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Learn to Play Your First Four Ukulele Chords For Beginners

by Brett McQueen

You’re tuned up and ready to play!

It’s time to learn your first ukulele chords.

You might be surprised to know that with just these few ukulele chords you can play hundreds of songs on the ukulele.

These ukulele chords for beginners are where every ukulele player should begin.

Watch the video to discover these chords.

Use the Ukulele Tricks Chord Library to discover even more chords.

How to Play a C Major Chord on Ukulele

C Major Ukulele Chord Diagram

To play the C major chord, place the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the bottom A-string. Let the other strings ring open.

How to Play an Am Chord on Ukulele

A Minor Ukulele Chord Diagram

To play the A minor chord, place the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the top g-string. Let the other strings ring open.

How to Play an F Major Chord on Ukulele

F Major Ukulele Chord Diagram

To play the F major chord, place the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the top g-string and index finger on the 1st fret of the E-string. Let the other strings ring open.

How to Play a G7 Chord on Ukulele

G7 Ukulele Chord Diagram

To play the G7 chord, place the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C-string, index finger on the 1st fret of the E-string, and ring finger on the 2nd fret of the bottom A-string. Let the other string ring open.

How to Practice These Chords

For each chord, take the time to position the fingers of your fretting hand to play the chord. Upon doing so, take the thumb from your strumming hand and individually pluck each string of the ukulele to make sure every note of the chord rings out nice and clear.

When you are comfortable with each chord, practice changing from each chord with simple down strums: C to Am to F to G7.

Remember chord positions require a degree of strength and dexterity in the fretting hand to successfully perform the chord. Practice and repetition is required to develop muscle memory.

With your dedicated practice eventually changing between these chords will require little to no effort or thought!

How to Play Songs With These Chords

If you enjoyed learning these chords and would like to make music with them, the next step is to grab the free ukulele lesson book Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some where I teach you how to play your first songs with these four chords.

Not sure where to go next? Grab the free ukulele lesson book.

Your First Ukulele Lesson And Then Some Book

Join over 50,000 people and get our free ukulele lesson book Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some. Learn new tricks like:

  • How to properly tune, hold, and strum your ukulele
  • The most essential "must-know" ukulele chords
  • How to play 3 extremely versatile strumming patterns
  • How to play "I've Been Working On the Railroad"

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      Courses

      Strumming Tricks course

      Perfect for beginners. Become proficient in strumming, rhythm and chord changes on the ukulele, improving your skills while learning actual songs.

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      Ukulele Exercises For Dummies by Brett McQueen

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      About

      Brett McQueen
      Brett McQueen is the founder of Ukulele Tricks and author of the internationally-published book Ukulele Exercises For Dummies. He teaches thousands of people from around the world to play ukulele in a non-intimidating, easy-to-follow style. Read more.

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