Since Valentine’s Day is coming up fast, now is the perfect time for learning a few easy ukulele songs to impress that special someone. While there are many songs out there that might be easy and romantic, these are our top 3 picks:
3. Jason Mraz – “I’m Yours“
Coming in at number three, we’ve got a song by Jason Mraz, “I’m Yours”. This song is pretty simple, with only 5 chords throughout the entire song, and minimal riffs that you need to learn. In fact, the video shows an incredibly young boy playing it.
If you’ve been listening to the radio in the past few years, chances are you’ve heard it, so you can easily tell which part of the song you’re playing and sing along. Also, you should be able to hear how you’re playing compared to the original song, and adjust your playing to make it match up quite well.
2. Elvis Presley – “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You“
Our second favorite romantic song is Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You”. As easy ukulele songs go, this one adds a little difficulty as there are 8 chords to keep track of, but no riffs to worry about.
This is also a great song if you can’t sing, as the chords are very classic. Maybe pull this one out and see if your sweetheart wants to sing along with your playing! Of course, if you can sing as well, you’ll be able to really croon and impress your audience (whether it’s one person or a crowd!).
1. Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World“
At the top of our list is the quintessential hit of all easy ukulele songs, Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”. This song is about the same level of difficulty as “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You”, as there are 8 chords to remember but no internal riffs. Of course, if you want to spice it up a bit, there are plenty of spots to introduce your own spin on the song.
With this song, singing is almost required though. It really comes together when you are able to add the ‘ooh ooh oooh’ at the beginning and end. If you don’t feel like you’re a good singer, just ask your valentine to sing along with you!
If you need any help learning these songs, the best place to start is with a private ukulele tutor. He or she can help you learn the chord progressions for each song, as well as give you some tips with how to play each chord and which fingers to use for each string to move smoothly from one chord to the next. Your private instructor will also be able to give you some more ideas on which songs might be great to learn for Valentine’s Day, or any other occasion that you want to play some ukulele music for. There are a lot of very easy ukulele songs out there, whether played on ukulele originally or transcribed for playing on ukulele. Don’t miss a chance at being a star at your next get-together or party!
If in-person lessons are inconvenient for your schedule, you can gain a lot of benefit from working with a private teacher for ukulele online. All you need for a private lesson online is a webcam, internet access, and of course, your ukulele! Your ukulele teacher can work with you on your schedule, and you can take lessons without needing to commute to and from another location. Online instructors will be very knowledgeable in song selection and playing tips as well; however, the one major drawback is that you will not physically be in the same room during the lesson. If there is any intricate hand positioning required for your lesson, at times you might need a little more instruction time to master the skill. Otherwise, you’ve got all the same advantages as an in-person lesson without any of the added hassle!
Are you serenading your special someone this Valentine’s Day? What song or songs do you plan to play? Share your picks in the comments below!
Photo by Oh Debby
Megan L.