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15 Easy Ukulele Songs You Need to Learn

February 7, 2023
15 Easy Ukulele Songs You Need To Learn

If you are learning how to play the ukulele but still want to sound good and enjoy the overall learning process, these 15 easy ukulele songs are for you.

The good news is that there are literally hundreds of ukulele songs for beginners out there. However, it can often be hard for a newbie to choose the right ones to learn and practice.

That’s why I put together this list of the best easy ukulele songs for beginners. Not only will the songs improve your overall playing, but they will also impress your family and friends!

I’ve also included instructional videos from YouTube to help you on your way.

Top 15 Easy Ukulele Songs for Beginners

1. Fallin’ for you – Colbie Caillat

This popular song made its way to the top of the easy to learn ukulele songs list.

Caillat has quite a few songs that are great for playing on the ukulele, but “Fallin’ For You” is definitely my favorite.

“Falling For You” – Colbie Caillat | Ukulele Song Lesson.

2. I’m yours – Jason Mraz

This is an instant classic ukulele song that’s hard to get out of your head.

Jason Mraz took a simple ukulele line and combined it with a very catchy tune, bringing you a great song to learn on the ukulele.

If you are a beginner, you’ll appreciate how simple this ukulele song is to play from the basic lead and intro right down to the shuffling strumming pattern.

The chords used in the song are known as “oldies progression” and are quite common in a lot of the songs recorded throughout the 1950s.

“I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz | Easy Ukulele Song Tutorial.

3. Hey soul sister – Train

A similar-sounding song to that of Jason Mraz, “Hey Soul Sister” has a similar structure to “I’m Yours” and can be regarded as heavily influenced.

Although the chord structure is similar, it has a different pattern to the chorus and will still require a bit of practice.

“Hey, Soul Sister” – Train | Easy Ukulele Song Tutorial.

4. Tonight you belong to me – Prudence and Patience

At some point and time in your ukulele journey, you’re going to be asked to play this song, made popular by Steve Martin’s rendition in the movie The Jerk.

However, it’s a lighthearted and playful song that was originally written in the 1920s and made a comeback in the 1950s and 1960s with the sisterly duo Prudence and Patience.

The song is made even more beautiful if you have a cornet player to join you or someone to harmonize the vocals with. It is one of the most simple ukulele songs out there, using only a few chords, but sounds great.

“Tonight You Belong To Me” – Steve Martin “The Jerk” (Ukulele Tutorial).

5. Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton

This is a song that you may not have expected to see on the easy to pay ukulele song list, however, it’s a beautiful track, written after the tragic loss of Eric Clapton’s son Connor.

It has brought tears to many people, but also a sense of healing for people suffering from their own losses. It’s definitely a great ukulele song to have in your collection. It’s also not too difficult to play, however, the bridge may take some extra time and attention.

“Tears In Heaven” – Ukulele Tutorial Easy.

6. What makes you beautiful – One Direction

The song is a certified quadruple platinum in the United States.

It’s a catchy pop song with lots of chord repetition, making it an easy and exciting popular song for a beginner ukulele player to learn.

One Direction – “What Makes You Beautiful” (Ukulele Tutorial).

7. Somewhere over the rainbow – Israel

The original title of the song is “Over the Rainbow,” a ballad by Judy Garland for the movie Wizard of Oz.

No ukulele player would be complete without learning how to play this song. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole recorded a medley version with the song “What a Wonderful World” which has been used in various movies and soundtracks.

A true classic in the ukulele world!

“Somewhere Over The Rainbow” ( IZ ) – Ukulele Tutorial – Chords, Lyrics.

8. Riptide – Vance Joy

Vance Joy’s career was launched worldwide thanks to his song “Riptide.” Even if you don’t recognize the name, you’ll definitely know the song when you hear it.

Lots of musicians were impressed with how great it sounds when played on a ukulele, and hence it exploded in popularity. The original song was played using a guitar with a capo, however, it also sounds great when played on the ukulele.

It’s probably one of the easiest songs to play on the ukulele for beginners as you only need 3 chords.

“Riptide” – Vance Joy (Ukulele Tutorial).

9. I don’t know my name – Grace Vanderwall

This song was performed by a young girl by the name of Grace Vanderwall for her audition on America’s Got Talent.

The chords are quite easy to learn, making it another fun and easy ukulele song to learn for beginners.

“I Don’t Know My Name – Grace Vanderwaal – Easy Ukulele Song Tutorial.

10. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

You couldn’t possibly compile the best songs to play on a ukulele list and leave this song out. It’s extremely popular and memorable too.

It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but once you do, it great for playing in front of an audience or around the campfire.

Leonard Cohen – “Hallelujah” (Ukulele Tutorial) – Chords – How To Play.

11. Rude – Magic

If you’re looking for an easy and catchy tune to play, then this one’s for you.

The bridge and the chorus are especially addictive, with a nice reggae vibe that will have you strumming in perfect harmony.

12. Blank Space – Taylor Swift

If you never thought that this song would be popular amongst the ukulele crowd, think again. One of the talents of Taylor Swift is that she can take simple chord progressions and turn them into very catchy tunes.

“Blank Space” is another one of the easy ukulele songs to play and is perfect for beginners. It’s also becoming one of the most popular ukulele songs, with lots of cover versions on YouTube.

The song, however, can be played with a happy uplifting vibe or a melancholic one, depending on how you feel like playing it. Just try experimenting with the strumming pattern. Either way, it still sounds great. Thanks, Swifty!

“Blank Space” – Taylor Swift (Ukulele Tutorial).

13. Hello – Adele

This song grew extremely popular within a short space of time and it didn’t take long before it reached the ukulele world. It’s not hard to understand why, as it sounds great on the ukulele, carrying a lot of power and momentum.

The song itself is easy to learn and makes use of a straightforward strumming pattern. Irrespective of how you choose to sing it, the song will always sound great.

Definitely, one of the best ukulele songs for beginners to learn and play.

“Hello” – Adele (Easy Ukulele Tutorial).

14. The A Team – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran always has a powerful story to tell through his music and is an inspiration to many fans all around the world.

“The A Team” is one of his greatest songs that can be played on the ukulele. The track requires a few more chords than the others on our easy ukulele songs list, however, they are fairly straightforward barre chords.

The great thing about playing the song on the ukulele is that you can make it as simple or as complicated as you want. It leaves a lot of room for experimentation and musical freedom, especially if you are one of those players who likes to spice things up.

You can also get creative with strumming pattern, or you can simply use the standard pattern. Whatever floats your boat.

“The A Team” – Ed Sheeran – (Ukulele Tutorial).

15. All of me – John Legend

The last of my favorite easy ukulele songs, but probably one you’ve heard many times by now. It’s great to learn on the ukulele.

The secret to playing this is to arpeggiate the verse and combine that with a well-practiced chord progression. Although not the easiest ukulele song on the list, it’s perfect to improve your playing and would make a good goal for a beginner.

The song will take a little more practice than the others, however with a bit of work you should be jamming along to John Legend in no time!

“All of Me” – John Legend (Easy Ukulele Tutorial).

I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of easy ukulele songs and find them pleasurable to learn and play. Just remember, practice makes perfect and happy strumming!

Want more guidance when learning how to play the Ukulele? Check out our list of the 10 best online ukulele lessons!

Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

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