Most music lovers, perhaps those reading this one-chord ukulele songs post, long for a musical instrument to learn how to play during leisure. The musical instruments help you relax, and of course, the ukulele is one of them.
Many people speculate that the ukulele resembles a compact-sized guitar. In truth, they make a serious mistake. Their shapes might be similar to one another, but produce too different sounds and are suitable to alleviate your stress.
So if you’re craving to get started with a ukulele, some surprising one-chord ukulele songs are available below for you.
Top 6 One Chord Ukulele Songs for beginners and kids
1. The farmer in the dell by Mother Goose Club
The Farmer in the Dell, a nursery rhyme, singing game, and children’s song, possibly originated in Germany, and the immigrants brought it with them to America.
Then, it spread to many other countries and became popular in numerous languages. Also, it is index number 6306 of the Round Folk Song.
In Germany in 1826, “The Farmer in the Dell” was recorded for the first time. Indeed, it depicted more explicitly a love game, in which a farmer picks a wife, then picks a child, a maid, and nurses the man who abandons her after kissing the maid.
This rhyme remains, with geographic variations like most children’s songs. Players organize a circle, grasping hands during singing the first verse and circling the player in the middle, nominated as a farmer.
It can become the first song for kids or early beginners. The reason is that any player can play it using only one Chord G.
2. Run through the jungle by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival sang, and John Fogerty, Creedence’s lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter, wrote this song. This anthem came in the album Cosmo’s Factory, released in 1970, the group’s fifth album.
Many presumed that “Run through the jungle” talks about the Vietnam War. But, Fogerty interpreted in a 2016 interview that it speaks about the proliferation of guns in the United States.
The tune uses jungle sound effects both in the opening and closing. All sound effects used in this anthem seem to be a little movie in themselves. In effect, it never alters key but sustains your interest the whole time.
The melody later became the subject of controversy when CCR’s record label, Fantasy Records’ boss Saul Zaentz, owning the rights to distribute and publish the music of Credence Clearwater Revival, filed multiple lawsuits against John Fogerty. One of the claims was that Fogerty’s 1984 song “The Old Man Down the Road” resembled “Run Through the Jungle.”
One of the most amazing things about this song is that one chord is enough to play this resounding song. So, a beginner can go with it, unquestionably.
3. Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley – Famous One Chord Ukulele song
One of Marley’s greatest songs is Get Up, Stand Up, regarded by many. It essentially came in The Wailers’ 1973 album Burnin’. Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded and played live in numerous versions. Later, it kept the compilations Legend and Rebel Music.
During Haiti’s touring, Marley penned this song, deeply inspired by its poverty and Haitian life, in the opinion of his then-girlfriend Esther Anderson. Often, as the last song, this melody was repeatedly sung at Marley’s concerts.
The three prime Wailers about their solo releases re-recorded and re-released each in a different format, and towards the third verse, demanding that Almighty God is a living man.
You may even remember setting records around your parents’ house. It was famous that day. As simple as this song is, just put a hand on the strumming pattern, and all you need to do is play a single ‘Bm’ chord!
4. Coconut by Harry Nilsson
American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson composed and recorded “Coconut” at first. This “Coconut” appeared from his 1971 album, Nilsson Schmilsson, as the third single.
Later, the films like The Addams Family, Reservoir Dogs, Practical Magic, Dick, and Hey Arnold!: The Movie included this song. Also, it was heavily displayed on TV shows.
The song’s lyrics comprise Nilsson singing three characters (a doctor, a woman, and a narrator), everyone in a different voice.
This tune narrates a tale where a woman feels stomach pain and phones a doctor late at night. The doctor prescribes to keep lime in the coconut and drink both together. Then, call me in the morning. The woman does it with the help of her brother.
The melody became more famous while appearing in the muppet show where they performed it. It is possible to play only with the “C7” chord.
The song is based on Caribbean and tropical words. So if you find the strumming Rhythm rightly, you can move forward with it.
5. The Beat Goes On by Sonny & Cher
It is a song recorded by Sonny Cher and penned and composed by Sonny Bono. “The Beat Goes On” came as a single on the In Case You’re in Love album in 1967. On January 14, 1967, it went into the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number six.
Sonny and Cher sang the song many times on their popular television variety shows of the 1970s alongside their live Concerts. Cher sang it while running the season finale of Dancing with the Stars.
The song lyrics essentially highlighted the current events of that time, following each minstrel, “the beat goes on, the beat goes on.” The song was sung at Sonny Bono’s funeral, and the sentence “And the beat goes on” remains on his tombstone.
Honestly, you can select it as the first song on the way to starting your musical journey. Because of being a single chord like the C7, we believe that it will not cause any trouble to learn for you.
6. Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, the singer of this song, made herself known as a multi-talented woman, singing, acting, and playing the piano. That being said, many considered her one of the best singers of all time, stepping on the planet Earth.
Don Covey wrote “Chain of Fools,” released first by Aretha Franklin in 1967 as a single. Later, it was available on many of her albums.
According to the song, the vocalist has remained with her boyfriend for five years but realizes that she is one of his “Chain of Fools” women, with whom he is defrauding.
Many requests to forsake him, but she mentions that she is too weak and his love is too powerful. Yet one day, he prophesies the chain will shatter.
As a beginner, you can include it in your wishlist because just one chord Cm is suitable enough to strum on your ukulele.
Final thought, One chord ukulele Songs
You’re a beginner and want to display your ukulele playing skills without testing your patience. In this case, this article is fit for you. The reason is that you can learn to play using just one chord.
These one-chord ukulele songs are the way to fascinate your friend and, next-door neighbors. Honestly, you will learn to play ukulele using these one-chord songs within an incredibly short time.
