Top 10 Campfire Songs for Ukulele
by Jonas
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The ten best campfire songs to play on ukulele: easy chords, choruses everyone knows and zero songs that die after the first verse. With chord diagrams and free full sheets.
Quick answer: the ten best campfire songs to play on ukulele are Three Little Birds, Riptide, Ring of Fire, Take Me Home Country Roads, Sweet Caroline, Ho Hey, Brown Eyed Girl, Wagon Wheel, Stand by Me and Hallelujah. Three Little Birds is the easiest with just three chords, and every song below comes with diagrams and a free full sheet.
A ukulele is the best campfire instrument there is. It fits in a backpack, it survives a little sand and smoke, and the moment you start strumming, people start singing. These are the ten best campfire songs to play on ukulele, ordered from easiest to trickiest. The rules for the list were simple: easy chords, a chorus everyone already knows and no song that fizzles out after the first verse. Each pick has the main chords, clickable chord diagrams and a link to the full sheet on UkuTabs with lyrics, a transposer and auto-scroll.
1. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
Three chords, one message, zero stress. Bob Marley’s 1977 classic is the easiest big singalong in existence and the perfect song to start a fire-side session. Keep a lazy reggae offbeat going and don’t worry about a thing.
Main chords in this song: A – D – E
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Three Little Birds
2. “Riptide” by Vance Joy
The modern ukulele anthem. Riptide was practically written for this instrument and its three-and-a-half chords cycle the whole way through, so once your hand learns the loop you can sing, chat and poke the fire without missing a change.
Main chords in this song: Am – G – C – Fmaj7
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Riptide
3. “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash
Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore and immortalised by Cash in 1963, this one was born for flames. Three chords, a stomping rhythm and a chorus the whole campsite will carry for you. Sing it low and enjoy.
Main chords in this song: G – C – D7
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Ring of Fire
4. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
If a campfire could request one song, it would be this 1971 John Denver evergreen. The verses stroll, the chorus soars and absolutely everyone knows the words, whether they admit it or not. The F#m is the only shape that needs a moment of practice.
Main chords in this song: A – D – E – F#m – G
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Take Me Home, Country Roads
5. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
Good times never seemed so good. Neil Diamond’s 1969 stadium staple works even better around a fire, because the “BAH BAH BAH” is mandatory and everybody knows it. Easy chords, big payoff, guaranteed second round.
Main chords in this song: C – F – G – Am – Em – Dm
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Sweet Caroline
6. “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers
The 2012 folk hit with the built-in crowd part. Assign half the circle “HO”, the other half “HEY”, and you are a conductor now. Four friendly chords and a stomp-clap feel that needs no drummer.
Main chords in this song: C – F – Am – G
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Ho Hey
7. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
Sha la la la la la la la. Van Morrison’s 1967 charmer is one of the most played campfire songs of all time for a reason: sunny chords, a chorus that sings itself and a “la la” section that rescues anyone who forgot the verse.
Main chords in this song: G – C – D – Em – D7
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Brown Eyed Girl
8. “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show
Half a Bob Dylan sketch from 1973, finished by Old Crow Medicine Show thirty years later, and now the unofficial anthem of every acoustic gathering. The same four chords loop the entire song, so the only real work is remembering all those verses. Rock me mama.
Main chords in this song: A – E – F#m – D
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Wagon Wheel
9. “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
The 1961 soul classic rides the most famous chord progression in pop music. It sounds fantastic slow and stripped back, which is exactly what a late fire calls for. Try picking the bass notes of each chord for the intro before you start strumming.
Main chords in this song: A – F#m – D – E
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Stand by Me
10. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
For the quiet end of the night, when the fire is down to embers. Leonard Cohen’s 1984 masterpiece asks a little more feel than the others here, but the chords themselves are gentle, and the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall are literally in the lyrics to guide you. Save it for last. It always lands.
Main chords in this song: C – Am – F – G – Em
Lyrics and ukulele tabs: Hallelujah
More campfire favourites on UkuTabs
Fire still burning? Keep going with Wonderwall, House of the Rising Sun, Banana Pancakes, I’m Yours, Better Together, Wish You Were Here, Let It Be and A Horse with No Name. And yes, the SpongeBob Campfire Song absolutely counts. For a big pile of gentle options, browse the easy ukulele songs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest campfire song on ukulele?
Three Little Birds. Three chords (A, D and E), a relaxed strum and a chorus everyone can carry. You can learn it in fifteen minutes and play it all night.
What makes a song work around a campfire?
Three things: few chords so you can play it in the dark, a chorus people already know so they join in, and a structure that loops without falling apart. Every pick on this list passes all three.
How do I sing and strum at the same time?
Get the strumming on autopilot first, then the singing slots in on top. It is a skill you can train, and the sing and play guide walks you through it step by step.
Should I take my ukulele camping?
Absolutely, just think about which one. A laminate ukulele handles temperature swings, humidity and campfire sparks in the air far better than an expensive solid-wood instrument. More packing tips in the travel with a ukulele guide.
Need more input?
Campfire playing is 90 percent rhythm, so the ultimate strumming guide is the best companion to this list, together with the basic ukulele chords. Singing while you play trips everyone up at first; the sing and play guide fixes that. More lists? Try the Top 10 Country Songs or the Top 10 Kids Songs.
Always feel free to contact me whenever you need more information or just want to say hi!