How to Read Ukulele Chords: A Beginner's Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about reading Ukulele chord diagrams, chord names, and chord charts in songs. This guide covers the essentials for absolute beginners.
1 Understanding Ukulele Chord Diagrams
A ukulele chord diagram shows a simplified view of the fretboard with 4 strings instead of 6.
What Each Element Means
The 4 strings — G, C, E, A from left to right
The frets on the neck
Where to place your fingers
Which finger to use: 1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinky
Play that string open (unfretted)
Don't play that string
2 Reading Ukulele Chord Names
Chord names tell you a lot about how they sound before you even play them.
| Notation | Examples | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| C, F, G, A | Major chords | happy |
| Am, Em, Dm | Minor chords (+m) | sad |
| G7, C7, D7 | Dominant 7th (+7) | bluesy |
| Cmaj7, Fmaj7 | Major 7th (+maj7) | dreamy |
| Dsus2, Asus4 | Suspended (+sus) | unresolved |
| Bdim | Diminished (+dim) | tense |
3 Reading Chord Charts in Songs
When you see chords written above lyrics, it looks like this:
- Start playing C when you sing "Somewhere"
- Switch to Em on "over"
- Switch to Am on "rainbow"
4 Ukulele Tuning
Standard ukulele tuning is G-C-E-A (from top string to bottom when holding). The G string is actually higher pitched than C and E — this is called re-entrant tuning and gives the ukulele its distinctive bright sound.
5 The Island Strum Pattern
The most popular ukulele pattern. Creates a lilting, rhythmic feel that sounds authentically Hawaiian.
6 Essential Ukulele Chords
You only need a handful of chords to play most popular songs. Start with these: