UKULELE FOR BEGINNERS (and beyond!)

HELLO CHAPS AND CHAPETTES. Do you want to learn the art of playing ukulele songs that are perfect for beginners AND that only use 3 or 4 chords? FAB! Have fun with the songs in this blog to help perfect your strumming and chord changing techniques. All of the songs here are easy to play and sound cool - Bonus.

When you’re just getting started on a ‘uke’, focus on learning two or three chords and switching back and forth between them. One very common sequence of chords is C, D, and G. First, practice switching between the C and D. Next, try switching from D to G, and then from G to C.

Practice switching between chords while staying on a steady tempo. Try to play each chord for four beats and then switch as smoothly as you can to the next chord. Once you get comfortable switching chords slowly (you don’t need to rush this part) begin to increase the speed. Try a metronome or a drum machine with tempo settings - I personally like Garage Band and use the drum beats machine often in both lessons and at home when I practice without my band.

>READ OUR BLOG ABOUT HOW TO PRACTICE AN INSTRUMENT MORE EFFECTIVELY<

The biggest tip I can give to beginning ‘uke’ players is to take your time. Be sure to pick a song that you like and work all the way through it. It’s important to become good at playing a few songs all the way through rather than one verse or just the chorus of all of many.

READY TO ROCK? LET’S GO…

All Along the Watchtower Bob Dylan/Hendrix (Am, G, F)

Counting Stars One Republic (Am, C, G, F)

Down On The Corner Creedence Clearwater Revival (C, F, G7)

Happy Pharrell Williams (E7, C, Bm7)

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking For U2 (C, F, G)

I Won’t Back Down Tom Petty (Em, G, D, C)

Jambalaya Hank Williams (C, G7)

Jet Airliner Steve Miller Band (C, Bb, F)

Leaving on a Jet Plane John Denver (C, F, G)

Love Me Do The Beatles (C, F, G7)

Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett (D, A, G, D7)