Beginner's Ukulele - Auld Lang Syne - Big Celebrations!

Play 3 expressive versions of this New Year's tune using fingerstyle, strumming and a richer developed style.

Created byPaul Lennon, Amanda Jones

Last updated 11/2018

English

What you'll learn

LEARN TO PLAY: Learn three versions of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ so you can bring in the New Year in style!
FINGERSTYLE: Play a flowing fingerstyle version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ where you focus on smooth note‑to‑note transitions, sustained tones and reflective phrasing.
STRUMMING: Play this warm chord version using Bb, Bb6, C7, F and F7 so you can develop control of more advanced chord shapes.
DEVELOPED: Play an advanced version using A, Bb, Bb6, C7, Dm, D°7, F and F7 with richer harmonies and higher-position voicings for a more ceremonial sound.

Course content

6 sections • 27 lectures • 2h 27m total length

Introduction1:56
Introduction to playing Auld Lang Syne on the ukulele. This lesson gives an overview of the course.

Introduction0:47
Introduction to the 'Getting Started' section. This lesson gives an overview of the 'Getting Started' section.
The Ukulele4:55
Overview of the different parts of the ukulele. By the end of this lesson, students will know the different parts of the ukulele.
Tuning6:49
Tuning the ukulele. By the end of this lesson students will be able to tune their ukulele.
Resources8:50
Understanding the resources. By the end of this lesson students will be able to understand the resources provided with this course.

Introduction4:30
Introduction to the melody section. This lesson gives an overview of the melody section.
Open Strings4:45
Open strings on the ukulele. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 4 open strings needed for the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.
Open String Pairs9:09
Open string pairs on the ukulele. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 5 open string pairs needed for the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.
Notes4:35
Notes of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 8 notes needed for the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.
Note Pairs12:51
Note pairs of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 9 note pairs needed for the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.
Note Sequences8:03
Note sequence of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 4 note sequences needed for the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.
Rhythm9:32
Rhythm of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the rhythm needed for the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.
Melody Version8:25
Melody version of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the melody version of Auld Lang Syne.

Introduction1:55
Introduction to the Chord section. This lesson gives an overview of the Chord section.
Strumming1:42
Strumming the ukulele. By the end of this lesson students will be able to strum the ukulele as needed for the chord version of Auld Lang Syne.
Chords5:00
Chords of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 5 chords needed for the chord version of Auld Lang Syne.
Chord Pairs9:29
Chord pairs of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 6 chord pairs needed for most of the chord version of Auld Lang Syne.
Rhythm2:23
Rhythm of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the rhythm needed for the chord version of Auld Lang Syne.
Chord Version8:52
Chord version of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the chord version of Auld Lang Syne.

Introduction2:28
Introduction to the developed section. This lesson gives an overview of the developed section.
Picking1:50
Picking the ukulele. By the end of this lesson students will be able to pick the ukulele as needed for the developed version of Auld Lang Syne.
Chords5:17
Chords of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 8 chords needed for the developed version of Auld Lang Syne.
Chord Pairs5:19
Chord pairs of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 6 chord pairs needed for most of the developed version of Auld Lang Syne.
Chord Sequences6:45
Chord sequences of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the 3 chord sequences needed for the developed version of Auld Lang Syne.
Rhythm2:16
Rhythm of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the rhythm needed for the developed version of Auld Lang Syne.
Developed Version8:31
Developed version of Auld Lang Syne. By the end of this lesson students will be able to play the developed version of Auld Lang Syne.

Requirements

A ukulele and access to a tuner.
Suitable for complete beginners; no ability to read music required.

Description

‘Auld Lang Syne’ carries a sense of reflection and togetherness, and this course helps you capture that feeling on the ukulele - even if you’re starting from scratch. You don’t need to read music or have any prior experience; all you need is your ukulele, a tuner and the desire to learn at a gentle, steady pace.

We begin with the essentials: tuning your instrument, understanding how it works and getting comfortable with the helpful visual resources included in the course. Once you feel settled, we move into shaping the melody in a relaxed, manageable way.

You’ll learn three expressive versions of the tune. The first is a flowing fingerstyle melody that highlights the gentle rise and fall of each phrase. The second is a warm chord-based version ideal for singing with others during New Year celebrations or reflective gatherings. The final version adds richer harmonies and higher-position chords to give the piece a more ceremonial sound.

As you progress, you’ll develop several valuable musical skills: sustaining notes cleanly, shaping longer melodic lines, moving gracefully between chords and joining multiple phrases into a complete, expressive performance. These abilities will support you as you explore more lyrical or reflective tunes in the future.

The course includes diagrams, TAB, chord charts, playalong tracks and optional sheet music. Each step is designed to help you move forward with confidence and enjoy bringing this traditional melody to life.

Who this course is for:

Learners who want to play a gentle, reflective tune for New Year or special occasions.
Beginners interested in exploring expressive fingerstyle and steady strumming.

Beginner's Ukulele - Auld Lang Syne - Big Celebrations!

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

Getting Started4 lectures • 21min

Melody / Fingerstyle8 lectures • 1hr 2min

Chord / Strumming6 lectures • 29min

Developed7 lectures • 32min

Final Words1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: