Nothing Breaks Like A Heart (feat. Miley Cyrus): Ukulele

This arrangement brings a chart-topping pop song within reach of ukulele students who crave current, recognizable repertoire. The five pages strike a practical balance: short enough to learn quickly but substantial enough to feel like a complete performance piece rather than a quick novelty.

The song carries an aching vulnerability wrapped in sleek, modern production. On ukulele, the arrangement captures that emotional directness while letting the instrument's warmth come through in a song about resilience and the fragility of connection.

Ukulele students in middle school and beyond who are ready for contemporary pop beyond traditional folk or Hawaiian repertoire. Teachers building playlists that connect student interests to instrumental study will find this motivating for students who follow current music.

• Pay attention to the rhythmic pocket in the verses; the ukulele's percussive attack can anchor the groove if you stay locked into the written rhythm rather than rushing ahead.
• Explore how the chord voicings sit on the ukulele's fingerboard before memorizing. Some shapes may feel awkward at first, but finding the most comfortable positions will improve your consistency during performance.
• Balance dynamics between the verses and chorus; let quieter playing in the verses create contrast so the chorus lands with real impact.

Include this in a pop music unit or student showcase where contemporary hits alongside acoustic arrangements demonstrate the ukulele's versatility. It also works well as a solo performance piece for students building recital confidence or as an ensemble number when multiple students learn it together.

• Chord transitions between inversions and suspended voicings
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop grooves
• Dynamic shaping across song sections
• Reading chord charts with stroke notation
• Sustaining melody over moving harmonic changes