5 ukulele songs for a beginner to learn

In the last post, we talked about and diagrammed 5 chords on the ukulele that I consider to be the most important building blocks in your ukulele journey.  Those chords are C, Am, F, G, G7.  If you missed that post, check it out here.

Now that you have the groundwork laid down with those 5 basic chords, you can start to put 'em to use and strum along with a few songs.  Here's 5 songs that you can start to work on with just those 5 ukulele

New Ukulele Magazine

A brand new e-zine directed towards all of us ukulele enthusiasts has emerged.  "Ukulele" seems to be a simple, yet very appropriate title for this compilation of interviews, tabs, reviews, and a whole lot more.

There is an e-mail sign up required to read it, but other than that slight inconvenience, it's free!  You can check it out and read through it at www.ukuleleunlimited.com

So far just two issues have been released.  The most recent Spring 2013 issue features an interview with James Hill, a bunch of tabs including "On the Beach at Waikiki", a Blues on the Uke Lesson, and reviews of the Ohana CKP-70 Concert, Kala KA-SMLTE-C Tenor, and Boulder Creek Riptide UC-SNS. 

Check it out and take the survey while you're there.  This is a very cool thing and all of us ukers need to show them that we can support such a magazine for years to come.

Bob Marley - One Cup of Coffee ukulele chords

One of my favorite Bob Marley songs!  It transfers quite nicely to the ukulele.  For those of you that aren't very familiar with ska strumming, I'm hoping to do a video tutorial one of these days with some ska

Staten Island Slide ukulele tabs

An awesome ukulele piece written by Craig Robertson, also known on Youtube as "Best Ukulele Song...".  Find the original video here.  Of course, my take on this tune is a bit different from the original, but you can find the basic tab here.  Special thanks to Dominator for putting this arrangement together!

Oh! Susanna - ukulele chords

Oh! Susanna was written by Stephen foster and first published in 1848.  This song sits in an elite group as one of the most popular American songs ever written.  It plays very nicely on the ukulele.  Here's a quick chord run down that should get you playing it in no time!  As always, if you need help with any of the chord formations for your ukulele, check out the Ukulele Chord Finder.

Key of C

C...............................................D7...............G7
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee
.....C...........................................Am.........G7.....C
I'm going to Louisiana for my true love, O, to see
C............................................................D7..................G7
It rained all day the night I left.  In the morning it was dry
......C....................................................Am...G7..........C
The sun so hot I froze to death.  Susanna, don't you cry
F.............................C.......................G7
Oh!  Susanna.  Don't you cry for me
...C............................................Am....G7......C
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee

When the Saints Go Marching In - ukulele chords

An all around awesome song!  Rumor has it that in New Orleans you'll find some street musicians with signs that read - "$5 for requests - $10 for the Saints".
Above is my rendition with my Mom!  Any musical interest and/or talent that I have comes from her.  Here's the basic chords so you can get started playing it on your own!
By the way, the chord that I use towards the end is a Cdim.  As always, you can find any chord you need right here on the Ukulele Chord Finder.

In the key of G

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,......,,,,,,G
Oh, when the saints
(still on G)
Go marchin' in
(still on G)......................................D7
Oh, when the saints go marchin' in
......................G.........G7..........C
Oh, how I want to be in that number
.....................G...........D7.........G
When the saints go marchin' in



...just repeat and you've got it.  Lots of possibilities in this one for creative variations.  Experiment and have fun!  Happy Uke'n!

Just A Closer Walk With Thee - ukulele chords

One of my favorite gospel songs!  I still remember the first time I heard it when I was about 8 years old.  It was right around the time that White Men Can't Jump came out....if you're at all familiar with the movie, you know that the opening scene features an awesome performance of this song by the Venice Beach Boys.  Do yourself a favor and check it out here on YouTube.  You may also be asking yourself what I was doing watching such a vulgar movie at a very young age.  Well, I have an older sister and brother.  In their defense, it was the edited TV version that we had on a VHS tape.  From the moment that I first heard this tune, I knew it was awesome.  Hope this chord arrangement will be a good guide for you to start jammin' on this one.  As always, if you need to reference a chord, check out the Ukulele Chord Finder (just be sure to switch it to "soprano C" for all of you GCEA players.  Here's a little video of me playing around with it if you need a little guidance.  Enjoy!

Snazzy little intro: A, F#min, A, Cdim, D6, A, F#min, A, E7

A.........A#dim..................E7
Just a closer walk with thee
......................................A
Grant me Jesus is my plea
..............A7..............D......Cdim
Daily walkin' with thee
..........D6...A............E7.............A
Let it.....be.  Dear Lord, let it be




.....just rinse and repeat.  Oh yeah, don't forget to have fun with it!

Happy Birthday ukulele chords

Happy Birthday!
Ever uke player needs to know this one!  It's a great
beginner practice piece, but it's also great to know for
celebrating all those special folks in your life!

C                 G         
Happy birthday to you

                  C
Happy birthday to you

                       G  F
Happy birthday to dear name

F     C        G  C
Happy birthday to you

Old Macdonald ukulele chords

Old Macdonald

Alright, so it's not the most exciting song of all 

time, but it's a good beginner ukulele song. 

C             F     C     C   G7  C
Old MacDonald had A farm, E-i-E-i-o
    C               F        C       C   G7  C
And on this farm he had some chicks, e-i-e-i-o
       C
With a chick, chick here and a chick, chick there
C
Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick
C             F     C     C   G7  C
Old MacDonald had A farm, E-i-E-i-o

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours ukulele chords

Once again, I found myself greatly indebted to the fine folks at ukulelehunt.com for putting together a nice pdf of this Jason Mraz tune.  Grab that ukulele and start strummin'.

Click here for the chords

Hey Soul Sister ukulele chords

I'm always thankful when someone does the work for me!  

Here's a couple versions of this song in the key of C....

Hey Soul Sister - via ukulele-tabs.com

Hey Soul Sister - via ultimate-guitar.com

Amazing Grace ukulele chords

Amazing Grace - from www.liveukulele.com 

Go check out their site and tell them how awesome they are! 

 C                  F         C
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound 
                         G7
that saved a wretch like me! 
  C                  F      C
I once was lost, but now am found; 
               G7    C
was blind, but now I see. 


C                  F         C
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 
                         G7
and grace my fears relieved; 
  C                  F      C
how precious did that grace appear 
               G7    C
the hour I first believed. 


C                  F         C
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, 
                         G7
I have already come; 
  C                  F      C
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, 
               G7    C
and grace will lead me home. 


C                  F         C
The Lord has promised good to me, 
                         G7
his word my hope secures; 
  C                  F      C
he will my shield and portion be, 
               G7    C
as long as life endures. 


C                  F         C
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, 
                         G7
and mortal life shall cease, 
  C                  F      C
I shall possess, within the veil, 
               G7    C
a life of joy and peace. 


C                  F         C
When we've been there ten thousand years, 
                         G7
bright shining as the sun, 
  C                  F      C
we've no less days to sing God's praise 
               G7    C
than when we first begun.