Whether you’re completely new to music or have years of experience playing and performing under your belt, the ukulele is an absolute blast to play. It’s one of the easiest instruments on the planet to learn and is considerably easier to hold and carry around compared to bulky keyboards or even guitars. The uke also makes a great instrument to play for younger students looking to break into music. We’ve got five fun ukulele songs to show you in this article. We’ll provide the lyrics and easy-to-read chord charts to help you learn these great tunes.
These fun ukulele songs are pretty easy to learn, but you’ll need to know how to build simple uke chords to be able to play them. Ready to get started?
“Blitzkrieg Bop,” by The Ramones
This classic punk song translates surprisingly well to the ukulele. You’ll play major chords in this version instead of power chords. Power chords are chords typically played on the guitar that are neither major or minor. This song is typically played very quickly, so feel free to slow it down if you’re new to the ukulele. If you’re learning the ropes on the ukulele, this song is a great one to start with because it only has four simple chords.
[Intro]
A D E X3 A D A A D E X3 A D A
NC NC A
Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go.
[Verse]
A D E
They’re forming in a straight line.
A D E
They’re going through a tight wind.
A D E
The kids are losing their minds.
A D A
The Blitzkrieg Bop.
A D E
They’re piling in the back seat.
A D E
They’re generating steam heat.
A D E
Pulsating to the back beat.
A D A
The Blitzkrieg Bop.
[Chorus]
D A D A
Hey ho, let’s go,shoot’em in the back now.
D B D E
What they want, I don’t know, they’re all reved up and ready to go.
[Verse]
A D E
They’re forming in a straight line.
A D E
They’re going through a tight wind.
A D E
The kids are losing their minds.
A D A
The Blitzkrieg Bop.
A D E
They’re piling in the back seat.
A D E
They’re generating steam heat.
A D E
Pulsating to the back beat.
A D A
The Blitzkrieg Bop.
[Chorus]
D A D A
Hey ho, let’s go, shoot’em in the back now.
D B D E
What they want,I don’t know, they’re all reved up and ready to go.
[Verse]
A D E
They’re forming in a straight line.
A D E
They’re going through a tight wind.
A D E
The kids are losing their minds.
A D A
The Blitzkrieg Bop.
A D E
They’re piling in the back seat.
A D E
They’re generating steam heat.
A D E
Pulsating to the back beat.
A D A
The Blitzkrieg Bop.
NC NC A
Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go.
“Waterfalls,” by TLC
If you’re looking for an easy jam to play on the uke, the 1998 hit “Waterfalls” is an easy and fun one to learn. It features the same chord progression for the entire song, so singing and playing won’t be that difficult. There’s no guitar part here to mimic, so create your own simple strumming pattern in the 4/4 time signature.
[Intro]
C G Bb Fmaj7
[Verse]
C G
A lonely mother gazing out of the window
Bb Fmaj7
Staring at her son that she just can’t touch
C G
If at any time he’s in a jam she’ll be by his side
Bb Fmaj7
But he doesn’t realize he hurts her so much
C G
But all the praying just ain’t helping at all
Bb Fmaj7
Cuz he can’t seem to keep his self out of trouble
C
So he goes out and he makes his money
G
The best way he knows how
Bb Fmaj7
Another body layin cold in the gutter
Listen to me
[Chorus]
C G
Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Bb
Please stick to the rivers
Fmaj7
And the lakes that you’re used to
C
I know that you’re gonna have it
G
Your way or nothing at all
Bb Fmaj7
But I think you’re moving too fast
[Verse]
C G
Little precious has a natural obsession
Bb Fmaj7
For temptation but he just can’t see
C
She gives him loving that his body
G Bb
Can’t handle but all he can say
Fmaj7
Is “baby is good to me”
C G
One day he goes and take a glimpse in the mirror
Bb Fmaj7
But he doesn’t recognize his own face
C G
His health is fading and he doesn’t know why
Bb Fmaj7
3 letters took him to his final resting place…
Y’all don’t you hear me
[Chorus]
C G
Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Bb
Please stick to the rivers
Fmaj7
And the lakes that you’re used to
C
I know that you’re gonna have it
G
Your way or nothing at all
Bb Fmaj7
But I think you’re moving too fast (2x)
“Heartbeats,” by Jose Gonzalez
Originally written by an electro-pop band called The Knife, this amazing cover captivated audiences when it was released in 2003. You won’t be able to match Gonzalez’s guitar fingerpicking pattern on the uke, so take some time creating your own simple strumming pattern and match the rhythm of the chords the best you can.
