“Can’t Help Falling in Love” is a timeless classic, perfect for ukulele beginners. This article provides the chords you need to play this iconic song.
Simple Chords for Ukulele
This song primarily uses eight basic ukulele chords:
- C: Place your middle finger on the A-string, first fret.
- Em: Place your middle finger on the A-string, second fret.
- Am: Place your middle finger on the A-string, second fret, and your index finger on the E-string, first fret.
- F: Place your index finger across all strings at the first fret. This is a barre chord and may take practice.
- G: Place your middle finger on the E-string, second fret, index finger on the A-string, second fret, and ring finger on the C-string, third fret.
- B7: Place your index finger on the A-string, first fret, middle finger on the C-string, second fret, and ring finger on the E-string, second fret. You can use a simplified B7 by placing your ring finger on the second fret of the A string, your middle finger on the second fret of the E string, and your index finger on the first fret of the C string.
- A7: Place your index finger across the D, G and C strings on the second fret. Your middle finger will go on the first fret of the A string.
- Dm: Place your index finger on the C-string, first fret, middle finger on the E-string, second fret, and ring finger on the A-string, third fret.
Verse and Chorus Chord Progression
The verse and chorus follow the same chord progression:
C Em Am F C G
Strum each chord four times. Experiment with different strumming patterns to find what sounds best to you. A simple down-down-up-down-up pattern works well for beginners.
Bridge Chord Progression
The bridge introduces a slight variation:
Em B7 Em B7 Em B7 Em A7 Dm G
Full Song Structure
The song structure is as follows:
- Verse 1:
C Em Am F C G(Wise men say, only fools rush in…) - Verse 2:
C Em Am F C G(Shall I stay, would it be a sin…) - Bridge:
Em B7 Em B7 Em B7 Em A7 Dm G(Like a river flows, surely to the sea…) - Verse 3:
C Em Am F C G(Take my hand, take my whole life too…) - Bridge:
Em B7 Em B7 Em B7 Em A7 Dm G(Like a river flows, surely to the sea…) - Outro:
C Em Am F C G(Take my hand, take my whole life too…)
Tips for Beginners
- Practice changing chords smoothly. This is key to playing the song fluently.
- Start slowly and gradually increase your speed. Don’t try to play too fast too soon.
- Listen to the original song to get a feel for the rhythm and timing.
- Use a metronome to help you keep a steady beat.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different strumming patterns and variations.
Conclusion
With these simple chords and a little practice, you’ll be playing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” on your ukulele in no time. Enjoy!
