About this Lesson

What's up YouTube! Welcome to Ray's Ukulele where today we're going to be learning how to play "How Can I Be".

For this song, there are 5 chords you need to learn. The progression is very beautiful and follows a simple pattern. The chords are: G, D6, Em, C, and D7.

Strumming Patterns

There are two ways you can strum this song, depending on your skill level:

1. The Easier Version (Island Strum)

This is a standard Island strum pattern you can play consistently throughout.

↓ Down ↓ Down ↑ Up ↑ Up ↓ Down ↑ Up

2. The Preferred Version (With Chucking)

The way I like to play it is to add in some chucks on beats 2 and 4 to give it a nice percussive feel.

↓ Down ↑ Up X Chuck ↑ Up ↑ Up X Chuck ↑ Up

Song Sheet

(Intro) G D6 G D6 (Verse 1) GHow can I be like D6Nephi And Embuild a ship of Cwood GHow can I be like D6Captain Moroni And the Emwars that were Ctold (Chorus) GOh tell me D6 EmHow can I be like Cthem (Verse 2) GHow can I be like D6Alma the younger A Emstrong servant of the CLord GHow can I be like D6Ammon Whose Emheart was the Csword (Chorus) GOh tell me D6 EmHow can I be like Cthem (Verse 3) GHow can I be like my D6brother Joseph When he Emprayed in the grove of Ctrees GHow can I have the D6strength that he had And the Emlove he had for CGod (Bridge) GHow can I be couD6rageous And Emstrive to choose Jesus CChrist (Outro) GOh tell me D6how can I be like Emthem C GOh tell me D6how can I be like Emthem C (Ending Walk-Up - Fingerpicked) G D6 Em C D7 G