It's Play Your Ukulele Day!
Learn three easy ukulele chords and a simple strumming pattern, practice switching chords smoothly, and play a short song to celebrate Play Your Ukulele Day.
Step-by-step guide to play your ukulele for Play Your Ukulele Day
Step 1
Tune your ukulele to standard G C E A using a tuner app or with an adult's help.
Step 2
Sit comfortably and hold the ukulele with the body resting on your lap and the neck supported by your left hand.
Step 3
Make a C chord by placing your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string and press down firmly.
Step 4
Strum the C chord slowly eight times with down strums to hear a clear sound.
Step 5
Make an F chord by placing your index finger on the 1st fret of the E string and your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G string.
Step 6
Strum the F chord slowly eight times with down strums to check the notes ring cleanly.
Step 7
Make a G7 chord by placing your index finger on the 1st fret of the E string your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the A string.
Step 8
Strum the G7 chord slowly eight times with down strums to hear the chord shape.
Step 9
Practice the strumming pattern "Down Down Up Up Down Up" slowly with just your strumming hand until the rhythm feels steady.
Step 10
Switch between C and F slowly for one minute while keeping your fingers close to the strings to build smooth movement.
Step 11
Switch from F to G7 and then from G7 back to C slowly for one minute each while keeping a steady strum.
Step 12
Play a short song by doing C for four beats then F for four beats then G7 for four beats then C for four beats and repeat this progression four times using the strumming pattern.
Step 13
Share a video or photo of your ukulele performance on DIY.org so everyone can celebrate Play Your Ukulele Day with you.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have a tuner app or an adult to help tune my ukulele?
Use a free online chromatic tuner or match each string to a piano/keyboard or a reference recording of G C E A before starting the first tuning step.
My chords buzz or sound muted when I strum eight times—how can I fix that?
Press down firmly with the correct fingers (for example ring finger on 3rd fret A for C, index on 1st fret E and middle on 2nd fret G for F), keep fingers close to the frets with curved fingertips so other strings don't mute, and strum slowly eight times to check the notes ring cleanly.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages or skill levels?
For younger children, shorten the switching practice to 30 seconds, put sticker markers on the frets and use single down strums, while older students can increase tempo, practice the full 'Down Down Up Up Down Up' pattern and repeat the four-chord song more times.
How can we enhance or personalize the Play Your Ukulele Day activity?
Decorate the ukulele, write simple lyrics to the C–F–G7–C progression, experiment with alternate strumming patterns during the practice steps, and record a video or photo to share on DIY.org as the final step.
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Facts about ukulele basics for kids
🌺 Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's ukulele medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” is one of the most famous ukulele recordings.
🎶 Many beginner songs can be played with just three chords—commonly C, F, and G7—so you can learn a whole song quickly.
🎸 Standard tuning for soprano/concert/tenor ukuleles is G–C–E–A, often with a high G string (re-entrant tuning) that gives it a bright sound.
🪕 The ukulele was adapted in Hawaii in the late 19th century from small Portuguese instruments brought by immigrants.
📏 Ukuleles commonly come in four main sizes—soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone—each with a slightly different sound and feel.
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