How to Play the Macarena on Ukulele
We’ve covered it on piano and guitar, but what about the ukulele? Learn the iconic song with a simple four-chord progression and a fun strumming pattern.
Differences Between Ukulele and Guitar
Before diving into the tutorial, let’s briefly discuss the differences between playing the Macarena on the ukulele versus the guitar. The most obvious difference is the number of strings: a standard ukulele has four strings, while a guitar has six. Consequently, the chords and fingerings for the two instruments will differ. Additionally, tuning a standard soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele is G-C-E-A, while a guitar is tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E. This difference in tuning means that the same chord shapes will produce different chords on each instrument.
Chords for Macarena on Ukulele
The Macarena song is based on a simple four-chord progression that repeats throughout the song. Here are the chords transposed for the ukulele in the key of C Major.
Key of C Major (Easy)
- C Major: 0003
- G Major: 0232
- F Major: 2010
The progression would be: C Major – G Major – F Major – G Major.
Original Key (A♭ Major)
If you prefer to play the song in the original key (A♭ Major), you can use the following chords:
- A♭ Major: 5343
- E♭ Major: 3331
- D♭ Major: 1114
The progression would be: A♭ Major – E♭ Major – D♭ Major – E♭ Major.
Strumming Pattern & Melody
A simple strumming pattern for the Macarena on the ukulele is the down-up-down-up pattern (D-U-D-U). You can maintain this pattern throughout the song, changing chords according to the above-mentioned progression.
Melody (in C Major)
The melody can be played using the fret numbers on the corresponding strings (G, C, E, and A).
A | 0 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 2 – 3 – 2
A | 0 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 2 – 3 – 2
E | 3 – 5 – 7 – 5 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 5
E | 3 – 5 – 7 – 5 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 5
Watch a Ukulele Tutorial
Sometimes it's easier to learn by watching. This video provides a simple, step-by-step tutorial to help you get the chords and melody right.