Let’s not overcomplicate things — most of the planet’s favourite songs are built on the same small gang of chords. They’ve been knocking about since the dawn of pop, showing up everywhere from Elvis to Ed Sheeran, and they still sound bloody marvellous on a ukulele.
These are the five chords that rule the world: C, G, Am, F, D.
And here’s how to play the magic on your uke:
C major → 0003
G major → 0232
A minor → 2000
F major → 2010
D major → 2220
The Personalities
C major – The sunshine chord. It’s the musical equivalent of a grin and a cold drink. Every ukulele player’s first love — easy, happy, and always ready to bring the good vibes.
G major – The social butterfly. Rings bright and clear, perfect for singalongs and pub gardens. Once you can switch cleanly between C and G, you’re halfway to world domination.
A minor – The brooding poet. Add it after C and suddenly your beach tune sounds like a breakup ballad. Same fingers, different mood — a reminder that music’s just feelings in disguise.
F major – The classy one. A bit more reach, a bit more polish. Get it right and it adds sophistication to anything, from reggae grooves to 60s soul.
D major – The rockstar. Tight, punchy, and made for rhythm. You’ll find it powering through countless hits — just three fingers and instant attitude.
The Secret Formula
Put C–G–Am–F together and you’ve got the chord sequence that built Western civilisation. You’ll hear it in everything from Let It Be to No Woman, No Cry, With or Without You, and roughly 80% of all songs written with an acoustic guitar at 3am.
The beauty of the ukulele is that these five chords are all within easy reach — no barres, no nonsense. Strum them slow, give them swing, or fingerpick them into something heartbreakingly pretty. You can write your own anthem before you’ve even finished your cup of tea.
So there you have it: five little shapes, one small wooden box, infinite possibilities.
Play loud, play often, and remember — if it sounds good, it is good.
