🎧 About the Song
“Bad Guy” is Billie Eilish’s wink to the world — a sarcastic, swaggering, bassline-driven anthem that flipped pop music on its head in 2019. At just 17, Billie and her brother Finneas built it in their bedroom on a cheap mic and a mountain of attitude. The result? A chart-dominating, genre-bending earworm that turned whisper-singing into a weapon.
It’s minimalist, ironic, and catchy as hell — equal parts James Bond villain and TikTok mischief. The whole thing rides a funky groove that’s basically tailor-made for ukulele. That pulsing bassline translates perfectly into percussive strumming, and the deadpan vocal delivery? Deliciously fun to imitate.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
We’re keeping it in A minor, same as the original — because that key just oozes moody cool. You’ll only need Am, Dm, G, and F, though you can throw in E7 for a little bluesy tension on the turnaround.
Chord progression (main loop):
[Am] – [G] – [Dm] – [F]
That’s it — throughout almost the entire song. It’s hypnotic.
Strumming pattern: Try a chunky percussive groove — muted strums with an occasional accent. A good starting pattern is down (chuck) up–up (chuck), keeping it tight and syncopated. Billie’s delivery is almost spoken, so match your strum to her phrasing rather than a strict beat.
If you’re feeling fancy, try slapping the strings lightly on beats 2 and 4 to mimic that kick-snare bounce. Or go minimalist and pluck each chord once per bar, letting silence do the heavy lifting — Billie would approve.
Singing tip: This is all about restraint. Billie doesn’t belt; she breathes menace. Keep it low and lazy, almost bored. Smile like you know something the audience doesn’t.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- The “duh!” before the chorus was a total accident — Billie improvised it, Finneas kept it, and it became pop history.
- It knocked Old Town Road off the Billboard #1 spot, ending Lil Nas X’s record-breaking run.
- Billie whispered most of the vocals right up close to the mic — a technique that became her signature sound.
- The weird squeaky noise at the end of the bridge? That’s an Australian pedestrian crossing signal Finneas recorded while on tour.
🌈 Final Word
“Bad Guy” on uke turns bedroom pop into something slyly subversive. It’s proof that attitude counts more than volume. Play it soft, playful, and just a little menacing — like you’re the cool kid who doesn’t care if anyone’s watching (but everyone is).
If you want to drop jaws, end the song with a whispered “duh.” Works every time.
