Ukulele

This is a basic ukulele sequence gathered from Youtube and supplemented with additional songs and chords. Special thanks to everyone who has developed so many outstanding videos! Everything is organized here starting with songs that use just one chord and then progressing from there. Practice every day and trim your fingernails (at least on your left hand) for optimal enjoyment and skill development. The ability to play music grows with practice. It can be difficult at first, but don't give up! Along the way, you might also search for other videos on Youtube and additional lead sheets online. There certainly are many excellent tutorials and play-alongs that are similar to these as well as some that are much more difficult when you are ready. 
First, here's how to hold the ukulele.
This next video shows you the letter names and string numbers for the most popular ukulele tuning. Memorize the letter names and string numbers. 
This video explains how to read chord charts. The picture is as it you held your ukulele vertically out in front of you, looking at the strings. The strings are the vertical lines and the horizontal lines represent the frets. 
 Picture
Now you should be ready to play your first chord. We'll start with C. Put your ring finger on the first string (A string), third fret. Push down with the tip of your finger with finger curved. Strum across with either your thumb or the back of your index finger. This video tutorial from the amazing ukulele teacher, Cynthia Lin, shows how to strum.
Picture
At this point, you should be able to play these songs that use just a C chord. Just strum along on the steady beat. If you don't know the tunes, you can just play along with the videos that follow. 





​Row, Row, Row Your Boat 
C
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.


Three Blind Mice
C
Three blind mice. Three blind mice.
See how they run. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife.
She cut their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a sight in your life
As three blind mice? 
 
 
Picture
Here a song that can be played with just a C7 chord. For this chord, use the pointer finger on the first fret. Go ahead and play and sing along. 
Picture
These two songs can be played using a single chord. In this case, we will use and F chord (C would also work). For the F chord, put your pointer finger on the fourth string, second fret, and your middle finger on the second string, first fret. If you don't know the tunes, you can find them on Youtube. Be sure to curve your fingers (and clip those fingernails!). If you strum slowly across all strings, you should be able to hear each note clearly.

Are You Sleeping? 
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Brother John. Brother John.
Morning bells are ringing. Morning bells are ringing.
Ding, ding, dong. Ding, ding, dong.
 
 Make New Friends
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.
A circle is round; it has no end: That’s how long I want to be your friend.
On the land, across the sea; Friends forever we will always be.
Once you have the F chord down and can find it without trouble, practice switching back and forth between the F chord and the C7 chord. When that feels comfortable, you will be ready for the next play-along song. 
Picture
Now you are ready for the G7 chord (pictured below). Place your pointer finger on the second string first fret, your middle finger on the third string second fret, and your ring finger on the first string second fret. Strum slowly across to make sure you can hear all strings. Then practice shifting from G7 to C and back. To get to C, raise pointer and middle fingers and slide the ring finger over into the third fret. To get back, slide the ring finger over into the second fret and add the other two fingers. Practice switching back and forth and then play the next song. If you don't know this song, look it up on Youtube. I wasn't able to find a version in this key that had the lyrics. So, you will need to listen to the song and then sing it without the Youtube. 

How Much is that Doggie in the Window
Bob Merrill

How [C] much is that doggie in the [G7] window?
The one with the waggley [C] tail.
How much is that doggie in the [G7] window, 
I do hope that doggie’s for [C] sale. 

I must take a trip to [G7] California 
And leave my poor sweetheart [C] alone.
If she has a dog she won’t be [G7] lonesome 
And the doggie will have a good [C] home. (Chorus) 

I read in the papers there are [G7] robbers 
With flashlights that shine in the [C] dark. 
My love needs a doggie to [G7] protect her 
And scare them away with one [C] bark. (Chorus)
​
I don’t want a bunny or a [G7] kitty. 
I don’t want a parrot that [C] talks. 
I don’t want a bowl of little [G7] fishes. 
You can’t take a goldfish for [C] walks. (Chorus)

Here's another song that uses C and G7. Play it from this lead sheet and/or use the Youtube video that follows.

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
                       C
He’s got the whole world in his hands,                                                                                    
                       G7    
He’s got the whole wide world in his hands,
                        C  
He’s got the whole world in his hands,
                       G7                             C  
He’s got the whole world in his hands.                                               
 
He’s got the wind and the rain...
He’s got the little bitty babies...
He’s got you and me brother...
He’s got and me sister...
Picture
Let's put three chords together now in one song. Practice switching from chord to chord first, and then let it rip. 

Leavin’ On a Jet Plane                
​John Denver                                                                            
             C            /                       F             /                                        
All my bags are packed; I’m ready to go,                               
        C              /             F               /  
I’m standing here outside your door,
    C          /               F        /              G7    /   /    /
I hate to wake you up to say good-bye.
 
               C            /                           F       /
But the dawn is breakin’ and it’s early morn,                           
         C        /                  F                  /
The taxi’s waitin’; he’s blowin’ his horn,
     C         /          F             /            G7  /   /    / 
Already, I’m so lonesome I could die.
 
      C     /           F             /
So, kiss me and smile for me,
C            /                F            /
Tell me that you’ll wait for me,
C              /                  F      /         G7 /  /  /
Hold me like you’ll never let me go.                                          
 
                   C   /        F     /
‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane,
C             /                  F         /
    Don’t know when I’ll be back again,
C     /         F          /            G7   /     /     /   C
             Oh, babe, I hate to go.
 
Here's a video of Leaving on a Jet Plane if you want to play along, but it doesn't have the chords, so you will probably need to watch the lead sheet here. Also, here are three more songs that can be played with C, F, and G7. After that the songs might use additional chords. Pause the video on the chord chart and learn the new chords. 
Here's a playlist of songs. Some might require learning a new chord. You can find a lot more of these on youtube.