want you to start a tune that nobody wants to sing along because nobody knows. Below are some criterias we used in determining easy songs for the ukulele: 

The Songs Must be Interesting and Fun to Play

Like we said, every song that made it to this list will definitely be fun to play. It was important we consider this because it will be a lot easier learning a song you actually love. The songs on this list are all-time favorites. Many people love these songs and you will love them too. 

Easy Chords

After the melody, chords (harmony) will always remain one of the most important aspects of a song. A chord is basically two or more notes played together—either simultaneously or successively—when played successively, it can be regarded as broken chords or arpeggios. Think about the most popular songs that you know of. They always have chords, right? This is why considering how easy and playable [for beginners] a song’s chords are is a major factor in determining how easy the song is. 

In our opinion, songs with over four or five chords are not exactly easy, therefore, such songs would not make it to our list. The chord fingerings should not be overly complex; we go for songs with chords that you can play with no more than three fingers. We also avoid barre chords and capos, as these are generally tough for most beginners. The goal is for you to enjoy the learning process and the music you make—not get overly challenged to the point of losing interest. 

Easy Strumming Pattern 

Another factor for determining easy songs for ukulele was easy strumming patterns. It doesn’t just end with easy chords; a song might have all the easy chords but with very complex strumming patterns. This will make a supposedly easy song complex. Combining easy strumming patterns with basic chords makes the playing not just fun but also super easy. Many of the songs on this list will be songs you can simply play with basic strumming patterns like Down–Up–Down–Up, Down–Down–Up, Down–Down–Up–Up, and many other rudimentary patterns. 

With these easy strumming patterns, you will learn and grow on rhythm. Rhythm is one of the most important aspects of ukulele playing, and it makes sense that you progress from the most basic techniques to the more complex ones. However, strumming is generally not hard on the ukulele; there are down strums, up strums, a combination of down and up, and some palm muting techniques. Mastering this will set you on the part to mastering rhythm playing on the ukulele. 

Development of Right and Left-hand Techniques

Aside from ease of play, we also make sure that every song we include in this list are songs that will help you develop proper right-hand and left-hand techniques. This includes techniques like strumming (right-hand), fingering (left-hand) and finger picking. 

Introduction to Unconventional Chords 

Although we have made sure to choose songs with beginner-friendly chords and also avoided the overly complex ones, we also make sure that the included songs will introduce you to new chords. Most beginners are not conversant with certain types of chord outside major and minor chords. Some songs here will introduce you to the simplified versions of other chord types—especially 7th chords. After all, the main essence is to learn new things.