When I was a child, I taught myself to play ukulele, and by the time I was 12, I had taught myself to play guitar also. I am no classical guitarist. I taught myself these things to accompany myself and others for campfire singings and for other group singings. Fortunately, to play accompaniments, a player only needs to learn to play a few chords. I can only begin to imagine how very many songs can be played with a 4 chord progression.

I found the following brilliant collage of tunes — all played with 4 chords:

“Four Chords” by Axis of Awesome
00:52 – Don’t Stop Believing, Journey
00:59 – You’re Beautiful, James Blunt
01:09 – Forever Young, Alphaville
01:16 – I’m Yours, Jason Mraz
01:25 – Happy Ending, Mika
01:33 – Amazing, Alex Lloyd
01:42 – Wherever You Will Go, The Calling
01:49 – Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Sir Elton John
01:56 – She Will Be Loved, Maroon
5 02:04 – Pictures of You, The Last Goodnight
02:11 – With or Without You, U2
02:19 – Fall at Your Feet, Crowded House
02:29 – Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers
02:38 – Let it Be, The Beatles
02:42 – Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
02:46 – Horses, Daryl Braithwaite
02:54 – No Woman No Cry, Bob Marley
02:56 – Sex and Candy, Marcy Playground
02:58 – Land Down Under, Men at Work
03:01 – Waltzing Matilda, Banjo Patterson
03:06 – Take on Me / When I Come Around, A-Ha / Green Day
03:21 – Save Tonight / Africa, Eagle Eye Cherry / Toto
03:29 – If I Were a Boy / Self Esteem, Beyonce The Offspring
03:37 – You’re Gonna Go Far Kid, The Offspring
03:45 – You and Your Hand, P!nk
03:53 – Poker Face, Lady Gaga
03:58 – Barbie Girl, Aqua
04:00 – You Found Me, The Fray
04:08 – Don’t Trust Me, 30h!
3 04:15 – Kids, MGMT
04:23 – Canvas Bags, Tim Minchin
04:33 – Torn, Natalie Imbrugila
04:48 – Superman, Five for Fighting
04:52 – Birdplane, Axis of Awesome
05:02 – Scar, Missy Higgins

I am not suggesting that players limit themselves to 4 chord progressions, but chording is the foundation of all levels of playing the ukulele and guitar:

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids

Source: Ukulele for Kids – Hal Leonard

 

You Are My Sunshine

C
You are my sunshine
C7
My only sunshine
F
You make me happy
C –C7
When skies are gray
F
You’ll never know dear
C
How much I love you
C
Please don’t take
G7 C
My sunshine away
C

Source: www.ukulele-tabs.com

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

C Em
Somewhere over the rainbow

F C
Way up high

F C
And the dreams that you dreamed of

G Am F
G Am F
Once in a lullaby

C Em
Somewhere over the rainbow

F C
Blue birds fly

F C
And the dreams that you dreamed of

G Am F
Dreams really do come true

C
Someday I‘ll wish upon a star

Em Am F
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops

Em Am F
High above the chimney tops is where you’ll find me

C Em
Somewhere over the rainbow

F C
Way up high

F C
And the dreams that you dare to,

G Am F
oh why, oh why can’t I?

End on C

Source: www.ukulele-tabs.com

Agus Dei Worthy Hallluhjah

C C C F C C C C F F
ha-A-la-lu-ya ha-A-la-lu-ya
F C C
for the Lord God Almighty reigns

C C C F C C C C F C
ha-A-la-lu-ya ha-A-la-lu-ya
F C C
for the Lord God Almighty reigns

C C F C F
A–A-la-lu-ya

C C C Csus C G
Holy, Holy are You Lord God Almighty

worthy is the Lamb worthy is the Lamb you are holy

C C C F C C C C F F
ha-A-la-lu-ya ha-A-la-lu-ya
F C C
for the Lord God Almighty reigns

C C C F C C C C F C
ha-A-la-lu-ya ha-A-la-lu-ya
F C C
for the Lord God Almighty reigns

C C F C F

C C C F C C C C F C
ha-A-la-lu-ya ha-A-la-lu-ya
F C C
for the Lord God Almighty reigns

C C F C F
A–A-la-lu-ya

C C C Csus C G
Holy, Holy are You Lord God Almighty
F F
worthy is the lamb, worty is the lamb
C C C Csus C G
You are holy holy are you Lord God Almighty

F F C
worthy is the Lamb worthy is the Lamb you are holy

Source: www.ukulele-tabs