Best Music Books for Ukulele (2026): 5 Compared

A new ukulele arrives and the first question is what to play on it. The best music books for ukulele turn those first chords into real songs, with chord diagrams, lyrics and tabs a beginner can follow. We compared five beginner songbooks and method books by songs, pages, instruction style and bonus material.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	21 Songs in 6 Days by Bogart	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	First 50 Songs by Various	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Beatles Fingerstyle by Sokolow	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Ukulele Method Book 1 by Rev	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	21 Christmas Songs by Bogart	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

21 Songs in 6 Days by Bogart

Rebecca Bogart·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A step-by-step beginner primer with 21 songs, 10 bonus 2-chord songs and free online video.

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Pros

• 21 songs plus 10 bonus 2-chord songs
• Free online video instruction included
• Step-by-step, one element at a time

Cons

• The listing gives two page counts, 120 and 116
• Beginner only, no intermediate material
• Folk songs may not suit pop fans

2

First 50 Songs by Various

Various·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 136-page Hal Leonard songbook with 50 pop, folk and classic songs for students and teachers.

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Pros

• 50 songs with melody, lyrics and chord diagrams
• 136 pages from Hal Leonard
• Suits students, teachers and group sing-alongs

Cons

• No online video is stated
• Song collection, not step-by-step instruction
• Published 2017, an older edition

3

Beatles Fingerstyle by Sokolow

The Beatles·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 136-page collection of 25 Beatles songs arranged for fingerstyle solo and lead sheets.

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Pros

• 25 Beatles songs, each arranged two ways
• Tablature, standard notation and chord diagrams
• Progressive difficulty order

Cons

• Beatles only, no other artists
• No online video is stated
• Fingerstyle may challenge absolute beginners

4

Ukulele Method Book 1 by Rev

Lil' Rev·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 48-page step-by-step Hal Leonard method for anyone just learning ukulele.

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Pros

• Step-by-step beginner lessons
• Songs in different styles to play
• Short 48-page format, quick to work through

Cons

• 48 pages, the thinnest book here
• No online video is stated
• Published 2005, the oldest edition here

5

21 Christmas Songs by Bogart

Rebecca Bogart·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 103-page beginner book of 21 Christmas songs with free online videos.

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Pros

• 21 songs ordered easiest to hardest
• Free online video for all 21 songs
• Teaches tablature, strumming and fingerpicking

Cons

• Christmas songs only, seasonal use
• The listing gives two page counts, 120 and 103
• Beginner only, nothing for intermediate players

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More picks to compare

• First 50 Disney Songs for Ukulele50 Disney songs for beginners in G-C-E-A tuningCheck on Amazon
• 100 Beautiful Songs for Fingerstyle100 fingerstyle arrangements in standard notation and tablatureCheck on Amazon
• The Best Songs Ever: 70 Ukulele Hits70 popular songs with chords, melody and lyricsCheck on Amazon
• The Ukulele Songbook: 50 Classics50 all-time classics with melody, tablature and chord diagramsCheck on Amazon
• Campfire Songs for Ukulele30 campfire favorites for strumming and singingCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. None of these listings states a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best music books for ukulele

Method book or songbook

21 Songs in 6 Days and the Lil’ Rev method teach step by step; the First 50 Songs, Beatles and Christmas books are song collections to play from. New players who need chords explained should start with a method; players who already strum can go straight to songs. The guitar workbook for beginners list covers the six-string cousin.

Songs, pages and bonus video

Song counts run from 21 to 50, and pages from 48 to 136. Two picks include free online video: 21 Songs in 6 Days and the Christmas book. If the reader learns by watching, that bonus matters. Homeschool families can also see the homeschool music curriculum list.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date on the listing; the Lil’ Rev method dates to 2005.
• Start a series at Book 1: 21 Songs in 6 Days comes before the Christmas book, Book 3 of the same series.
• Check whether the listing mentions online video or audio before you buy for a visual learner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a beginner start?

With a method book: 21 Songs in 6 Days teaches step by step with 21 songs and online video, and the Lil’ Rev method covers chords, strumming and reading music in 48 pages.

Which book has the most songs?

First 50 Songs You Should Play on Ukulele, with 50 songs across 136 pages. The Beatles book has 25 songs and the Christmas book has 21.

Do any of these books include video?

Two do: 21 Songs in 6 Days and 21 Easy Ukulele Songs for Christmas both include free online video instruction. The other three listings do not state video.

Still deciding? Our top pick21 Songs in 6 Days by Bogart

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Related lists

See every workbooks and homeschool list and all book lists.

More lists: picture books about music, children’s books about music, homeschool music curriculum.