Ukulele Chord Chart

Q: What is ukulele standard tuning?

Standard ukulele tuning is GCEA from the 4th string (closest to your face) to the 1st string. The G string is actually higher in pitch than the C string, making it a re-entrant tuning. Think of it as: G (above middle C), C (middle C), E, A.

Q: What are the easiest ukulele chords for beginners?

The easiest ukulele chords are C major (one finger on the A string at fret 3), Am (no fingers needed - all open strings), F major (two fingers), and G major. Most beginner songs use combinations of C, F, G, and Am.

Q: How do I read a ukulele chord diagram?

A ukulele chord diagram shows 4 vertical lines (strings G-C-E-A from left to right) and horizontal lines (frets). Dots show where to press. O above a string means play it open. X means mute that string (rare on ukulele). Numbers on dots show which fret to press.

Q: What key is a ukulele in?

A standard soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele is tuned GCEA. When you play open strings, the notes are G4, C4, E4, A4. The uke is often described as a C instrument since the lowest pitched string (despite not being the thinnest) is C4 (middle C).

Interactive uke chord diagrams for all 12 keys. GCEA standard tuning. Select a chord to see the fret positions instantly.

Ukulele Chord Finder

Chord Type

Root Note

C Major

GCEA

The easiest uke chord - one finger!

Fret Positions (G-C-E-A)

0 - 0 - 0 - 3

Formula

1-3-5

Quick Presets

All 12 Keys - Major Chords

Click any row to load that chord in the diagram above.

Key	Chord	G - C - E - A	Position
C	C	0 - 0 - 0 - 3	Open
C#	C#	1 - 1 - 1 - 4	Barre
D	D	2 - 2 - 2 - 0	Open
D#	D#	3 - 3 - 3 - 1	Open
E	E	1 - 4 - 0 - 2	Open
F	F	2 - 0 - 1 - 0	Open
F#	F#	3 - 1 - 2 - 1	Open
G	G	0 - 2 - 3 - 2	Open
G#	G#	5 - 3 - 4 - 3	Barre
A	A	2 - 1 - 0 - 0	Open
A#	A#	3 - 2 - 1 - 1	Open
B	B	4 - 3 - 2 - 2	Barre

How to Read a Ukulele Chord Diagram

Strings and Frets

4 vertical lines = the 4 strings (G, C, E, A from left to right). Horizontal lines = frets. The thicker line at the top is the nut (open position) unless a fret number is shown.

Dots and Symbols

Filled green dots show where to press your fingers. Numbers inside dots show the fret number. A circle (O) above a string means play it open. An X means mute that string (rarely used on uke).

Barre Chords

When a fret number (like "2fr") appears to the right, that is the starting fret. Press all strings at that fret with one finger (index finger barre), then add other fingers above it.

Ukulele Tuning: GCEA Standard

Standard ukulele tuning is GCEA from string 4 to string 1. What makes the uke unique is re-entrant tuning: the G string (4th string) is pitched higher than the C string (3rd string), not lower like you might expect.

String	Note	Octave	Character
4th (nearest face)	G	G4 (above middle C)	Re-entrant high G
3rd	C	C4 (middle C)	Lowest pitch string
2nd	E	E4	Bright, mid range
1st (floor side)	A	A4 (concert A)	Highest pitch string

Tip: tune your uke with a chromatic tuner or use the free browser chromatic tuner at notes.beatkey.app.

5 Essential Ukulele Chords for Beginners

0-0-0-3

1 finger

Your first chord! Just one finger on A string, fret 3.

2-0-0-0

1 finger

Super easy. Just fret 2 on G string. The rest are open.

2-0-1-0

2 fingers

Index on E fret 1, middle on G fret 2.

0-2-3-2

3 fingers

Stretch your fingers: index on A2, middle on G3... err wait: 0-2-3-2 = G: open, C fret 2, E fret 3, A fret 2.

0-1-0-0

1 finger

One finger on C string, fret 1. Leads beautifully back to D minor.

Ukulele Chords by Genre

Genre	Common Keys	Key Chords	Notes
Hawaiian / Folk	C, F, G	C, F, G, Am	The classic uke sound. C-F-G-Am covers hundreds of songs.
Pop	C, G, D, A	C, G, Am, F (I-V-vi-IV)	The four-chord formula works perfectly on uke.
Indie / Bedroom Pop	D, G, C	Dmaj7, Cmaj7, Am7, Gmaj7	Major 7ths add a dreamy, lo-fi quality.
Blues	A, D, G, E	A7, D7, E7 (12-bar blues)	Dominant 7ths are the heart of the blues sound.
Jazz	C, F, Bb, Eb	Cmaj7, Dm7, G7 (ii-V-I)	The ii-V-I progression is essential for jazz.
Christmas / Seasonal	C, G, F	C, G, Am, F, Dm	Most carols use these 5 chords.

Ukulele vs Guitar: Key Differences

	Ukulele	Guitar
Strings	4 strings	6 strings
Tuning	GCEA (re-entrant)	EADGBE (standard)
Most notes	Nylon strings	Steel or nylon strings
Difficulty	Easier to start	Steeper initial curve
Chord shapes	Simpler shapes	More complex voicings
Sound	Bright, light, sweet	Richer, fuller range
Portability	Very portable	Less portable
Chord transposing	Needs different shapes	Capo works for any key

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ukulele standard tuning? v

Standard ukulele tuning is GCEA. From the string closest to your face (4th string) to the string closest to the floor (1st string): G - C - E - A. The G string is re-entrant, meaning it is tuned higher than the C string.

What are the easiest ukulele chords for beginners? v

The easiest uke chords are: C major (one finger on A string fret 3), Am (all open strings), F major (two fingers), and G major. Most beginner songs use combinations of C, F, G, and Am.

How do I read a ukulele chord diagram? v

Four vertical lines are the strings (G, C, E, A from left to right). Horizontal lines are frets. Filled dots show where to press. O above a string means play it open. A number beside the diagram (like "2fr") means the diagram starts at that fret.

What key is a ukulele in? v

A standard ukulele tuned GCEA is considered a C instrument since C4 (middle C) is its lowest open string by pitch. When you play open strings, you are sounding a Am7 chord (G4, C4, E4, A4).

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