It Wasn't Easy To Be Happy For You: Ukulele

SWesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites write songs that expose every note you play, which makes this arrangement ideal for developing confident, clean ukulele technique. The folk-pop production style translates beautifully to acoustic instruments, and students genuinely enjoy performing songs their peers actually listen to outside of class.

A tender, introspective moment; The Lumineers' signature style brings a quiet melancholy mixed with genuine warmth. The sparse arrangement lets the melody shine, creating space for reflection and intimacy.

Ukulele students who have moved past basic strumming patterns and are ready to tackle songs with genuine emotional content. Intermediate players will find this accessible enough to learn quickly while remaining musically rewarding.

• Nail the rhythmic groove before worrying about dynamics. The ukulele's fingerpicking pattern is the heartbeat here, so lock it in during early rehearsals.
• Pay attention to the song's emotional arc. This isn't a song to rush; give the quiet moments space to breathe.
• Record yourself practicing regularly. You'll hear intonation issues and uneven timing far more clearly than in real time.
• Experiment with fingering options on the fretboard. The three pages likely contain some positions that work better for your hand size than others; find what feels natural.

This works beautifully as a solo piece for a student recital or as part of a ukulele ensemble program spotlighting contemporary singer-songwriters. It's also perfect for small-group performances or as supplementary material in a folk-music unit exploring modern acoustic songwriting.

• Fingerpicking patterns and right-hand independence
• Transitioning smoothly between chord changes
• Interpreting dynamic and emotional phrasing in folk-pop contexts
• Reading and adapting chord charts to personal playing style
• Building endurance for continuous melodic playing across three pages