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Learn to play a simple melody on a ukulele, practicing chords, strumming patterns, and rhythm to perform a short song for family and friends.
Step-by-step guide to learn to play a simple melody on a ukulele
A music lesson | Instruments and musical figures for kids
Step 1
Sit comfortably on a chair with both feet flat on the floor.
Step 2
Place the ukulele in your lap with the body resting against your chest.
Step 3
Hold the neck with your left hand so your thumb rests gently behind it.
Step 4
Tune the strings to G C E A using your tuner or tuning app.
Step 5
Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string to form the C chord.
Step 6
Strum all four strings once to listen to the C chord.
Step 7
Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string to form the Am chord.
Step 8
Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the E string and your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string to form the F chord.
Step 9
Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the C string your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E string to form the G chord.
Step 10
Practice switching slowly through the chord progression C then Am then F then G while counting four steady beats for each chord.
Step 11
Practice a simple strumming pattern by doing down down up up down slowly on one chord until it feels steady.
Step 12
Put the chord changes and the strumming pattern together and play the short song twice through at a slow steady tempo.
Step 13
Share your finished ukulele performance on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a ukulele or a tuner?
If you don't have a ukulele, try a small guitar or borrowed uke but still tune the playable strings to G C E A, and if you don't have a tuner use a tuning app or online tuner to match G C E A before you place the instrument in your lap.
My chords buzz or don't sound clean when I strum—what should I check?
Make sure your left thumb rests gently behind the neck, press each finger close to the fret (for example the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string for C), and re-tune the strings to G C E A before practicing slow switches while counting four steady beats.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages or skill levels?
For younger children simplify to sitting comfortably, practicing just the C chord and single down strums while counting two beats, and for older or more advanced kids keep the full C→Am→F→G progression with the down down up up down strumming pattern and aim to play the short song twice through at a slow steady tempo.
How can we extend or personalize the ukulele activity once it's learned?
After you can put the chord changes and the strumming pattern together and play the short song twice through at a slow steady tempo, personalize it by creating a new strum pattern, adding a simple sung melody, decorating the instrument, or recording and sharing the finished performance on DIY.org.
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Facts about ukulele basics for kids
⏱️ Short daily practice sessions (10–15 minutes) are usually more effective for steady progress than one long weekly practice.
🎤 Learning a basic strumming pattern like down-down-up-up-down-up helps keep steady rhythm and makes playing while singing easier.
🎶 Many beginner ukulele songs can be played with just three simple chords, so kids can start singing along fast!
🎵 The I–V–vi–IV progression (for example C–G–Am–F in C major) is used in hundreds of pop songs and sounds great on a ukulele.
🪕 The ukulele usually has four strings and became popular in Hawaii after Portuguese immigrants brought similar instruments in the 1880s.
How do you learn a simple melody on the ukulele?
What materials do I need to learn a short ukulele song?
What ages is learning a ukulele melody suitable for?
What are the benefits of learning a short song on the ukulele?
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