Ukulele First Three Chords Lesson

A ukulele — soprano or concert size works best for kids' hands

Optional: a chord chart (search "ukulele chord chart for beginners")

Optional: a tuner app on your phone to make sure it's in tune

Hold the ukulele with the neck in your left hand and the body resting comfortably against your stomach or chest.

Learn the C chord: place your ring finger on the third fret of the bottom string (the one closest to the floor). Strum all four strings with your right thumb. That bright, happy sound is a C chord.

Learn Am: move your finger to the second fret of the top string (closest to the ceiling). Strum all strings. Hear how it sounds slightly sadder? That's minor.

Practice switching between C and Am. Lift, move, press, strum. Repeat until the transition feels natural.

Learn F: index finger on the first fret of the second string, middle finger on the second fret of the top string. Strum.

Practice the progression: C (strum 4 times) - Am (strum 4) - F (strum 4) - C (strum 4). You're playing real music.

Sing "You Are My Sunshine" or "Riptide" while strumming. Three chords is enough for hundreds of songs.

Fingertips will be sore the first few days. This is normal and temporary. Calluses form within a week of regular practice.

Tune the ukulele before every session. An out-of-tune uke sounds terrible and can discourage a beginner. Free tuner apps work perfectly.

Soprano ukuleles are cheapest and smallest — great for kids. You can find a decent one for under $30.

The three chords C, Am, and F can play an astonishing number of songs. Search "easy ukulele songs 3 chords" for a list that will keep your child busy for months.

10 minutes of daily practice beats one long session per week. Consistency builds muscle memory faster than marathon sessions.