Ukulele Chords for Beginners: The First Four

The ukulele has four strings, and its first chords take just one, two or three fingers. As with the guitar, the basics come fairly quickly. Below is how the instrument is tuned, how to read a chord written as digits, the first four chords (C, Am, F and G) and how to switch between them.

Start with the Tuning

The chords below are for G–C–E–A tuning (counting from the fourth string down to the first), among the most popular tunings for the soprano. The G string usually sits an octave higher than you might expect, so the notes of every chord sound close together; on concert and tenor ukuleles, tuning with a low G is just as standard. Many players remember the tuning with the jingle “My dog has fleas,” sung on the open strings. If your instrument is not tuned yet, start with Ukulele Tuning: High G, Low G, D Tuning and the Baritone.

How to Read a Chord

A chord is easy to write as four digits, one per string, from the fourth (G) to the first (A). Each digit is the fret to press, and 0 means an open string, just as in tablature. For example, 0003 means three strings ring open while the first is pressed at the third fret. Each fret raises the pitch by a semitone.

The First Four Chords

• C major, 0003: press the first string at the third fret, ideally with your ring finger. You hear G, C, E and C, the notes of the C major triad, C–E–G.
• A minor (Am), 2000: press the fourth string at the second fret with your middle finger. You hear A, C, E and A, the A minor triad, A–C–E.
• F major, 2010: middle finger on the fourth string at the second fret, index finger on the second string at the first fret. You hear A, C, F and A, the F major triad, F–A–C.
• G major, 0232: index finger on the third string at the second fret, middle finger on the first string at the second fret, ring finger on the second string at the third fret. You hear G, D, G and B, the G major triad, G–B–D. With three fingers, it is the hardest of the four.

Switching Chords

Together, these four chords form the progression C–Am–F–G, known as the ’50s progression: it was a pop favorite through the 1950s and into the early 1960s, and it is still used in popular music today. That makes them a great first set.

• Switch slowly at first, without strumming: place your fingers, check that every string rings, lift them and place them again.
• Look for shared fingers: Am and F both put the middle finger on the fourth string at the second fret, so you can leave it in place when moving between them.
• Once the changes feel smooth, add a simple rhythm of four downstrokes on each chord.
• About 20 minutes a day is enough to start; for a child, that time is easier to split into a few short sessions.

Once the chords come easily, put them to use: songs that suit beginners are covered in Top 10 Popular Songs to Play on the Ukulele.

Our Ukulele Course

In our ukulele course, students learn to hold the instrument correctly, master chords, strumming and fingerpicking, read music and tablature and learn songs in different styles; a prepared piece can then be played at an online concert. Lessons are open to students from age 5. A trial lesson costs $8: it is individual and lasts 45 minutes. More about the course is on the Ukulele page.