There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back: Ukulele

This adaptation captures the song's infectious energy while remaining genuinely playable on ukulele, which means your students won't feel they're playing a "lesser" version. The four-page arrangement sits at an accessible level without sacrificing the pop sensibility that makes this tune engaging for modern musicians.

Upbeat and forward-moving, with the kind of buoyant energy that defines modern pop. The ukulele's natural brightness serves the song well, and the rhythmic drive keeps everything propulsive without demanding technical pyrotechnics.

Ukulele students who want to play current popular music without oversimplifying the arrangement. This works well for intermediate players looking to build confidence with recognizable repertoire or for younger students drawn to contemporary artists.

• Lock in the rhythmic pocket early. The groove of this song lives in consistent strumming patterns, so nail the rhythm before worrying about dynamics or flourishes.
• Consider your dynamics across the full performance. Most students naturally play at one volume; this song benefits from pulling back during verses and opening up on the chorus.
• If the piece includes a capo (which is common in Mendes arrangements), practice the transition smoothly so it doesn't interrupt your flow during performance.
• Pay attention to any fingerpicking sections. Even straightforward fingerpicking patterns require precision to sit well in a pop song context.

Feature this in a casual student recital, a contemporary music showcase, or a coffeehouse-style performance setting where popular music feels at home. It also works well as part of a themed program that introduces different artists who started in social media spaces.

• Maintaining consistent rhythmic groove in pop idiom
• Dynamic control across verse and chorus sections
• Transitioning smoothly between chord changes at performance tempo
• Interpreting contemporary songwriting for acoustic instruments