Activities Hobbies 9 Ukulele Chords You Should Know Print Hobbies Playing Music Contests Couponing Freebies Frugal Living Fine Arts & Crafts Astrology Card Games & Gambling Cars & Motorcycles Learn More By Dan Cross Dan Cross Dan Cross is a professional guitarist and former private instructor who has experience teaching and playing various styles of music. Learn about our Editorial Process Published on 05/07/19 If you learn to play these basic chord shapes, you can play hundreds of songs. 01 of 09 C Major Playing a C major chord on ukulele is a snap - simply hold down the third fret on the first string and strum away on all four strings. Typically, this note is played with the third (ring) finger. Note that instructions in this feature assume the ukulele has been tuned to "standard C" tuning - G C E A. For more info on tuning, read how to tune your ukulele. 02 of 09 G Major Recognize this chord shape? If you play guitar, you will... it is a D major chord shape. Because of the uke tuning, however, this translates to a G major chord. Put your first (index) finger on the second fret of the third string, your third (ring) finger on the third fret of the second string, and your second (middle) finger on the second fret of the first string. Strum all four strings. 03 of 09 F Major The F major chord is a much simpler chord to play on the uke than it is on guitar. Place your second finger on the second fret of the fourth string, your first finger on the first fret of the second string, and strum all four strings. 04 of 09 A Minor Another simple to play chord - to play an A minor on the ukulele, you simply need to hold down the second fret of the fourth string and strum all four strings. This note is typically played with the second (middle) finger. 05 of 09 E Minor To play E minor on the ukulele, place your first (index) finger on the second fret of the first string. Next, put your second (middle) finger on the third fret of the second string. Lastly, place your third (ring) finger on the fourth fret of the third string. Strum all four strings. 06 of 09 D Minor Guitar players will recognize the D minor chord shape on the ukulele - it's the same fingering as an A minor chord on guitar. Place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of the fourth string. Now, put your third (ring) finger on the second fret of the third string. Lastly, place your first (index) finger on the first fret of the second string. Strum all four strings. Note that switching the second and third fingers when playing this shape is common. 07 of 09 A Major To play A major on the ukulele, place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of the fourth string. Next, put your first (index) finger on the first fret of the third string. Strum all four strings on the uke and you're playing an A major chord. 08 of 09 D Major Guitarists will recognize this shape as an A major chord on the guitar, but on the ukulele, the same chord shape produces a different chord. Place your first (index) finger on the second fret of the fourth string. Next, place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of the third string. Lastly, put your third (ring) finger on the second fret of the second string. Strum all four strings and you are playing a D major chord. 09 of 09 E Major To play an E major chord on the ukulele, start by placing your second (middle) finger on the fourth fret of the fourth string. Next, place your third (ring) finger on the fourth fret of the third string. Now, put your fourth (ring) finger on the fourth fret of the second string. Lastly, place your first (index) finger on the second fret of the first string. Strum all four strings and you are playing an E minor chord.