I decided to record a few children’s songs that you could play with just 1 chord. Many beginner books move on too quickly for very young children. You can consolidate their knowledge and concentrate on strumming and timing.
I have played them in C, the easiest chord on the ukulele. You could also play along on some chime bars- use C, E and G notes and it will fit nicely! These are just me playing on the piano, so they’re not great, but you are welcome to download and use as you wish.
At the time of writing this, Makala Ukuleles could be bought for £26.99, with free p&p, plus you get 2 free book (click “more details” at the bottom of the description). I think this is a really good deal.
I sing this one at the park. We listen to sounds that we can hear, and make up the verses as we go along.
This builds up cumulatively.
I spy with my little eye, you can hear with your little ear.
The dog in the park goes woof woof woof,
And we all go travelling by by by, and we all go travelling by.
I spy with my little eye, you can hear with your little ear.
The horn on the car goes beep beep beep,
The dog in the park goes woof woof woof,
And we all go travelling by by by, and we all go travelling by.
I also use the same song while learning our letter sounds. Child sings bold type (maybe more, depending on ability). There may be a pause before the answer, that’s fine!
I spy with my little eye, you can hear with your little ear.
We’re looking for things that start with a ‘c’
‘c’ is for car 1, 2, 3,
What else can Samuel see?
‘c’ is for cat 1, 2, 3,
And we all go travelling by by by, and we all go travelling by.
This is to the tune of ‘What shall we do with a drunken sailor’. You can use the name of your child, or in a group, say what shall we do with the little children. My 4 year old still likes this. Feel free to change to suit you.
(rock baby from side to side) What shall we do with baby Rowan? x3
Early in the morning.
Roll him on the floor and tickle him all over x3
Early in the morning.
(Rock back then forward then lift up) Heave ho and up he rises x3
Early in the morning.
Have an older baby or toddler on your lap, facing out, and bounce them up and down to the beat of the music. Younger babies can be cradled and swayed. This was one of my eldest’s favourite songs.
I want someone to buy me a pony,
Jig-jog jig-jog jigga jog-jig.
Not too fast and not too bony,
jig-jog jig-jog jigga jog-jig.
I just want to go for a ride,
All around the countryside.(sway seated child around, making a circle) wwwwhhhhhhoooooaaaaaa (take child’s legs and swing up) With a jig-jog jig-jog jig-jog jig-jog jig-jog jigga jog-jig.
You can use this with any instrument. I play along with the children, modelling the different ways to play.
To the tune of Old Mcdonald had a Farm, play the claves with the pulse of the music (play on the bold syllables).
This is the way we tap our claves, E, I, E, I, O (x2).
With a tap tap here and a tap tap there
Here a tap, there a tap, everywhere a tap tap This is the way we tap ourclaves E, I, E, I, O, STOP! (Children stop with their claves apart).
It’s a lovely way to start and end a session, makes all feel welcome. Feel free to change the words to suit you and your situation… I sing some of these first thing in the morning, or after a nap!
Song 1 (To the tune of Frere Jacque)
Hello Rowan, Hello Rowan,
Hello Sam, Hello Sam,
It’s very nice to see you, It’s very nice to see you,
Here today, here today…
Song 2
Rowan, Rowan, it’s a lovely day.
Rowan, Rowan, are you coming out to play?
Go and put your jacket on, tell your mummy you won’t be long,
coz Samuel’s waiting round the corner.
Samuel, Samuel it’s a lovely day.
Samuel, Samuel are you coming out to play? etc.
I wanted to take up a new musical instrument. Something portable, cheap and easy to play. I have tried the guitar before, but found it quite challenging and bar chords were totally beyond me. I have recently discovered the Ukulele – like a guitar, but only 4 strings, so much easier to play, and you can pick up an entry level instrument for around £15 – £20.
Different Ukulele Sizes
Ukuleles come in 3 main sizes: soprano, concert and tenor. These are all tuned the same, but the larger instruments have a slightly different tone and more depth to the sound. The larger instruments may better for those with bigger hands, as the strings are a little further apart, but the stretch between the frets are also more, so sopranos are usually good for beginners.
I got a makala ukulele for just over £20 and am pretty satisfied with it. It isn’t perfectly in-tune- but I have a fussy ear! For a beginner it’s a pretty good quality sound and I guess you get what you pay for! I share it with my 3 year old, so don’t want any too valuable! A tuner is also very useful. You can get tuning pipes, but the electronic ones are great. They work on vibration, so you can tune even with background noise, and you don’t need to have a good ear - the LED lights show you which way to tune. Don’t bother getting a chord book- I did- and it was a really a waste of money. You can get chord charts on-line easily. Get one with suggested fingering, then strum away and have fun on your ukulele!
quickly for very young children. You can consolidate their knowledge and concentrate on strumming and timing.
