Are You Happy Now?: Ukulele

Branch's pop-rock vocabulary translates beautifully to ukulele, where the instrument's natural brightness complements her straightforward harmonic language and driving rhythms. The four-page arrangement sits comfortably in the accessible range while retaining the song's inherent catchiness, making it ideal for students who want to play something they actually know and enjoy.

Upbeat and straightforward, with the kind of melodic directness that makes you want to sing along. The ukulele arrangement captures the brightness of the original recording while inviting a lighter, more intimate energy than the full production.

Ukulele students at the early-intermediate level who want to perform a modern pop song with genuine currency. This arrangement works equally well for self-directed learners and for classroom integration with pop-music units.

• Keep the rhythmic strumming pattern locked and even; this song lives on the pocket rather than on flashy fingerpicking techniques.
• Shape the dynamics across the form so that verses sit slightly quieter than the chorus, allowing the energy to build naturally without overplaying.
• Pay attention to any syncopated rhythms in the melody line; lock them in precisely so the tune lands where students expect it to.

Include this in a pop-song repertoire unit or as a showcase piece that demonstrates students' ability to work with contemporary material. It works well paired with other recognizable pop or rock songs on a student recital.

• Rhythmic strumming patterns in pop contexts
• Reading chord charts and single-line melody notation simultaneously
• Phrasing and dynamics in contemporary song forms
• Building tempo consistency across repeated rhythmic figures