🌃 About the Song
“Blinding Lights” is pure retro euphoria — an 80s synthwave time machine with neon lights, heartbreak, and speed. The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) wrote it as both a love song and a panic attack behind the wheel — all bright surfaces and emotional wreckage underneath.
It’s one of the most-streamed songs of all time, and its synth riff is basically the soundtrack to every TikTok dance, car ad, and late-night drive of the last few years. On ukulele, it’s an upbeat pulse of pure energy — four chords, full throttle, sunglasses optional.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
The original is in F minor, so we’ll play it in E minor — still punchy, easier to sing, and friendlier on uke. You’ll need Em, C, G, D, and Am.
Main progression (verse, chorus, bridge):
[Em] – [C] – [G] – [D]
Keep the rhythm tight — a brisk down–down–up–up–down–up around 170 bpm (yeah, it’s fast). Try accenting the first downstrum and keeping the rest light for that 80s bounce.
If you want the “pulsing synth” feel, palm-mute the strings gently on the lower edge of your hand and hit the rhythm cleanly. It’ll sound like a chugging bassline with shimmer on top.
Singing tip: The Weeknd’s vocal line leaps between smooth croon and falsetto. Keep the verses relaxed, and lean into a bright tone on the chorus. Think longing, not yelling.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- “Blinding Lights” holds the record as the longest-charting song in Billboard Hot 100 history.
- The Weeknd co-wrote it with Max Martin, the pop architect behind Britney, Taylor, and Backstreet Boys.
- It’s inspired by Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’s synth soundtrack and 1980s sci-fi film scores.
- The video is part of a narrative spanning multiple songs — The Weeknd’s bloodied, reckless alter ego speeding through neon oblivion.
🌈 Final Word
On ukulele, “Blinding Lights” becomes a rush of happy adrenaline. You don’t need synths or lasers — just groove and attitude. Play it bright, crisp, and confident, and imagine you’re bathed in red light under a city skyline.
