Fat Bottomed Girls: Ukulele

This arrangement captures the infectious energy of a Queen classic while keeping the ukulele front and center, not buried beneath complex layering. Students recognize the song immediately, which means they're motivated from day one, and the three-page format respects the attention span of developing players without oversimplifying the groove.

Funky, confident, and impossible to sit still during. The groove hits hard enough to feel like a real rock song, while the ukulele keeps things playful and warm rather than heavy. There's swagger here, but it's inviting rather than intimidating.

Ukulele students with at least intermediate fluency who are ready to tackle a contemporary rock arrangement. Directors building a program around songs students actually want to play, or preparing a set that balances technique with sheer enjoyment.

• Mark the rhythm section clearly in rehearsal. The pocket of this song depends on locked timing between your ukulele players and any percussion accompaniment, even if that's just a metronome.
• Layer your dynamics intentionally. The verses benefit from restraint; save the fullness for the chorus where the original song explodes.
• Approach the strumming pattern as percussive, not just melodic. Queen's production uses rhythm as an instrument, so commit fully to the attack and release of each stroke.
• Adapt to your ensemble size. Whether you have three ukuleles or thirty, let the voicing breathe so the groove stays clear.

Anchor a rock or contemporary music unit with this one, especially if you're trying to show students that ukulele belongs in genres beyond the stereotypical coffeehouse setting. The three pages work well as a feature for a spring concert or as the closer of an upbeat set where you want the audience leaving with energy.

• Maintaining rhythmic precision in a funk-influenced groove
• Strumming technique with articulation and dynamic control
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythm patterns
• Responding to sectional arrangement with awareness of ensemble balance