Tablature "Somewhere over the rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Iaorana to you, future ukulele player! 🌺

If there is ONE song that sums up the magic of the ukulele, it is this one. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the version by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole — which is affectionately called “IZ” throughout the Pacific — it's this melody that carried the ukulele from Hawaii to the world. It has graced films, weddings, evenings with friends on the beach in Moorea, and probably already in your head.

And the good news? It is perfectly accessible to beginners. Just five chords. A gentle rhythm. And the emotion that goes with it.

Come on, let's settle down under the mango tree, tune the ukulele, and let's go.

🌴 The story behind the song: why IZ changed everything

Before diving into the tablature, take 30 seconds to understand WHY this version is so special. It completely changes how you play it.

The original song, "Over the Rainbow"It's Judy Garland who sings it in The Wizard of Oz in 1939. An orchestral ballad, a little melancholic, very 30s.

Fifty-four years later, in 1993, a Hawaiian musician — IZ — walked into a studio at 3 a.m. with his soprano ukulele. He recorded the song in a single take, without preparation, by mixing "Over the Rainbow" with "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. This unique take has become one of the most listened-to versions in music history.

What IZ brought was a tropical slownessA gentle Pacific sound, a voice that seems to come from the ocean. When you play this song, you're not playing a Broadway song. You're playing a piece of the Pacific. Play it as if you have all the time in the world. Like a sunset in Bora Bora that finds its own rhythm.

🎵 What you need to get started

✅ A soprano or concert ukulele tuned in GCEA (standard tuning) — if you don't know, Discover our Upa Upa ukuleles
✅ A tuner (free as an app, or integrated into your ukulele)
✅ 5 agreements you should know C, Em, F, E7, Am, and a little bit of G too
✅ class for the first reading
✅ Tahitian patience — No stress, it'll come naturally

Level: Beginner to Intermediate If you can make a C and an F without grimacing, you're ready.

🎼 The 5 chords to master

Before starting the song, take a few minutes to properly position these chords. Play each one for 30 seconds so your fingers remember them.

Accord	Position	Difficulty
C	3rd fret, A string (the highest string)	⭐ Easy
Em	4th fret A string, 3rd fret E string, 2nd fret C string	⭐⭐ Average
F	2nd fret G string, 1st fret E string	⭐ Easy
E7	1st fret G string, 2nd fret C string, 1st fret E string	⭐⭐ Average
Am	2nd fret, G string	⭐ Easy
G	2nd fret C string, 3rd fret E string, 2nd fret A string	⭐⭐ Average

A little Tahitian tip: Don't force your fingers. If the chord sounds bad at first, that's normal. Relax, breathe, and try again. The ukulele doesn't like tension.

🥥 The complete tablature

Here's the complete structure of the song, with the chords placed above the lyrics. It's all very simple strumming — we're staying within the quiet down-up that IZ uses in the original version.

[Intro]

C    Em   Am   F   (×2)

The intro is your invitation card. Play it softly, almost in a whisper.

[Chorus 1]

C                Em
Somewhere over the rainbow

F             C
   Way up high

F           C
And the dreams that you dream of

G                Am          F
Once in a lullaby-y-y    y-y-y

C                    Em
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow

F             C
   Blue birds fly

F           C
And the dreams that you dream of

G                       Am          F
Dreams really do come true-ue-ue   ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 1]

        C
Someday I'll wish upon a star

G                                    Am      F
Wake up where the clouds are far behind  me-e-e

         C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops

G
High above the chimney tops

       Am              F
That's where  you'll find me

[Chorus 2]

C                    Em
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow

F             C
   Blue birds fly

F             C
And the dream that you dare to

  G                  Am    F
Oh why, oh why can't I-I-I  Ah-ah-ay

[Verse 2]

(Repeat the same verse as above)

[Final Chorus]

C                    Em
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow

F             C
   Way up high

F             C
And the dreams that you dare to

G                Am   F
Why, oh why can't I-I-I  Ah-ah-ay

[Outro] — gradually attenuates the sound

C        Em    F            C
Oooh, oooh, oooh, ouououh

F          E7     Am          F      C
Oooh, oooh, ah-ah-eh-ah, ah-ah-ah…

🎯 My 5 tips for playing it like IZ

1. Slow down. Then slow down even more.

Most beginners play this song too fast. IZ sings it at a tempo of stroll along the waterImagine you're playing a lullaby to help a child fall asleep. You'll see, everything becomes easier.

2. Strumming is almost like a whisper.

No need to hit hard. Caress the strings rather than striking them. Your thumb or forefinger is enough. IZ's ukulele sounded sweet because he played it softly.

3. Sing (yes, even if you sing off-key)

This song is designed to be sung and played at the same time. If you're hesitant to sing, at least hum along. You'll feel the rhythm of the instrument automatically sync with your voice.

4. The Em → F → C transitions are the keys

Practice these chord progressions on repeat for 5 minutes before attempting the full song. Once you've mastered these three chords, you'll have 80% of the song down.

5. Play in a place where you feel comfortable

Okay, this last piece of advice is more Polynesian than educational. But seriously: play without pressure. The ukulele is the instrument of the to relax and the sharingIf you're struggling, put down the instrument, breathe, and pick it up again when the mood returns. There's no rush — that's exactly the opposite of the spirit of this song.

🌺 Why this song is more than just a song

In Tahiti, we have a word that doesn't really have an equivalent in French: "mana"It's the spiritual energy that inhabits a place, an object, a person, a melody. This version of IZ has mana. When you play it, you carry a little bit of the Pacific spirit with you, wherever you are in the world.

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole passed away in 1997, at the age of 38. But his voice continues to travel everywhere—in the streets of Tokyo, on the beaches of Australia, in a Parisian apartment on a winter Sunday. And now, She will also travel thanks to you.

🎶 And then what?

When you have “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” With your fingers ready, you can explore these other tracks in the same Hawaiian style:

➡️ Tablature for "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
➡️ Tablature “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
➡️ 7 tips for learning the ukulele on your own

And if you're looking a ukulele that will be with you for a long timeTake a look at our Upa Upa selection. Each model is named after one of our Polynesian islands — Bora Bora, Moorea, Raiatea, Fakarava — so you can take a little bit of the Pacific with you every time you play. 🌴

➡️ Discover Upa Upa ukuleles

Mauruuru (Thank you in Tahitian) for reading this far. If this article helped you, share it with a friend who dreams of learning. The ukulele is always better with others.

Ia ora na e maita'i — good music to you. 🌺🎶

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