Ukulele Tutorials • Beginner Friendly

How Can I Be by Nela Otuafi
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Song Ukulele Tutorial

Hey there, music lover! Ready to fill your home with some truly beautiful music? Today, we're diving into the heart-stirring song 'How Can I Be,' and I promise, you're going to sound absolutely amazing.

Don't worry if you're just starting out—this song is like a warm hug for your fingers. We'll walk through every chord and rhythm together, so you can focus on the message and the melody while your uke sings along with you.

Grab your favorite ukulele and let's get started! By the end of this, you'll be playing with a confidence that’ll make your heart glow. Let's make some magic happen!

The Essential Chords

We only need a few simple finger shapes like the classic G and the super-easy C to bring this song to life. Most of these just require pressing down in simple spots, making the transitions feel as smooth as butter!

G Major

C Major

Strumming Patterns

1. The Happy Beginner Strum

This is a classic rhythm that works for almost any song! Just keep your wrist loose and let it flow smoothly.

2. The Gentle Intro

A simple back-and-forth movement to get the song started with a nice, steady pulse.

Lyrics:

How can I be like my brother Nephi?
And my father Lehi of old?
How can I be like Captain Moroni
In the wars that were told?

How can I see forever
Like the promise to the three Nephites?
I wanna be Samuel the Lamanite
I wanna be Benjamin the Wise
I wanna be like Abinadi
Oh tell me how can I be like them?

How can I be like Alma the Younger,
Strong servant of the Lord?
How can I be like Mighty Ammon,
Whose heart was his sword?

How can I be a stripling warrior,
And learn to fight by faith?
I wanna be Samuel the Lamanite
I wanna be Benjamin the Wise
I wanna be like Abinadi
Oh tell me how can I be like them?

How can I be like my brother Joseph,
When he prayed in the grove of trees?
How can I have the strength that he had
And the love he had for God?

How can I be courageous
And strive to choose the right?
I wanna be Samuel the Lamanite
I wanna be Benjamin the Wise
I wanna be like Abinadi
I wanna be like Jesus Christ
Oh tell me how can I be like Him?
Oh tell me how can I be like Him?

DifficultyBeginner
TuningGCEA
TechniqueChords / Strumming
ChordsG, D7, D6, C, Em

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Comments:

@jenniferfrost2004

5/2/2022

Do you have a download of the sheet music for this? Thank you! If not I’ll rewatch the video many more times! I also learned this from the members of my mission in Auckland New Zealand 🙂

@RaysUkulele

Hi Jennifer! That's awesome, this is a great song 🙂 I make PDF song sheets of all the songs on the channel available on patreon if you want to become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/raysukuleleOr else you can always follow along on the videos 🙂

@jenniferfrost2004

Thank you Ray!! I’ll click on it right now! Thank you for your time!!

Read more (2 replies)

@Berrybomb385

11/15/2025

So beautiful thank you❤️

@mahimahi5457

9/3/2025

Thank you!!! I really wanted to teach my Activity Days know ds to play this song but I the could not figure out the chords. Thank you so much!!

@RaysUkulele

You’re welcome! I’m so glad that it helped 🙂

Read more (1 replies)

@jakethibault2436

5/5/2025

I don’t know if it’s just my inexperience, but I swear the strum pattern changes from what you taught at the beginning of the strum pattern section. Originally you teach ⬇️⬇️⬆️⬆️⬇️⬆️ but then at 3:19 you say ⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️ and the rhythm seems very different. Is it just me?

@dtogafau

2/13/2025

*-+0+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/-/----

@UhaMalekamu

7/2/2023

Please do a tutorial on 2 years to eternity.

@RodgerHuse

6/8/2023

If i haven't said it before, thank you Ray for helping me lean uke, im getting better at playing and you are my teacher. Its so much fun and you help so much. I appreciate how you help us learn these songs. Thank you, Ray.

@ronnelryanbesiera6499

1/10/2023

Thanks bro!

@RaysUkulele

no problem! Thanks for watching!

Read more (1 replies)

@UkuleleJedi

5/29/2022

I absolutely love this song and am trying to learn it. I subscribed and was able to download the .pdf sheet music. Do you have the strumming pattern available in print for me to download? I’m having a hard time following your strumming patterns on the video. Thanks for this video!

