Beginners · Ukulele
The first ukulele chords to learn, in order
The ukulele is the friendliest chord instrument there is — several of the most useful chords need just one or two fingers. This path adds them in an order that has you playing real progressions within a few days.
- You’ll learn
- CAmFG7GDAEmDmA7D7E7B♭
- How to practice
- Take one stage at a time. Switch between the chords for one minute, counting how many clean changes you make — then try to beat it tomorrow. The chord change trainer counts for you and tracks your streak.
C and A minor
One finger each. C uses your ring finger on the A string; Am uses your middle finger on the G string.
Tip: Strum down with the pad of your index finger, near where the neck meets the body.
F major
2010F adds just one finger to Am: keep your middle finger on the G string and put your index finger on the E string’s 1st fret.
Tip: Switching from Am to F? Your middle finger never moves.
G7 and G
G7 is the easier of the two and pulls strongly back to C. G is the classic triangle shape — and with it you can play the pop progression C–G–Am–F.
Tip: Learn G7 first, then G; many songs work with either.
Practice G7 ↔ G changes with the trainer →
Ready for more? Play along with C–G–Am–F — it uses only chords you know.
D and A
D lines three fingers up across the 2nd fret; A needs just two. With G you can now play in the key of D.
Tip: For D, try laying one finger across all three strings instead of using three fingers.
Practice D ↔ A changes with the trainer →
Ready for more? Play along with D–G–A–G — it uses only chords you know.
E minor and D minor
Two minor chords that complete the key of G and the key of C. Em–C–G–D is one of the most-played loops in pop.
Tip: Em can be played as 0432 or, more easily, 0402.
Practice Em ↔ Dm changes with the trainer →
Ready for more? Play along with Em–C–G–D — it uses only chords you know.
A7, D7 and E7
Three bluesy 7th chords — A7 takes just one finger — that make a full 12-bar blues in A.
Tip: Try a shuffle rhythm: long-short, long-short.
Practice D7 ↔ E7 changes with the trainer →
Ready for more? Play along with A7–D7–E7 — it uses only chords you know.
B♭ major — your first barre
3211B♭ is the ukulele’s classic first barre chord: your index finger lies across the E and A strings. It’s the IV chord in F, so F–B♭–C songs open up.
Tip: Roll the barre finger slightly onto its side and press only as hard as you need to.
Practice E7 ↔ B♭ changes with the trainer →
Ready for more? Play along with F–B♭–C–B♭ — it uses only chords you know.