200 Easy Ukulele Songs: Database for Beginners

Two, three, or four chord easy ukulele songs are awesome for perfecting your uke strumming and chording techniques. This index of tunes will supply you with all the songs you need to be playing and singing in no time!

These songs are chosen to actually be easy to play for uke newbies. These songs:

  1. Have four or less chord fingerings in the whole piece
  2. Only use chords that can be played with three fingers or less
  3. Don’t require barre chords (or need a capo)
  4. Use relaxed tempos/ample time between each chord change
The difficulty color factors in how tough the chords are along with following the rhythm of the song and overall presentation. For instance, “Uptown Funk” only has two pretty easy chords, but figuring out where they go in such a sparse pop arrangement takes some skill.

Overall Difficulty Level
Easy (uncolored)
Medium
Hard

Easy Pop Ukulele Songs

With popular music where it’s at today using simple chords, it’s easier than ever for a beginner to strum recognizable songs on their ukulele. Pick a favorite here and click through to the chords to get started.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
Blurred Lines Robin Thicke G, D Ultimate Guitar
Counting Stars One Republic Am, C, G, F Live Ukulele
Cut My Lip Twenty One Pilots Em, D, A Ukulele Hunt
Dog Days Are Over Florence and the Machine G, Am, Em, F Ukulele Hunt
Foundations Kate Nash C, F, Am, G Ukulele Hunt
Hello Adele Em, G, D, C Ukulele Teacher
Ho Hey Lumineers C, F, G, Am Ukulele Hunt
I’m Yours Jason Mraz C, G, Am, F Ukulele Hunt
Into the Wild LP G, Em, C Ukulele Hunt
Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett D, G, A Live Ukulele
Poker Face Lady Gaga Em, C, G, D Ultimate Guitar
Riptide Vance Joy Am, G, C Live Ukulele
Stay With Me Sam Smith Am, F, C Ukulele Teacher
Sunday Morning Maroon 5 Dm, G, C Ultimate Guitar
Uptown Funk Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars Dm, G7 Ukulele Underground
Whistle Flo Rida Am, F, C, G Ultimate Guitar

Make it even easier:

Any time you see a 7th chord in a song sheet, you can play the base major chord. The tonality of the major chord is contained in every 7th so you aren’t really changing anything significant sound-wise.

For instance, many times you’ll see a G to G7 to C chord progression. Just skip the G7 and continue to play G until it’s time for the C.

Easy Rock Ukulele Songs

With its roots in the blues, rock and roll has its fair share of songs with easy chords. This is the largest section and includes 1970s-2000s rock/pop, depending on how relevant the song has remained. Others can be found in the “oldies” section.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
All Along The Watchtower Bob Dylan/Hendrix Am, G, F Live Ukulele
All Apologies Nirvana C, F, G Ukulele Tabs
All the Small Things Blink-182 C, F, G Ultimate Guitar
Bad Moon Rising Credence Clearwater Revival D, G, A Ultimate Guitar
Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison G, C, D, Em Ultimate Guitar
Chasing Cars Snow Patrol G, D, C Ultimate Guitar
Down On The Corner Credence Clearwater Revival C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
Elanor Rigby The Beatles C, Em, Em7, Em6 Ultimate Guitar
Evil Ways Santana Gm, C, D Ultimate Guitar
Float On Modest Mouse C, Em, Am Ultimate Guitar
Give Peace a Chance Plastic Ono Band C, G Ultimate Guitar
Hand in My Pocket Alanis Morissette G, C, F, D Ultimate Guitar
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) The Proclaimers D, G, A transpose -2 Ultimate Guitar
I Won’t Back Down Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Em, G, D, C Ukulele Tabs
Octopus’s Garden The Beatles C, F, Am, G7 Ultimate Guitar
Oye Como Va Santana Am7, D7 Ultimate Guitar
Run Around Blues Traveller G, C, Am, D Ultimate Guitar
Save Tonight Eagle-Eye Cherry Am, F, C, G Ultimate Guitar
Still Haven’t Found U2 C, F, G Ultimate Guitar
Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd D, C, G Ultimate Guitar
This Too Shall Pass OK Go C, F, G Ukulele Hunt
Werewolves of London Warren Zevon D, C, G Ultimate Guitar
What’s Up Four Non-Blondes G, Am, C Ultimate Guitar
Zombie Cranberries Em, C, G, D Ultimate Guitar

