The ukulele is a great instrument for young kids because it’s quite easy to learn. In addition to that, there are many songs that can be played easily on the ukulele. Often parents motivate kids to learn playing the guitar or piano but they don’t really consider this little great instrument. Regarding the size, it’s perfectly made for small hands.
But a ukulele is also a great option for parents who like to play the one or other song for their children. Telling a bedtime story is great but imagine how it would be if you could play a lullaby for your child?
The best and easiest songs for kids are nursery rhymes. They are quite short, have an easy rhythm, use only basic chords and many kids know already the lyrics. Before learning songs on the ukulele, your child should know how to hold the instrument, how to strum it and should master a few basic chords. As a ukulele teacher you can integrate these songs for your ukulele lessons.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
The ABC Song
Are you sleeping?/ Frère Jacques
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Happy Birthday To You
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is not only a beautiful song for young kids but also the best-known lullabby in the US. The melody of this song comes actually from the French song “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman“. The lyrics are from a poem, called “The Star”.
It requires a few more chords and consequently quicker chord changes than most of the nursery rhymes for kids on the ukulele but it’s definitely worth learning it for any parent.
CTwinkle, tCwinkle, lFittle Cstar,
FHow I Cwonder G7what you Care!
CUp aG7bove the Cworld so G7high,
CLike a dG7iamond iCn the Gsky.
CTwinkle, tCwinkle, lFittle Cstar,
FHow I Cwonder G7what you Care!
The ABC Song
The Alphabet song uses the same melody as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. However, we use some different chord for this one to emphasize better the single parts. Simple down strums on each chord are actually enough to make this song sound nice.
This is a great song for kids learning the ukulele at preschool. It’s at the same time a great exercise for mastering the alphabet and makes it fun to learn.
CA – B – C – D – FE – F – CG
FH – I –C J – K – G7LMNO – CP
CQ – R – FS – CT – U – GV
CW – FX – CY and GZ
CNow I kFnow my ACBC’s
FNext time wCon’t you sG7ing with Cme?
Are you sleeping? / Frère Jacques
Are you sleeping is one of the easiest songs to learn on any instrument. So this should be also on the first songs to learn on the ukulele. It’s actually a French song, called Frère Jacques, and it has been translated in nearly any languages in the world. It’s one of the best-known nursery rhyme all over the world.
For the easy version of the songs, you only need one chord. So most beginners play this song already on their first day of learning the ukulele.
DAre you D sleeping, DAre you Dsleeping?
DBrother DJohn, DBrother DJohn.
DMorning bells areDringing! DMorning bells areDringing!
DDing, ding, Ddong! DDing, ding, Ddong!
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa Baa Black Sheep is a short nursery rhyme with the same melody as used for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or The ABC Song. It’s easy to sing and to play on the ukulele.
This song requires the three basic chords G, C and D. Normally these are the one of first chords you will learn and they are absolutely essential for many other songs played on the ukulele.
GBaa, baa, Dblack sheep,
CHave you any Gwool?
CYes, sir, Gyes, sir,
DThree bags Gfull.
GOne for the Dmaster,
Gone for the Ddame,
And Gone for the Clittle boy
who Glives Ddown the Glane.
Happy Birthday To You
Originally Happy Birthday To You was a nursery rhyme, called Good Morning To All. It has been composed by two american kindergarten teachers. Later, the lyrics have been changed and the song has become one of the best-known songs in the world.
Everybody knows the lyrics and if you play an instrument, it’s a must to learn this one to play. It’s also quite easy to play on the ukulele and imagine you or your child would play it for friends or family members. It will be a great experience.
GHappy BirthdayD To You
GHappy BirthdayD To You
GHappy BirthdayD To You “NaCme”
GHappy BirthdayD To You
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Old MacDonald Had a Farm is one of the most popular nursery rhymes at preschool as well as school. Kids love the lyrics that integrate the sound of the animals.
Actually, the song is quite old and has changed a bit over time. It’s also popular in many other countries where it’s used to teach English to kids. Thanks to the repetitive pattern of the lyrics, you can integrate endless animal sounds and let your kids be creative.
And on this farm he Chad some cGhicks.D7 E – I – E – I –G O.
With a cGhick, chick, here, and a chick, chick there.
GHere a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick.
GOld MacDonald Chad Gfarm. E – I –D7 E – I –G O.