One of the most popular children’s songs is Old MacDonald had a Farm. All children around the world love this song because it has such a catchy melody and for each verse you have to imitate the sound of an animal, which is just so much fun for the young ones. Old MacDonald is also a great choice to play on the ukulele. Even if your kids don’t play the ukulele or are just starting out, you as a parent or teacher can play an easy version of this song and get them to sing along. If you want to teach this song in class or at home, you can also use our worksheets, which you can download for free at the end of the lesson.
History of Old MacDonald Song
The author and origin of the song are unknown. It was first published in 1917 in a soldier’s songbook called “Tommy Tunes”, which collected songs from the First World War era. The song, then known as “Ohi,” had lyrics very similar to the version we know today. However, the nursery rhyme is probably much older. Earlier versions have been discovered, including publications in the United Kingdom. There is evidence that a song very similar to “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” was even used in 17th century operas.
Ukulele Tabs for Old MacDonald had a Farm
Every nursery rhyme can be played in a variety of styles, from simple renditions with basic chords and strumming to complex fingerstyle arrangements. We’ll start with simple arrangements in a pitch that’s also easy to sing for most of us. We’ll show you how to play the song by both fingerpicking the melody and strumming with chords. By the end, you’ll be able to choose the version that best suits your preference or is most appropriate for teaching your students.
1. Level: Playing only on One Ukulele String
How about trying a simple version of Old MacDonald? You can play the melody on just one string of your ukulele. Playing a melody on just one string allows you to concentrate on plucking just one string and moving just one finger up and down the fretboard without worrying too much about the other strings. For beginners, this is a great way to learn how to play the melody very quickly. So, press down on the first string with either the index or middle finger of your left hand, then pluck the string with your right thumb.
Using horizontal lines as strings and numbers on those lines to represent the fret you should play, tablature gives us the guidance we need to start picking away at songs and their melodies. The strings are “upside-down”, meaning that the high sounding E is the highest line on your tablature. A zero (0) means you play the string open without any fingers on any frets. Learn more about reading guitar tabs!
Here are the ukulele tabs for Old MacDonald had a Farm on one string:
Check out our recording of this one string version on the ukulele!
You can also play the same melody on any other string of your ukulele as well. Try for example the 3rd string to have a pretty low version Old MacDonald had a Farm.
2. Level: Playing on several Ukulele Strings
Playing the melody on just one string of the ukulele is a nice and easy introduction, but the melody can also be played on the other strings of the ukulele. And playing a melody using all the strings of your ukulele is a much more common way. It’s also much more efficient, because it reduces the amount of left-hand movement along the neck and gives you access to a wider range of pitches. As you can see in the tabs below, we are now staying on the first three frets. While this approach requires you to use more fingers and pluck different strings, it’s a good exercise for beginners to improve their playing skills.
Here are the ukulele tabs for playing the nursery rhyme on the first three strings:
We have also recorded the playing of the song on the first three strings. Have a listen to the audio recording.
Ukulele Chords For Old MacDonald had a Farm
Fingerpicking a melody on the ukulele is good exercise and fun at the same! Everyone will recognize the nursery rhymes for sure without singing it because we play the melody note by note. But, if you want to sing along then playing a song with chords is much more typical. Let’s play the song in the key o G. Therefore, we need the following basic ukulele chords: G and C and D.
Here are the chord diagrams for the required chords:
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
If you already know how to play these ukulele chords and can change between them without any big difficulties, you’ll learn this song quickly! However, if you’re not quite there yet, start by practicing the G and C and D chords separately. Once, you know how to play these chords, you can start strumming the G-C-D sequence with simple downstrokes until you can play it without mistakes.
For beginners, it’s essential to start new songs slowly. Concentrate on playing a simple down strum with each chord change. This approach gives you enough time to switch chords without the added complexity of advanced strumming patterns. Singing along will also be easier with just one down strum per chord change. Once you’re comfortable, you can begin experimenting with other strumming patterns and techniques.
Ukulele Sheet Music for Old macDonald had a Farm
Sheet music is an invaluable resource for advanced players and ukulele teachers, as it offers detailed information about a song’s pitches, rhythms, and chords. However, for beginners, sheet music can be daunting due to the necessity of understanding music theory and developing reading skills. Consequently, ukulele tabs or lyrics with chords are typically more suitable for young students and children, as they simplify the learning process and make it more accessible. However, if you know how to read sheet music, then you should use it!
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Here is the sheet music for Old MacDonald had a Farm:
Free Ukulele Printables for Old MacDonald had a Farm
Feel free to download the chords, tabs, and sheet music as a free PDF for your practice sessions or ukulele lessons!
Interested in instruments other than the ukulele? You can also find a free lesson on how to play Old MacDonald had a Farm on the guitar, piano and recorder.