Easy Oldies Ukulele Songs

The ukulele is wonderful for playing oldies tunes and many classic songs are simple and easy to play. Everything here is pre-1970s.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
Day-O (Banana Boat) Harry Belafonte D, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Hit the Road Jack Ray Charles Am, G, F, E7 Ultimate Guitar
Hound Dog Elvix Presley C, F7, G7 Ultimate Guitar
I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash C, F, G7 Ultimate Guitar
La Bamba Ritchie Valens C, F, G7 Ultimate Guitar
Leaving on a Jet Plane John Denver G, C, D Ultimate Guitar
Love Me Do The Beatles G, C, D Ultimate Guitar
Mustang Sally Wilson Picket C, F, G remove 7ths Ultimate Guitar
Stand By Me Ben E. King C, Am, F, G7 Ukulele Go
Surfin’ USA Beach Boys C, F, G7 Ultimate Guitar
The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Tokens F, Bb, C Ukulele Hunt

Easy Country/Folk Ukulele Songs

Traditional country and folk songs tend to be based on “three chords and the truth” as the saying goes. If you can transpose from guitar-friendly keys to ukulele-friendly keys, many more old country tunes will be easy to play.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
A Horse With No Name America Em7, D Ultimate Guitar
All I Have to Offer You is Me Charlie Pride G, C, D CC Song Lyrics
Achy Breaky Heart Billy Ray Cyrus A, E7 Ultimate Guitar
Blowing in the Wind Bob Dylan G, C, D Ultimate Guitar
Desolation Row Bob Dylan D, G, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash G, C7, D7 Sum of the Parts
I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You Tom Waits C, F, G Ukulele Hunt
I Walk the Line Johnny Cash C, C7, G7, F Doctor Uke
Jambalaya Hank Williams C, G7 Ukulele Tabs
Knocking on Heaven’s Door Bob Dylan G, D, Am Ultimate Guitar
Ring of Fire Johnny Cash G, C, D Ultimate Guitar
The First Cut is the Deepest Sheryl Crow D, A, G use A instead of Asus4 Ultimate Guitar
This Land is Your Land Woody Guthrie D, G, A, D7 Ultimate Guitar
Wagon Wheel Bob Dylan/Darius Rucker C, G, Am, F Bytown Ukulele

Easy Reggae Ukulele Songs

Reggae often uses easy chords, but since it relies heavily on a syncopated skank strum it can be difficult for beginners to play. If you’re a strumming wiz who wants to drill on some easy songs, reggae is your jam.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
African Queen 2Face C, Am, F, G Ultimate Guitar
Beach in Hawaiʻi Ziggy Marley Am, G, F Ultimate Guitar
Cherry Oh Baby UB40 G, C, D Go Tabs
Equal Rights Peter Tosh G, Am, C, D Play Ukulele
Monkey Man Toots and the Maytals A, D, E7 Scorpex
No Woman, No Cry Bob Marley C, G, Am, F Ukulele Jam
One Day Matisyahu C, G, Am, F Live Ukulele
One Love Bob Marley C, F, Am, G Live Ukulele
Pressure Drop Toots and the Maytals G, C, D transpose -1 Ultimate Guitar
Red, Red Wine UB40 G, C, D Ultimate Guitar
Reggae Night Jimmy Cliff G, C, D Ultimate Guitar
Stir It Up Bob Marley A, D, E7 Ukulele Cheats
Three Little Birds Bob Marley A, D, E7 Ultimate Guitar
What I Got Sublime D, G Ultimate Guitar
54-46 Was My Number Toots and the Maytals G, C, D strip 7ths Ultimate Guitar

Traditional

These songs are a part of North American culture. They are some of the most well-known tunes to be found anywhere.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
Amazing Grace Traditional C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
Clementine (Oh My Darling) Traditional G, C, D7 Ultimate Guitar
Happy Birthday Traditional C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Traditional C, G7 Ultimate Guitar
She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain Traditional G, C, D7 Ultimate Guitar
You Are My Sunshine Traditional C, F, G7 Live Ukulele

Easy Island Ukulele Jams

“Island” music can be a lot of things, but to me, living in Hawai’i, it means contemporary local music that sits somewhere between traditional Hawaiian and either reggae or mainstream music.

These are awesome tunes for chilling out and jamming at mellow events where a little island flavor on the uke can make things a little more tropical.

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
Cane Fire Peter Moon Band Am, G, F Live Ukulele
Country Road Paula Fuga & Jack Johnson C, Dm, Am Live Ukulele
Guava Jelly Kaʻau Crater Boys G, C, D7, Em Ultimate Guitar
Home in the Islands Brothers Cazimero F, Bb, C7 Ultimate Guitar
Island Style John Cruz C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
Kuʻu Home O Kahaluʻu Olomana C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
Living in a Sovereign Land IZ A, D, E7, F#m use E7 instead of E Ultimate Guitar
Shine On John Cruz C, G7 Live Ukulele
Tropical Hawaiian Day Kaʻau Crater Boys F, Bb, C7 Ultimate Guitar

Easy Hawaiian Ukulele Songs

These are songs in Hawaiian language. If you can get a grasp on basic pronunciation, Hawaiian music is a beginning ukulele player’s paradise.

