The ukulele chords for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole are primarily C, Em, F, G, Am, and occasionally E7. The song features a gentle progression with these chords repeated throughout the verses and chorus. A typical chord progression for the intro and verse is:
- C G Am F
- C G Am F
- F F
The chorus and verses often use:
- C Em F C
- F C G Am F
The bridge includes chords like:
- C Em Am F
The rhythm pattern is consistent, with each chord usually held for one or two measures depending on the section. The intro uses each chord for one measure, while the rest of the song typically uses two measures per chord
. For learning, it is recommended to first practice the chord shapes and transitions before focusing on the strumming pattern. Video tutorials are available that demonstrate the chord fingerings and strumming for this song on ukulele
. In summary, the key chords to learn for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on ukulele are:
- C
- Em
- F
- G
- Am
- E7 (optional)
These chords allow you to play the full song as performed by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
