For example, C major’s parallel minor key is A minor. All of the keys you see here are major ones, but each key comes with its own parallel minor which is found a minor 3rd (3 half-steps) lower than the major. The key of C major at the top of the circle has no sharps or flats. This chart is a visual aid that describes how accidentals, or sharps and flats, are added to each key signature in music. To help teach you chords, we’re going to show you a ukulele chord chart that follows the pattern of the chords you see in the circle of fifths. If possible, check out some ukuleles from a local music store so you can hold and play a few different ukes before making a decision. Purchasing a cheap knockoff will just leave you frustrated. The most important question you should ask when buying a uke is if the instrument you’re considering buying can stay in tune.

If you stumble across a $25 uke on Amazon with a 5-star rating, don’t believe what you see. If you’re considering buying a uke for the first time, it’s a good idea to do some serious research into finding out which ukuleles are worth purchasing and which ones are not before you make any final decisions. This might seem counter-intuitive to guitarists and other string players, but it’s a special tuning that’s designed to help produce simple chords with only four strings. Something seasoned musicians might find odd about the uke is that its bottom G string is tuned an octave higher than expected. Our favorite acronym to help us remember uke strings is “Greedy Cats Eat Avocados,” but feel free to create your own.

Ukuleles, or ukes, feature four strings: G-C-E-A. It’s a small guitar-like adaptation of an instrument called a machete (not the sword type of machete used to slash through jungles) that gained prominence when it made its way to the United States during the 20th century.

The ukulele started showing up on the world’s musical stage in the 19th century when it was introduced by Hawaiian and Portuguese immigrants. We’re going to walk you through some basic and not-so-basic chords that you’ll find in popular songs, but first let’s talk a little bit about some ukulele background and fundamentals. When you sit down to memorize a simple ukulele chord chart, you’ll be able to learn what you need to know to be able to play adaptations of your favorite songs. This amazing instrument manages to be strikingly versatile despite being incredibly easy to play. If you’re looking for an easy introduction to music, the ukulele is a phenomenal place to start.

Free ukulele music with chords