There are many, many Hawaiian songs that follow the same exact chord progression (order).

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
E Huli Mākou David Chung C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
Haleakalā Hula Alice Namakelua C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
I Kona James Kelepolo C, G7 Live Ukulele
Kaulana Nā Pua Ellen Prendergast C, F, G7 Live Ukulele
Kokeʻe Rev. Dennis Kamakahi C, F, G7 Live Ukulele

Easy Two-Chord Ukulele Songs

*Song ideas from Stillwater Ukulele Association and Fountain of Uke.

If you want really simple, two-chord ukulele songs, check out my page of tunes that only use F and C7 (two of the easiest uke chords):

The easiest two-chord ukulele songs

Song Artist Chords Song Sheet
A Horse with No Name America Em7, D Ultimate Guitar
Achy Breaky Heart Billy Ray Cyrus A, E7 Ultimate Guitar
Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’ Wendell Hall C, G7 Ukulele Buddies
Alouette Traditional F, C7 Jolly Roger Ukulele
Anyone Else But You The Moldy Peaches G, C Ultimate Guitar
Baby Please Don’t Go Traditional G, D7 e-chords
Beans In My Ears The Serendipity Singers G, D use key of G for whole song Traditional Music
Bringing in the Georgia Mail Fred Rose C, G7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
Buddy Won’t You Roll Down The Line Traditional D, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Buffalo Gals Traditional G, D Ultimate Guitar
Carry It On Judy Collins G, D Ultimate Guitar
Caught Us Doing It The Hokum Boys F, C7
Charles Guiteau Traditional F, C Ultimate Guitar
Chisolm Trail Cisco Houston D, A Ultimate Guitar
Clementine (Oh My Darling) Traditional G, C, D7 Ultimate Guitar
Countdown The Black Keys A, D Ultimate Guitar
Crow Black Chicken Traditional A, E use E7 instead of E Ultimate Guitar
Dance the Night Away The Mavericks D, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Day-O (Banana Boat) Harry Belafonte D, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Deep in the Heart of Texas Hank Thompson C, G7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
Dollar Down and a Dollar a Week Woodie Guthrie D, A Liz Lyle
Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Ray Price G, D Classic Country Song Lyrics
Don’t Mess With My Toot Toot Denise La Salle G, D Cowboy Lyrics
Don’t You Hear Jerusalem Moan Nitty Gritty Dirt Band I, V7
Down by the Riverside Jimmy Davis G, D7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
Down in the Valley Traditional C, G Cowboy Lyrics
Dream Baby Roy Orbison A7, D7 Ultimate Guitar
Drunken Sailor Traditional Dm, C Jolly Roger Ukulele
Everyday People Sly & the Family Stone G, C Doctor Uke
Feeling Alright Joe Cocker F7, C7 Ultimate Guitar
Fire On The Mountain Grateful Dead A, G transpose down a whole step Rukind
Get Up Stand Up Bob Marley Bm, F#m Ultimate Guitar
Gospel Ship Carter Family C, G7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
Green, Green Rocky Road Dave Van Ronk D, G Ultimate Guitar
Handsome Molly Doc Watson G, D Ultimate Guitar
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Traditional C, G7 Ultimate Guitar
Hey Gyp Dig the Slowness Donovan G, F Ultimate Guitar
Hey Lolly Woodie Guthrie G, D Ultimate Guitar
Hiram Hubbard (J. Ritchie) Traditional D, G Ultimate Guitar
Honky Tonkin’ Hank Williams C, G7 Ultimate Guitar
Hot Corn Traditional G, D Harper College
How Much Is That Doggie in the Window Patti Page C, G7 Play Ukulele
I Have A Little Dreidl Traditional C, G7 Uke Buddy
I Ride An Old Paint Linda Ronstadt G, D7 Play Ukulele
Iko Iko Traditional F, C7 Ukulele Songbook
It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More Traditional C, G7 Ultimate Guitar
Jambalaya Hank Williams C, G7 Ukulele Tabs
Jimmy Brown the Newsboy A.P. Carter C, G7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
La Cucaracha Traditional G, D Jolly Roger Ukulele
Lily the Pink The Scaffold C, G7 use G7 instead of G Ultimate Guitar
Little Birdie Traditional D, A Ultimate Guitar
Little Maggie Traditional G, F Play Ukulele
London Bridge Traditional F, C7 Live Ukulele
Memphis Tennessee Chuck Berry G, D7 Jim’s Songs
Mendocino Sir Douglas Quartet D, A Ultimate Guitar
Okie From Muskogee Merle Haggard C, G Anacapa Ukulele
Old Man in The Mill The Dillards Dm, C Cowboy Lyrics
Oye Como Va Santana Am, D7 Ultimate Guitar
Paperback Writer The Beatles G7, C Ultimate Guitar
Pastures of Plenty Woodie Guthrie D, A e-chords
Pay Me My Money Down Traditional D, A Ukulele Hunt
Pistol Packing Mama Al Dexter C, G7 Ultimate Guitar
Planet Caravan Black Sabbath Em, D Ultimate Guitar
Polly Wolly Doodle Traditional C, G Ultimate Guitar
Pushing Too Hard The Seeds Bm, A Ultimate Guitar
Put Your Little Foot Traditional I, V7
Ramblin’ Man Hank William Am, E7 Ultimate Guitar
Rattlesnake Shake Fleetwood Mac A, D Ultimate Guitar
Reuben’s Train The Dillards F, C Ultimate Guitar
Rhy Whiskey (Jack of Diamonds) Traditional F, C7 Ultimate Guitar
Rock Island Line Johnny Cash F, C transpose +1 Ultimate Guitar
Row, Row, Row Your Boat Traditional F, C7 Live Ukulele
Roving Gambler Traditional A, E7 use E7 instead of E Cowboy Lyrics
Sal’a Got A Meatskin Traditional C, G7 Traditional Music
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Bob Dylan D, C use C instead of D/C and D/B Chords Base
Sinner Man The Seekers Em, D Ultimate Guitar
Skillet Good N Greasy Traditional G, C Traditional Music
Skip to My Lou Traditional C, G Riffspot
Single Girl, Married Girl The Carter Family F, C Ultimate Guitar
Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) Bob Willis G, D Ultimate Guitar
Sunshine Life For Me George Harrison E use F instead of E Ultimate Guitar
Sweet Potatoes Cracker G, D Ultimate Guitar
Take Me Back To Tulsa Bob Wills G, D Ultimate Guitar
Ta Ra Ra Boom De ay Traditional F, C7 Ukulele Underground
The Boll Weevil Song Traditional G, D Go Tabs
The Bottle Let Me Down Merle Haggard C, G7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
The Cowboy Song Tom Hanks G, D Ukulele Jim
The Paw-paw Patch Traditional C, G7 Traditional Music
The Sow Took the Measles Traditional C, G7 Traditional Music
The Wheels on the Bus Traitional C, G7 Live Ukulele
Three Blind Mice Traditional F, C7 Live Ukulele
Tom Dooley Kingston Trio D, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Tombstone Blues Bob Dylan F, C7 transpose +1 Ultimate Guitar
Tulsa Time Don Williams G, D Ultimate Guitar
Waltz Across Texas Ernest Tubb G, D7 Jim’s Songs
When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again Elvis Prestley D, A7 Ultimate Guitar
Where The Soul of Man Never Dies Johhny Cash A, E7 use E7 instead of E Cowboy Lyrics
Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet The Everley Brothers C, G7 Classic Country Song Lyrics
Willie Seton Tom Paxton C, G7 Ultimate Guitar
You Never Can Tell Chuck Berry G, D7 Classic Country Song Lyrics”

