Best Ukulele Chord Charts For Beginners 😊 (get your PDF!)

• Table of Contents
• 👉 The Ukulele Chord Chart
  • PDF Version: The Ukulele Chord Chart
  • How to Read a Ukulele Chord Chart?
    • What's the Number Inside the Dots From a Ukulele Chord Diagram?
    • What's the longer bars instead of the dots Inside the Dots From a Ukulele Chord Diagram?
    • What's the Number Beside the Ukulele Chord Diagram?
  • Ukulele Major Chords
  • Ukulele minor Chords
  • Ukulele Seventh Chords
• 👉 The Ukulele Chord Chart: Big Size
  • PDF Version: The Ukulele Chord Chart (Big Size)
  • Ukulele Major Chords (Big Size)
  • Ukulele Minor Chords (Big Size)
  • Ukulele Seventh Chords (Big Size)
• Alternatives for Complicated Chords
  • Preamble to these alternative chords
  • Major Chords
    • Alternative chord for A# - Bb
    • Alternative chord for B
    • Alternative chord for C# - Db
    • Alternative chord for D
    • Alternative chords for D# - Eb
    • Alternative chord for E
    • Alternative chord for G
  • minor Chords
    • Alternative chord for A#m - Bbm
    • Alternative chord for Bm
    • Alternative chord for Cm
    • Alternative chord for C#m - Dbm
    • Alternative chord for Em
    • Alternative chord for G#m
  • 7th Chords
    • Alternative chord for C#7 - Db7
    • Alternative chords for D7
    • Alternative chords for D#7 - Eb7
    • Alternative chords for F7
    • Alternative chords for G#7 - Ab7
• Decoding the Secret Numbers on Your Chord Chart! Reading Finger Numbers
• Why are some dots replaced by a black bar?
• What about changing all the chords in a song (transpose)?
  • Which Ukulele Chords Should You Learn First?
• How to Practise Ukulele Chord Changes
• Common Beginner Mistakes With Ukulele Chord Charts
  • Pressing too far from the fret
  • Touching another string by accident
  • Looking only at the dots
  • Trying too many chords in one session
• Fun Fact
• Songs to play
• Conclusion
• FAQ ❓
  • Understanding Ukulele Chord Charts
  • The Easiest Chords to Start With
  • Making Difficult Chords Easier
  • Why Do My Chords Sound Bad? (Buzzing, Muted, or Wrong Notes)
  • Finger Pain & Physical Comfort
  • Structured Progress & Avoiding Overwhelm

👉 The Ukulele Chord Chart

PDF Version: The Ukulele Chord Chart

Get the Best Ukulele Chord Charts For Beginners: PDF

How to Read a Ukulele Chord Chart?

A chord diagram, also called a chord chart or chord box, is simple to read once you know what each part means.

Think of it as a small picture of your ukulele fretboard.

The vertical lines represent the ukulele strings.

The horizontal lines represent the frets.

The thick horizontal line at the top represents the nut. That is the small part between the ukulele head and the fretboard, where the strings pass before they continue in a straight line down the neck.

• The black dots show you where to place your fingers.

What's the Number Inside the Dots From a Ukulele Chord Diagram?

The numbers inside the dots tell you which fingers to use. They are not fret numbers. They are suggested finger numbers.

You can read more here: What do the numbers on ukulele chord charts mean?

What's the longer bars instead of the dots Inside the Dots From a Ukulele Chord Diagram?

Sometimes, the black dots are replaced by a longer black bar. This bar can stretch across 2, 3, or even 4 strings.

This means you are playing a barre chord. Instead of pressing one string with one finger, you press several strings at the same time, usually with your index finger.

Barre chords can feel harder at first, but they become much easier with practice.

You can read more here: How to read barre chords on ukulele chord charts

What's the Number Beside the Ukulele Chord Diagram?

Sometimes, you will also see a number beside the chord diagram.

This number tells you which fret the diagram starts from.

So, instead of showing the nut at the top, the diagram uses that fret number as its reference point.

For example, if you see the number 7 beside the diagram, it means the top line of the diagram represents the 7th fret, not the nut.

Example:

It would be the same chord than:

Ukulele Major Chords

Decoding the Secret Numbers on Your Chord Chart! Reading Finger Numbers

Any struggle with one particular chord? Ask me and I'll help you! :)

How to Play the D chord the Easy Way
How to Play the E chord the Easy Way

Ukulele minor Chords

Ukulele Seventh Chords

---

👉 The Ukulele Chord Chart: Big Size

PDF Version: The Ukulele Chord Chart (Big Size)

Get the PDF with the Chord Chart - BIG SIZE

Ukulele Major Chords (Big Size)

Ukulele Minor Chords (Big Size)

Ukulele Seventh Chords (Big Size)

Alternatives for Complicated Chords

Preamble to these alternative chords

Here are some alternative easier chords.

