C, Am, F & G
Four chords, four simple shapes, hundreds of songs. Tap each diagram below to hear it, then practice moving between them.
Your first four chords
Almost every beginner ukulele method starts here. C, Am, F, and G are each simple 1-2 finger shapes, and together they cover an enormous amount of popular music. Learn these four well and you'll be able to strum along to songs on day one.
Why these four chords work so well together
- C major — just one finger, on the A string, 3rd fret. Everything else rings open.
- A minor — just one finger, on the G string, 2nd fret. The easiest minor chord you'll ever play.
- F major — two fingers, on the G string (2nd fret) and E string (1st fret).
- G major — three fingers, on the C, E, and A strings. The trickiest of the four, but still very manageable.
Because C and Am each use only one finger, they're the perfect place to start. Once switching between those two feels comfortable, add F, then G.
Common questions
What are the easiest ukulele chords for beginners?
C, Am, F, and G are the four easiest and most useful beginner ukulele chords. C and Am only need one finger, while F and G use two.
How many songs can you play with C, Am, F, and G?
Hundreds. These four chords form the I-vi-IV-V progression in the key of C, one of the most common chord patterns in popular music.
Which ukulele chord should I learn first?
C major is the simplest — it only needs one finger on one string. Am is nearly as easy, using one finger on a different string.
Do ukulele chords use fewer fingers than guitar chords?
Often, yes. Because a ukulele only has four strings, many common chords need just one or two fingers, compared to guitar shapes that often use three or four.
Practice every chord with instant feedback
Melody Monkey shows you exactly where to place your fingers and lets you hear every chord before you play it.
Open the free app →Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about C, Am, F & G →