If you want even more ideas for some easy uke songs, there is a great collection on Uke Hunt arranged by chords used. It’s a clever way of seeing how learning just a single chord can allow you to play a ton more songs.

A Tip on Learning New Songs:

Work on one aspect at a time. It really helps to break a song down by chords, strum, and vocals.

If you try and do everything at once you’re going to struggle. Get familiar with the chords first – look them up (if you need a chord chart, click here), write them down, learn to finger them. Then take a look at a simple strum without trying to hold chords. Then sing through the song without trying to play.

Once everything is easy separately, start adding pieces together – strum (muted) and sing or strum and hold chords. Then try and do it all at once. The idea is to get everything running on autopilot in one form or another. If you are trying to play it all at once with brute determination and thinking power, you might be able too, but it will feel way harder than it should.

Two Songs That Aren’t Easy (But are on Other Lists)

There are a certain number of famous songs that get thrown onto other easy song lists because they’re well known. But this doesn’t mean they are a great song for beginners.

The reason you won’t find these here is because I’m an ukulele teacher. I’ve taught and continue to teach these songs to beginners and wouldn’t dream of including some of these in a uke 101 class:

  • Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole (Tons of chords with shifting patterns)
  • Hey Soul Sister by Train (Recorded in a hard key and with a fast strum that will just confuse beginners. You CAN transpose it, but often the magic is being able to play along with the recording)

You might also like:

More song chords
Easy ukulele tabs

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