If you struggle to play one of these chords, try their alternatives.

Sometimes, it will fit with the music that you want to play. Sometimes not.

Major Chords

Alternative chord for A# - Bb

---

Another voicing for Bb:

You have all the note needed with when playing the last 3 strings (strings G,C,E) to form the Bb or A# chord. If you mute with your index the first string (string A) - especially if you have big fingers - or if you don't play it with your right hand, it works.

---

You can change:
A# - Bb to A#maj7 - Bbmaj7 (A#maj7 - Bbmaj7 are the same chords)

---

You can change:
A# - Bb to Gm7

Gm7 is often an easier option to play. But be careful — even though it differs from A# by just one note, that small change can alter the song’s musical “colour.”
For example, instead of playing a Bb in "Happy Birthday" in the key of F, I really like the sound of the Gm7 instead. see Happy Birthday to You in F (my favorite one).

Alternative chord for B

You can change:
B to B7

Alternative chord for C# - Db

You can change:
C# - Db to C#6 - Db6 (these two are the same chords)

Alternative chord for D

Read also: The D Chord Made Easy

You can change:
D to Dsus2

---

Or you can play the D with a different voicing (same chord, but another way to play it):

Alternative chords for D# - Eb

You can change:
D# - Eb to D#add9

or

Alternative chord for E

Read also: The E Chord Made Easy

You can change:
E to E7

---

Or you can play the E with a different voicing (same chord, but another way to play it):

If a few chords still feel impossible, check out these easy fixes for tricky ukulele chords ()Struggling with Ukulele Chords? Easy Alternatives That Actually Work) — little adjustments can make a big difference.

Alternative chord for G

You can change:
G to G6

minor Chords

Alternative chord for A#m - Bbm

You can change:
A#m - Bbm to A#m7 - Bbm7

Alternative chord for Bm

You can change:
Bm to Bm7

Alternative chord for Cm

You can change:
Cm to C5

Alternative chord for C#m - Dbm

You can change:
C#m - Dbm to C#m6 - Dbm6

Alternative chord for Em

You can change:
Em to Em6

Alternative chord for G#m

You can change:
G#m - Abm to G#m - Abm (alternate voicing: another way to play it)

7th Chords

Alternative chord for C#7 - Db7

You can change:
C#7 - Db7 to C#6

(C#6 is played in the same way as A#m7)

Alternative chords for D7

You can change:
D7 to D or Dsus2

Called "Hawaiian D7", it's not a D7 chord (it doesn't even have a D note in it), but it sounds a little bit like it.

Alternative chords for D#7 - Eb7

You can change:
D#7 - Eb7 to D#add9

or

Alternative chords for F7

You can change:
F7 to F7no5 or F

Note: you can often read in some books or on the web that F7 is played as F7no5. Even if they are very similar, they aren't the same chord.

Alternative chords for G#7 - Ab7

You can change:
G#7 - Ab7 to G#aug - Abaug

Decoding the Secret Numbers on Your Chord Chart! Reading Finger Numbers

It is very simple.

In the chord chart below, do you see the numbers in the dots? They tell you which finger to use on each string.
The thumb doesn't get a number — it stays free behind the neck to give support.

1: index finger

2: middle finger

3: ring finger

4: little finger

So if you see a "2" on the second fret of a string, that means: press that fret with your middle finger.

This simple system keeps your hand in the right position and makes changing chords much easier.

Why are some dots replaced by a black bar?

Sometimes, on a ukulele chord chart, you will not only see separate black dots.

Instead, you may see one longer black bar stretching across 2, 3, or even 4 strings.

This is called a barre chord.

A barre chord means you press several strings at the same time with one finger. Most of the time, you use your index finger for this.

For example, instead of placing one finger on each string, your index finger lies across several strings like a little “capo” (read this to know more about capo).

This can feel strange at first.

It is likely to feel harder than normal chord shapes, because one finger has to press more than one string clearly.

But don’t worry. Barre chords become much easier with practice. There are often replacement chords as well: chords that sound similar, but easier to play.

At the beginning, try to keep your finger straight, press close to the fret, and relax your hand as much as possible. You do not need to squeeze the ukulele as hard as you can.

If the sound is not perfect at first, that is completely normal. Many beginners need a little time before barre chords ring clearly.

Sometime it's easier to transpose the song (and sometime use a capo) to avoid barre chords. Read below What about changing all the chords in a song (transpose)?.

What about changing all the chords in a song (transpose)?