@RaysUkulele

Hi Steve! I’m so happy that you’re learning the song and thanks for supporting the channel. Planning to post more soon. For the strumming pattern I don’t have it available to print, but I can write it out for you here. It would look like this (down up and chunks as x’s)⬇️⬆️❎⬆️⬇️⬆️⬆️⬆️❎⬆️⬇️⬆️Or if you want to leave out the chunks:⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️Is that helpful? If not, I’ll see if I can put it into another format and add it to the pdf when I get the chance. Just let me know.

@UkuleleJedi

@RaysUkulele Thank your for responding directly to me with the blocks. I would love to see the strumming pattern included in the .pdf. For now, as I go back and play along with your video, it’s getting a little easier. I find I am able to ‘chuck’, but am struggling with working that into the strumming pattern. I will keep practicing. All the best,Steve

@jenniferfrost2004

@RaysUkulele Ray! Thank you!! I joined your patronage and have been practicing! I was going to ask the same question and do find your emojis more helpful and am with Steve would love to see the strum added to the pdf eventually. Thanks for all your time and efforts to put this together! My home is being filled with more music and appreciate your tutorials! You’re the man and hope Hong Kong is going well for your family!

@RaysUkulele

@jenniferfrost2004 Thanks so much! I'm really happy to hear that you're enjoying the tutorials! We had a great time in Hong Kong even with all the restrictions. Things have been a bit crazy as we're expecting a second baby at the end of August and unfortunately my ukulele broke while we were traveling! All good though, I'll make something work and make some more videos soon 🙂

@spencerseaquist8033

3/18/2022

Do you have any more tip on D’s it sound so bad and yours is so good 😀

@RaysUkulele

Thanks! Do you mean the barre chords? If you use two fingers (like your index finger on bottom and your middle finger on top of it) then it’s a lot easier to press down all the way

@spencerseaquist8033

Thanks

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@spencerseaquist8033

3/18/2022

Thanks so much for this video helps a lot…

@RaysUkulele

You’re welcome! I’m glad you liked it 🙂

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@tillymiddlebrook9596

12/27/2021

thanks this is so helpful!!!

@RaysUkulele

no problem! 🙂

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@corona.morena

11/12/2021

The strumming part confuses me lol

@RaysUkulele

It's definitely a little confusing at first, but if you just try playing it maybe two or three days in a row then it will start to click 🙂

Read more (1 replies)

@bigfundamentalbasketball7634

9/19/2021

Learned to play this song when i was on my mission. 👍👍

@RaysUkulele

Awesome! That's when I first learned it, too! Where did you serve?

@bigfundamentalbasketball7634

@RaysUkulele philippines bacolod mission

@RaysUkulele

@bigfundamentalbasketball7634 Very cool! I've never been to Philippines but I have a lot of close friends from there

@mperaltaz11

8/27/2021

FINALLY!!! I'll try it hahaha

@RaysUkulele

You got this!

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@andreamuller8468

7/29/2021

Thank you so much 🙂

@RaysUkulele

Glad you liked it! 🙂

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@danieltorressevillano196

6/27/2021

Now i can play this song on my mission!!:)Thanks

@RaysUkulele

That's so great! 🙂 I wish I had my uke on my mission. My MTC trainer told us stories about singing I am a child of God and then handing out pass along cards to people.

@danieltorressevillano196

@RaysUkulele Good idea!! haha i hope i have the same experiences with the people!! 🙂 thanks.

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@paolocarlotenorio5173

4/26/2021

So fantastic the songs fits to u bro

@RaysUkulele

Thanks! I appreciate it!

@paolocarlotenorio5173

Pls continue doing this kind of video because it will help alot members from church singing a song just using ukelelei guitars in meeting or especial occasions i know ur fans & subcriber will increase more

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@_xoxoLaura

4/21/2021

FINALLY someone who did a ukulele tutorial for this haha I love this song!!!

@RaysUkulele

Me too! It's an amazing song.

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@kevinhernandez3787

2/8/2021

This is the first time I listen to this song and I felt the Spirt so much

@RaysUkulele

That's so great! I'm really glad you enjoyed it 🙂

Read more (1 replies)

How Can I Be by Nela Otuafi
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Song Ukulele Tutorial

The Essential Chords