Ukulele Starter Chords & Beginner Guide for Kids

The ukulele is a popular first instrument for many homeschool families, and it’s easy to understand why this small, affordable, easy-on-the-fingers instrument is so beloved by music students. If your child is already picking up the ukulele, or just curious to learn more about this instrument, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll dive into some ukulele fundamentals, like beginner-friendly ukulele chord charts and basic uke exercises.

How to Choose the Best Ukulele for Kids

Modern ukuleles come in all sorts of sizes, materials, and budgets. When you’re choosing a ukulele, you’ll be selecting: 

Size

Ukuleles are most commonly sold as soprano or concert sizes, but there are a few other options to pick from.

• Soprano: The soprano is the smallest uke, featuring the classic bright ukulele sound you’re probably familiar with. It’s the most traditional size (historically speaking), and it’s a good fit for most young learners, though those with larger hands may find the fret spacing feels claustrophobic.
• Concert: The concert ukulele is widely available and slightly larger than the soprano. Because of its larger size, the sound is a bit deeper, fuller, and louder. For adult learners and anyone with larger hands, the concert is a good choice.
• Tenor: The tenor is a bit larger than the concert and provides an even richer, deeper tone that’s popular with many guitar players. 
• Baritone: The baritone is less widely available and is tuned like a guitar’s top four strings (DGBE), unlike all the other sizes, which are usually tuned in the standard GCEA.

 See and hear the difference in uke sizes.

Tonewood

You can choose between solid wood and laminate options. Solid wood provides a rich sound but comes with a higher price tag and maintenance requirements, while laminate (made from sheets of wood) is generally cheaper but doesn’t offer the same depth of sound. 

Here are some of the most common types of uke wood you’ll encounter and the sounds they typically provide:

• Mahogany: A classic warm sound
• Koa: A traditional Hawaiian hardwood that provides a bright sound
• Spruce: A light, bright sound; spruce is usually paired with other woods
• Mango: A modern, balanced, warm sound
• Cedar: A rich, warm, deeper sound 

 Uke Like The Pros compares Koa, Mango, Spruce, and Mahogany uke tonewoods.

Where to Get a Uke

We recommend heading to your local shop to buy a ukulele rather than buying online, when possible (simply look up something like “instrument store near me” and compare reviews of the shops in your area. 

Shopping for a uke in person gives you or your child a chance to try out a few different instruments, see what sizes feel good and what sounds good. Musical instrument preferences are very subjective and unique to the individual. 

The shop may be able to provide services, such as changing strings, adjusting the action (how high the strings sit above the fretboard), and providing other tips and services. If you have a used music store nearby, it’s often a great place to score a deal on used ukulele lesson books, too.

Ukulele Starter Chords

We always recommend starting with music lessons (which can help keep your student motivated and avoid bad habits). Whether learning independently via YouTube or through private ukulele lessons, these are the first chords you’ll probably learn: 

• C
• F
• G7
• A minor (Am)

One of the things that’s so rewarding about the ukulele is that learning these four chords (which can often be learned in a lesson or two) will unlock a ton of songs. For example, students can use these chords to play “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King, “Riptide” by Vance Joy, and “Let It Be” by The Beatles.

After learning a few chords, practice shifting positions between chords before working on songs.

How to Play Ukulele for Kids: The Basics

When starting with the uke, there are a few basics to keep in mind: 

How to Hold a Ukulele 

Keep the ukulele up high and close to your body, resting the bottom curve against your forearm or ribcage. Adjust the position a little to find something that feels secure and lets you easily relax and move your fretting hand without using it to balance the instrument. 

Finger Placement

Each finger is numbered (index finger = 1, middle finger = 2, ring finger = 3, pinky finger = 4), and you’ll use different fingers on different string/fret combinations to make chords when you strum with your strumming hand. Look up “ukulele chord chart with finger numbers,” and you can quickly start replicating the finger placements.

When placing fingers, avoid hyperextension (collapsing) at the first knuckle by imagining you’re holding a small ball in the palm of your hand while playing, and try to press on the string as close as possible to your nail (that’s why it’s important to keep your nails trimmed).

Strumming

Good strumming technique requires a loose, relaxed wrist. To do this, imagine shaking water off your fingertips. It can also be helpful to record yourself playing and watch to see if your wrist gently rotates as you play, or if your entire arm is moving. 

Another thing you’ll want to make sure is that your hand remains floating, rather than anchoring your fingers or palms on the soundboard, and that you use a light brushing touch while you strum.