Read Play easier chords

You can transpose a song by shifting all the chords down a semitone (that’s what “-1” means). It’ll sound a little lower, but don’t worry — there’s an easy fix!

Just pop a capo on the 1st fret, and boom — you’re back in the original key, only now with much easier chord shapes.

By moving the chords down one, two, or even three semitones, you can avoid those painful chords like B or E and still play along perfectly in tune with the original version.

It may help: Detailed intervals between notes (the intervals between notes are the same than between chords).

A ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ A#/Bb ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ B ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ C ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ C#/Db ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ D ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ D#/Eb ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ E ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ F ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ F#/Gb ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ G ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ G#/Ab ⤚ 1/2 tone ⤙ A

Which Ukulele Chords Should You Learn First?

If you are a complete beginner, you do not need to learn every chord on this page today.

Start with just these three:

• C
• Am
• F

These are friendly chords for beginners because they use simple finger positions.

Once these feel easier, learn the new ones you need when reherasing new songs.

Little by little, you'll increase your own small but useful chord family.

My advice is simple: do not collect chords. Use them.

Choose 2 or 3 chords, practise changing between them slowly, then try them in a real song.

How to Practise Ukulele Chord Changes

Reading a chord chart is only the first step.

The real magic happens when you can move from one chord to another smoothly.

Try this simple practice method:

1. Choose two chords, for example C and F.
2. Place the first chord slowly.
3. Strum once.
4. Move to the second chord.
5. Strum once.
6. Repeat for one minute.

Do not rush.

At first, your fingers may move one by one. That is normal.

With practice, your hand starts to remember the shape. The goal is not speed at first. The goal is calm, clean movement.

Even intermediate and advanced player use these steps when they need to focus on hard chord changes!

*

Another good beginner exercise is:

C → Am → F → C

Play each chord once, then change.
When that feels easier, try strumming each chord four times.

Common Beginner Mistakes With Ukulele Chord Charts

Here are a few small mistakes I see often with beginner students.

Pressing too far from the fret

Try to place your finger close to the metal fret, the one that comes just after. But don't go over it.

If you place your finger just before the middle (toward the previous fret), that could result in a buzzing sound.

You do not need to press like crazy.
A good position often works better than extra force.

Touching another string by accident

If one string sounds muted, check if another finger is touching it.

This happens a lot, especially with chords like G or E7.

Looking only at the dots

The dots tell you where to place your fingers, but also check the finger numbers.

They can make the chord easier to play and easier to remember.

Note that these fingerings are tips, not absolute rules. You can adapt them according to the chords you have after and before in the music.

Trying too many chords in one session

Learning 12 chords in one day sounds productive, but it often creates confusion.

Learning 2 chords well is much better. Or even just one! Learning one new chord is a step forward.

Fun Fact

Did you know you can play a ukulele chord without using your left hand at all?

Just strum all four open strings.

That chord is called C6.

But here is the fun part: the exact same open strings can also be called Am7.

So, without pressing a single fret, you are already playing two chords: C6 and Am7.

This happens quite often on the ukulele. The same chord shape can sometimes have more than one chord name.
The chord name is chosen depending on the song and the musical context.
But don't worry, you can replace all Am7 with C6 in your music sheets, it's not that important.

So if someone says, “I don’t know how to play any ukulele chords yet,” you can tell them:

“You already do. Just strum the open strings, and you are playing C6 or Am7!”

C6 and Am7 are the easiest chords on the ukulele!

Songs to play

Want songs to try today? Check out these easy Summer ukulele songs and my beginner Christmas picks—perfect for quick wins.”

Ready to turn these shapes into music? Start with one-chord songs you can strum right now—instant wins that build confidence.

You can try Happy Birthday as well!

Conclusion

And there you have it! With these beginner-friendly chord charts, learning the ukulele just got easier.

No more guessing—just clear, simple chords that help you play faster!

I hope I’ve been helpful to you today. 😊

Keep strumming, keep having fun, and don’t stress about tricky chords—there’s always an easier way!

Want to explore even more chords?

👉 Check out The Complete Ukulele Chord Charts (for intermediate to advanced players) (get your PDF!)

and take your skills further!

FAQ ❓

If you have any more question, feel free to ask me.

If you’d like help turning chord charts into real, confident playing, you can

join the You’Cool’Ele Club.

Inside the Club, I guide members step by step:

✔ Understanding chord shapes without confusion
✔ Practising the right transitions, not just isolated chords
✔ Fixing buzzing and muted strings calmly and efficiently
✔ Building steady weekly progress without overwhelm

It’s designed especially for adults who want clear structure, gentle guidance, and chords that finally feel natural under the fingers.

---

---

I hope this article has helped you :)

Have a fantastic day!