Somewhere over the Rainbow Ukulele Chords & Strumming Guide.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Ukulele Guide

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a classic song that has been covered by many musicians over the years. The song was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg and was originally featured in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz". The song has since become a beloved classic; with a ton of great musicians having put their own spin on it over the years.

One of the most famous covers of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, a Hawaiian musician known for his beautiful voice and ukulele playing. Izzy's version of the song, which features a slow, contemplative melody, has become a classic in its own right and has been featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials. While Iz mixes his version with "What a Wonderful World" we're just going to focus on "Somewhere over the Rainbow".

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz". The song was sung by actress Judy Garland in the role of Dorothy, and it has since become one of the most iconic and beloved songs in American popular culture. In 2001, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America named "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" the greatest song of the 20th century, and it continues to be a beloved and enduring classic to this day.

Also check out the Harry Potter Theme here

How to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Ukulele.

Okay! So the first thing we want to look at is the chords we're going to need for the song. So, this song contains 6 different chords for us to wrap our heads around - C, Em, F, E7, Am, and G. Some of these you might already know!

Otherwise, here are the chords you will need to know!

Don't forget the quick guide on how to read a chord chart over here!

Somewhere over the Rainbow Strumming

D DU UDU - This pattern represents the downstrokes and upstrokes of the strumming pattern (lol?). The "D" stands for a downstroke, where you strum the strings downwards with your fingers or a pick. The "U" stands for an upstroke, where you strum the strings upwards. To play this strumming pattern, follow these steps:

1. You can practice this by just staying on one chord so the chord changes to interrupt your rhythm. Alternately, playing along to the song muted or quietly will help.

2. The strumming pattern itself is broken up into 3 groups. The first Down strum, followed by a Down Up, followed finally by an Up Down Up group. Keep these groupings in mind while playing.

3. You want to keep your hand flowing up and down, not pausing in between but rather missing the strings. (Like, how else can you do two down strokes in a row without going back to the top right?)

4. Finally the vibe, the flow, and the rhythm of the song. Well, a lot of people interpret the song differently so you should probably go with your favourite version. I would recommend Izzy's version as that is what we're looking at here!

5. Finally, once you've got the pattern down, start practicing with the chord changes and playing along to the song. If you mess up, try not to start over but to get back on track with your strumming and chords.

When playing the song, you'll want to repeat this strumming pattern throughout the entire song. It's also helpful to listen to the song and practice strumming along with the rhythm, gradually increasing your speed as you get more comfortable with the pattern.

Remember, practice makes perfect! With time and patience, you'll be able to master this strumming pattern and play "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on your ukulele with confidence.

Here are the full chords and lyrics to follow along with! The chords are written in the place where they change.

Intro 1:

C G Am F

C G Am F

Intro 2:

C Em F C

Oooo, oooo, oooo, oooo...

F E7 Am F

Oooo, oooo, oooo, oooo...

Verse 1:

C Em F C

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

F C G Am F

and the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby.

Verse 2:

C Em F C

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly

F C G Am F

and the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true. Ohhhh.

Bridge:

C

Someday I'll wish upon a star,

Em Am F

wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

C

Where troubles melts like lemon drops,

Em

high above the chimney tops,

Am F

that's where you'll find me, oh

Verse 3:

C Em F C

Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly

F C G Am F

and the dreams that you dare to, oh, why, oh why can't I? I-I-I, oh

Bridge:

C

Someday I'll wish upon a star,

Em Am F

wake up where the clouds are far behind me-e-e.

C

Where troubles melts like lemon drops,

Em

high above the chimney tops

Am F

that's where you'll find me, oh

Verse 4:

C Em F C

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

F C G Am F

and the dreams that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I-I-I

Outro:

C Em F C

Oooo, oooo, oooo, oooo...

F E7 Am F

Oooo, oooo, oooo, oooo...

Alternative strumming patterns for Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The Somewhere over the rainbow strumming pattern for the ukulele can vary depending on the style and tempo of the song. Here are a few other strumming patterns to try out:

1. Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up

2. Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up

3. Down, Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up
   
   

Is Somewhere Over the Rainbow hard to play on the Ukulele?

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is not a difficult song to play on the ukulele, especially if you are already familiar with the basic chords. However, if you are a beginner, you may find it challenging to play the chords smoothly and transition between them quickly enough but it is a great song to practice to help you grow your knowledge of the most commonly used chords on the ukulele.

There are songs that are a little bit more beginner friendly, but this is worth having a go at! Another you might consider is this easy Riptide Ukulele guide.

To make things easier, you can start by practicing each chord individually and making sure that your finger positioning is correct. You can also try playing the chords slowly and gradually increasing your speed as you get more comfortable.

Last bit! - Listen and Play along with the song.

So now that you have all the Ukulele chords and strumming patterns down. All that's left is to practice the song as a whole. I recommend practicing along to the song to get the vibe but eventually, to really make the song shine, you should try to learn to sing it. It's a great song to play and sing.

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a beautiful song that is perfect for playing on the ukulele. While it may take some practice to master the chords and strumming patterns, with a bit of dedication and patience, anyone can learn to play this classic tune.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of the song has become a beloved classic, and his unique style and beautiful voice have helped to popularize the ukulele around the world. It's a great song to learn with easy-to-remember lyrics and a relaxed casual feel.

Good luck with your practice!