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Iaorana to you, future ukulele player! 🌺

If there's one song that perfectly captures the magic of the ukulele, it's this one. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," in the version by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole—affectionately known as "IZ" throughout the Pacific—is the melody that took the ukulele from Hawaii to the world. Its sweet sound has graced films, weddings, beach parties with friends in Moorea, and probably already in your head.

And the good news? It's perfectly accessible to beginners. Just five chords. A relaxed 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" , was sung by Judy Garland 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 any preparation, blending "Over the Rainbow" with Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World ." This single take has become one of the most listened-to versions in music history.

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

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 song structure, with the chords placed above the lyrics. It's all very simple strumming — it stays within the relaxed down-up style 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 leisurely, riverside tempo . Imagine you're playing it to lull a child to sleep. You'll see, it all 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 pedagogical. But seriously: play without pressure. The ukulele is an instrument of relaxation and sharing . If you're struggling, put the instrument down, breathe, and pick it up again when the mood returns. There's no rush—that's the exact 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 left us 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, it will also travel thanks to you.

🎶 And then what?

Once you've mastered "Somewhere Over the Rainbow ," 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 for a ukulele that will last you a long time , take 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. 🌺🎶