[Intro]
D, D, Bm7, G
D, D, Bm7, G
[Verse 1]
D
One night to be confused
D
one night to speed up truth
Bm7
we had a promise made
G
four hands and then away
D
both under influence
D
we had divine scent
Bm7
to know what to say
G
mind is a razorblade
[Chorus]
D
to call for hands of above
D
to lean on
Bm7
wouldn’t be good enough
G
for me, no
[Verse 2]
D
one night of magic rush
D
the start a simple touch
Bm7
one night to push and scream
G
and then relief
D
ten days of perfect tunes
D
the colors red and blue
Bm7
we had a promise made
G
we were in love
[Chorus]
D
to call for hands of above
D
to lean on
Bm7
wouldn’t be good enough
G
for me, no
D
to call for hands of above
D
to lean on
Bm7
wouldn’t be good enough
G
for me, no
[Bridge]
D Bm7
and you, you knew the hands of the devil
D Bm7
and you, kept us awake with wolves teeth
Bm7
sharing different heartbeats
Bm7
in one night
[Chorus]
D
to call for hands of above
D
to lean on
Bm7
wouldn’t be good enough
G
for me, no
D
to call for hands of above
D
to lean on
Bm7
wouldn’t be good enough
G
for me, no
[Outro]
D, D, Bm7, G
D, D, Bm7, G,
D
“Just Like Heaven,” by The Cure
Inspired by a romantic trip to the ocean, “Just Like Heaven” is one of the most famous love songs of all time. The F#m chord in this song isn’t normally featured in most easy covers of fun ukulele songs, so check this one out if you’re trying to up your chord vocabulary. Feel free to slow this one down if the original version is too fast.
[Verse 1]
A E
“Show me how you do that trick
Bm D
The one that makes me scream” she said
A E
“The one that makes me laugh” she said
Bm D
And threw her arms around my neck
A E
“Show me how you do it
Bm D
And I promise you I promise that
A E
I’ll run away with you
Bm D
I’ll run away with you”
[Instrumental]
A E Bm D (2x)
[Verse 2]
A E
Spinning on that dizzy edge
Bm D
I kissed her face and kissed her head
A E Bm
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
D
To make her glow
A E Bm
“Why are you so far away?” she said
D A E
“Why won’t you ever know that I’m in love with you
Bm D
That I’m in love with you”
[Chorus]
F#m
You
G
Soft and only
F#m
You
G
Lost and lonely
F#m
You
G
Strange as angels
D
Dancing in the deepest oceans
E
Twisting in the water
You’re just like a dream
[Instrumental]
A E Bm D (2x)
[Verse 3]
A E
Daylight licked me into shape
Bm D
I must have been asleep for days
A E
And moving lips to breathe her name
Bm D
I opened up my eyes
A E
And found myself alone alone
Bm D
Alone above a raging sea
A E
That stole the only girl I loved
Bm D
And drowned her deep inside of me
[Chorus]
F#m
You
G
Soft and only
F#m
You
G
Lost and lonely
F#m
You
G D
Just like heaven
“Born In The USA,” by Bruce Springsteen
Most fun ukulele songs are usually simple, and you might be surprised to learn that this amazing song only has two chords. Do your best to create a simple strumming pattern that matches the rhythm of the song. This is a simple song, so it needs a lot of energy to translate well to the ukulele.
[Verse]
B
Born down in a dead man’s town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
E
End up like a dog that’s been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up
[Chorus]
B
Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.
E B
I was born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A. now
[Verse]
B
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
E
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
[Chorus]
B
Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.
E B
I was born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A. now
[Verse]
B
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said “Son if it was up to me”
E
Went down to see my V.A. man
| B | B | B | B | E | E | E | E |
He said “Son, don’t you understand”
B
I had a brother at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
E
They’re still there, he’s all gone
B
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
| E | E | E | E |
I got a picture of him in her arms now
B
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
E
I’m ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain’t got nowhere to go
[Chorus]
B
Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.
E B
Born in the U.S.A., I’m a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A., Born in the U.S.A.
E
Born in the U.S.A., I’m a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A. now
| B | B | B | B | E | E | E | E |
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to play these fun ukulele songs. If you want to really develop your singing and playing skills when it comes to the ukulele or any other instrument, we recommend working with an experienced teacher. The uke is an incredibly easy instrument to learn, but working with a knowledgeable instructor can help take your playing to another level.