Which Ukulele Tutorials Are The Best?

There are lots of ukulele tutorial songs you can find on YouTube, but some of our favorites include: 

• Ukulele Underground: This YouTube channel provides lots of resources. Try following the on-screen tab for Stand by Me by Ben E. King.
• Steven Espaniola: Steven is a Hawaiian multi-instrumentalist who specializes in ukulele, along with kī hōʻalu, upright bass, and leo kiʻekiʻe. Follow along with Steven Espaniola as he shows you how to play ʻUlupalakua, by John Piʻilani Watkins. 
• Mele Fong: Native Hawaiian, Mele Fong, is an experienced music educator and performer. Learn all about the song, Aloha ‘Oe, with Mele.
• Four Strings at a Time: This channel hosts monthly lessons, such as this one with Neal Chin.
• Ukulele Corner: This channel provides lessons and tutorials for fingerstyle ukulele with Jeff Peterson. Try playing Bossa Nova alongside Jeff. 

These videos aren’t a replacement for one-on-one instruction and feedback from a teacher, but they can be a great tool in between lessons or if you just want to gauge interest before trying lessons.

Easy Ukulele Songs for Kids

Once your child has learned a few starter chords, playing songs is a great way to stay motivated. The songs below use C, F, G7, and A minor.

Two-Chord Songs

• “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”: Tutorial by Pierre Hache Music
• “Skip to My Lou”: Tutorial by Chris Talley 

Three-Chord Songs

• "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star": Tutorial by salamander ukulele & guitar tutorials
• "Happy Birthday": Tutorial by Bernadette Teaches Music
• "Old MacDonald Had a Farm": Tutorial by Teacher JP Ukulele
• "You Are My Sunshine": Tutorial by The Ukulele Teacher
• "This Land Is Your Land": Tutorial by Internal Monologist

Four-Chord Songs

• "Stand By Me": Tutorial by JJ Milare

If a chord change feels too fast, strum each chord four times before switching and slowly build up the speed using a metronome. It's normal for changes to sound choppy at first.

Ukulele Lessons for Kids

Starting out with the ukulele takes little more than a few chords, consistent practice, and some patience. With the four chords in this guide and a handful of easy songs, your child already has everything they need to start playing easy songs.

As they grow more confident, the ukulele offers plenty of room to explore and grow. For example, they can try new strumming patterns, learn fingerpicking, dive into Hawaiian songs, or transfer over to a guitar eventually.

Tutorials can take a young player a long way, but a teacher can provide live feedback, catch bad habits early, match songs to skill level and interest, and introduce music theory concepts in fun ways. If you'd like to see whether lessons are a good fit for your family, try a free ukulele lesson.

Enjoyed This Article? Try These Next: 

• Who Invented the Ukulele? Explore Ukulele History, Facts & Timeline 
• Fiddle vs. Violin: Exploring History, Differences & Styles 
• Homeschool Mom Talks Online Music Lessons for Busy Families 

Frequently Asked Questions

What age can kids start learning the ukulele?

Many children can start around age 5 or 6, once they can press down strings with enough pressure and focus for short practice sessions. Younger kids can still enjoy strumming open strings and singing along, which builds rhythm before they're ready for chords.

How long does it take a child to learn the ukulele?

Most kids can play a few basic chords and a simple song within a few weeks of regular practice. Switching smoothly between chords usually takes a couple of months, depending on how often they practice and how old they are.

How often should kids practice the ukulele?

Ten to fifteen minutes a day works better than one long session per week. Short, frequent practice builds finger strength and muscle memory faster, and it's easier for kids to stay focused and keep it fun.

Is the ukulele easier to learn than the guitar?

For most beginners, yes. The ukulele has four soft nylon strings instead of six, a smaller body, and simpler chord shapes, so kids can play real songs sooner. Many skills, like chord shapes and strumming, also carry over if they switch to guitar later.

Do ukulele strings hurt your fingers?

Nylon ukulele strings are much gentler than steel guitar strings, but new players may feel some fingertip soreness for the first week or two. Short practice sessions help avoid overdoing it before calluses form.

How do you tune a ukulele?

Most ukuleles are tuned G-C-E-A, from the string closest to your chin to the one closest to the floor. The easiest way to tune is with a clip-on tuner or a free tuner app. New strings stretch and slip out of tune more often, so be sure to check the tuning before every practice.