Top 5 Love Songs You Can Play on Piano, Guitar, and Ukulele

Looking for timeless guitar songs you can also play on piano and ukulele? This beginner‑friendly list gives you five classics with simple chords, strum patterns, and one‑minute practice steps. You’ll learn how to arrange each tune as a best piano song version (left‑hand roots + right‑hand chords) and a best ukulele song version (island strum)—so you can switch instruments without relearning everything.

How to use this list

• Keep it in C or G. Both keys sit well on voice and are easiest for chord shapes.
• Play slow first. Aim for clean changes at 70–80% speed, then increase gradually.
• One‑minute loops. Practice 2 bars for 60 seconds, three times per session.
• Same harmony, three instruments. The chord order stays the same for piano, guitar songs, and uke—only the voicing/strum changes.

1) “Stand by Me” — Ben E. King (Key: G)

Why it works: Medium tempo, soulful vibe, and a famous four‑chord cycle. It’s one of the most reliable guitar songs to learn first—and it delivers beautiful beginner piano and uke arrangements too.

Chords (G major): G – Em – C – D (I–vi–IV–V)

Guitar (strum): Down on beats 1 & 3 at first; upgrade to D‑D‑U‑U‑D‑U when steady.
Piano (best piano song version):

• LH: roots on beat 1 (G / E / C / D).
• RH: blocked triads (G‑B‑D, E‑G‑B, C‑E‑G, D‑F♯‑A). Add light 8ths later.
  Ukulele (best ukulele song strum): Island strum D‑D U‑U D‑U through the whole cycle.

One‑minute loop: Play G–Em–C–D four times at slow tempo. If any switch is messy (often Em→C), loop that change for 60 seconds solo.

2) “Can’t Help Falling in Love” — Elvis Presley (Key: C)

Why it works: Lyrical, slow, and forgiving. This reads beautifully as a best piano song for beginners, and it’s a staple among guitar songs and uke love tunes.

Chords (simple C version): C – G – Am – F – C – G (repeat)
(A common easy variant is C – Em – Am – F – C – G; both sound great.)

Guitar (strum): Down‑strum on 1 and 3 for a tender feel; add soft up‑strums on the “and” of 2 & 4 when confident. A capo on 2 lets you sing higher while using C shapes.
Piano:

• LH: root + 5th (C‑G, G‑D, A‑E, F‑C…).
• RH: roll the triad low→high on 1 & 3 (e.g., C‑E‑G then E‑G‑C).
  Ukulele: Island strum or simple down‑strums (1 & 3). Try C – G – Am – F for the verse; repeat.

One‑minute loop: Practice the cadence Am–F–C–G (the emotional “turnaround”) slowly, three clean runs in a row before raising tempo.

3) “Perfect” — Ed Sheeran (Key: G)

Why it works: Modern ballad feel with classic harmony. You can keep the groove simple and it still sounds rich on all three instruments.

Chords (G version): G – Em – C – D (verse & chorus foundation)

Guitar (strum): Start with D‑D‑U‑U‑D‑U; keep your wrist loose.
Piano:

• LH: roots or root‑5ths on beat 1 (G / E / C / D).
• RH: blocked triads for two beats each; add broken‑chord 8ths for lift.
  Ukulele: Island strum fits perfectly. Capo the guitar at 1 or 2 if the vocals seem low, or use a clip-on capo at 2 to tune the uke while maintaining C shapes..

One‑minute loop: C–D–Em–D (a common pre‑chorus feel). Loop until chord transitions are silent and smooth.

4) “All of Me” — John Legend (Beginner key: C)

Why it works: Emotional, instantly recognizable, and adaptable. The original key is richer, but this best piano song arrangement in C is beginner‑friendly and still gorgeous. It also translates into singable guitar songs and uke parts.

Chords (simple C version):

• Verse loop: Am – F – C – G
• Chorus feel: C – G – Am – F (swap as needed to match your favorite cover)

Guitar (strum): Gentle D‑D‑U‑U‑D‑U. Keep the down‑strokes lighter on verses; lean in a touch for the chorus.
Piano:

• LH: whole‑note roots (Am / F / C / G).
• RH: triads; when comfortable, add Cmaj7 or Am7 color (C‑E‑G‑B / A‑C‑E‑G).
• Ukulele: Down‑strums on 1 & 3 for verses; island strum on the chorus.

One‑minute loop: Am–F–C–G four times at 70–80% speed. Focus on even dynamics—no single chord should “jump out.”

5) “Love Me Tender” — Elvis Presley (Beginner key: C)

Why it works: Slow tempo and long, held chords—pure beginner comfort. It’s also a lovely campfire uke moment and one of those guitar songs that sounds great with nothing but down‑strums.

Chords (C version): C – G7 – C – F – C – G7 – C

Guitar (strum): Down on 1 only (whole‑note feel) or down on 1 & 3 for a gentle pulse.
Piano:

• LH: simple roots; optionally add the 5th softly.
• RH: hold triads for four beats; add soft grace‑note slides into C and F for color.
  Ukulele: Down‑strums only. G7 gives it that vintage sweetness; change back to C smoothly.
  

One‑minute loop: Practice C–G7–C changes with relaxed fingers. Aim for silent transitions: lift and place rather than “jump and land.”

Quick gear picks that help you learn faster

• Smart keyboard for piano: PopuPiano Smart Keyboard. Full‑key, multi‑color LEDs act like dynamic “labels,” the app slows/loops sections and waits if you miss, and 127‑level touch helps you phrase softly on ballads. Compact size and headphones make quiet practice easy.
• Smart guitar for visual learners: Poputar Smart Guitar. With a free gamified app to create streaks, LED fret guidance displays chord shapes and riffs directly on the neck.
• Smart ukulele for day‑one wins: Populele U1 23″. Concert size, app‑guided chords, and quick progress tracking—the easiest entry to love‑song strumming.

Practice recipe (15–20 minutes, 5×/week)

1. Warm‑up (3 min)
   
   • Piano: five‑note pattern (C–D–E–F–G) at 60–70 BPM.
   • Guitar/Uke: silent chord switches (no strum), then soft down‑strums.
     
2. Song loop (12–14 min)
   
   • Pick one of the five songs.
   • Chunk → Loop → Ladder: practice 2 bars, loop 60 seconds, if clean 3× in a row, raise tempo 5–10%.
   • Add left‑hand roots (piano) or steady right‑hand strum (guitar/uke).
3. Victory lap (2–3 min)
   • Play through the best section once at your current top clean tempo. End on a win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these is the easiest best piano song for total beginners?
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” in C. Hold chords for four beats and add a simple bass note on beat 1. It’s calm, slow, and forgiving.

What’s the best ukulele song here if I’ve never strummed before?
“Love Me Tender” in C with C–G7–C–F–C–G7–C and only down‑strums. Add the island strum later.

Are these truly beginner guitar songs?
Yes. Start with down‑strums on 1 & 3 for everything. When changes are clean, switch to D‑D‑U‑U‑D‑U. A capo helps match your voice while keeping easy shapes.

How should I split practice across instruments?
Focus on one instrument for two weeks, then try a second. The harmony is the same; you’re only learning new fingerings.

Can I learn without a teacher?
Absolutely. LED follow‑lights, looping, and tempo control make self‑learning realistic. Add lessons later if you want feedback on technique.

Your next step

Pick one song from the list and learn just the first two bars today. Keep tempo slow, loop tiny sections, and celebrate the first clean run. When you want the shortest path from practice to performance, try a light‑guided smart keyboard, an LED‑guided smart guitar, or a gamified smart ukulele—all designed to make love songs (and every song) easier to play.