The ukulele is a great instrument for young kids because it’s easy to learn. In addition, there are many songs that are easy to play on the ukulele. Often parents motivate kids to learn to play the guitar or piano, but they don’t really consider this small, great instrument. As for size, it’s perfect for small hands.
But a ukulele is also a great option for parents who like to play a few songs for their children. Telling a bedtime story is great, but imagine what it would be like if you could play a lullaby for your child?
The best and easiest songs for children are nursery rhymes. They are short, have an easy rhythm, use only simple chords, and many children already know the lyrics. If your child wants to play the ukulele, he should should know at first how to hold the instrument, how to strum, and some basic chords. As a ukulele teacher, you can integrate these songs into 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 lullaby 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 a different chord progression for this one to better emphasize the individual 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 in preschool. It’s also a great alphabet exercise and makes learning fun.
CA – B – C – D – FE – F – CG
FH – I –C J – K – G7L – M – N – O – 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 it should be one of the first songs to learn on the ukulele. It’s actually a French song called Frère Jacques, and it’s been translated into almost every language in the world. It’s one of the most popular nursery rhymes in the world.
The easy version of the song only requires one chord. Most beginners play this song on their first day of ukulele lessons.
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 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or The ABC Song. It’s easy to sing and easy to play on the ukulele.
This song requires the three basic chords of G, C and D. These are usually the 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.
One for the Dmaster,
Gone for the Ddame,
And Gone for the Clittle boy
who Glives Ddown the Glane.
Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday To You was originally a nursery rhyme called Good Morning To All. It was composed by two American kindergarten teachers. Later the lyrics were changed and the song became one of the most popular songs in the world.
Everyone knows the lyrics and if you play an instrument, it’s a must to learn this song. It’s also quite easy to play on the ukulele and imagine you or your child playing 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 in preschool and school. Children love the lyrics that integrate the sounds 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 children. 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.
