Learn to Play 'Riptide' on Ukulele in 5 Simple Steps – Beginner Friendly Tutorial

You know that feeling when you hear a song and instantly think, "I want to play that"? For a whole generation of ukulele players, that song is "Riptide" by Vance Joy. It’s the tune that launched a thousand bedroom covers and the reason so many of us fell in love with these little four-stringed instruments. If you’ve just picked up a uke and you’re looking for that first win, you’re in the right place. Here at Strum & Shine, I’ve walked through this song with complete beginners more times than I can count, and it never gets old watching someone’s face light up when they nail that first strum. I’m Mia, and today I’m handing you a no-stress, five-step plan to play "Riptide" from start to finish. Grab your ukulele, tune it up, and let’s do this together.

Step 1: Tune Up and Get Comfortable

Before we even think about chords, we need to make sure your ukulele is ready to sing. Nothing kills the vibe faster than an out-of-tune instrument, and it’s a super common mistake when you’re excited to jump right in.

Standard Tuning Check

The standard tuning for a soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele is G-C-E-A. That’s the fourth string down to the first string when you’re holding the uke in playing position. If you have a clip-on tuner, set it to "ukulele" or "C" mode and pluck each string, adjusting the tuning peg until the needle hits the middle. No tuner? You can use a free tuning app on your phone—I’ve done that in a pinch backstage at open mic nights. Just make sure the G string is the one that’s higher pitched, not the low G some players use. For "Riptide," we want that bright, re-entrant tuning.

Holding Your Uke Right

A quick posture check saves you from sore wrists later. Sit up comfortably, rest the ukulele against your chest, and let your strumming arm relax. Your fretting hand should curve around the neck without squeezing like you’re gripping a door handle. The thumb sits gently on the back of the neck, not peeking over the top. Even small adjustments here make chord changes smoother. I remember struggling with buzzing strings simply because I was holding the uke too flat against my body. Once I tilted it slightly forward, everything clicked. Over at Strum & Shine, I always say: a relaxed body makes a relaxed sound.

Step 2: The Three Magic Chords

Here’s the best news a beginner could ask for: the entire song uses only three chords—Am, G, and C. That’s it. You’ll play them in the same order for almost the whole song, so once your fingers memorize these shapes, you’re golden.

Am, G, and C Made Simple

Let’s look at each chord one finger at a time.

Am (A minor): Place your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string (the G string). The rest of the strings are played open. That’s the full chord. Strum it and you’ll hear that moody, beautiful sound right away.
G (G major): This one uses three fingers. Index finger on the second fret of the third string (C string), middle finger on the second fret of the first string (A string), and ring finger on the third fret of the second string (E string). Your hand forms a little triangle shape. Take your time building it, and don’t worry if it feels awkward at first—every ukulele player’s G chord started exactly like this.
C (C major): Ring finger on the third fret of the first string. That’s the only fretted note. Easy, right? Pluck that string alone to make sure it rings clearly, then strum all four strings.

Practice switching between Am and G, then G and C. Say the chord names out loud as you move. I still do this when I’m teaching a new song on Strum & Shine, because it wires your brain and fingers together. Aim for a slow, steady rhythm; speed will come naturally.

Step 3: The Strumming Pattern That Drives the Song

You can strum this song a million different ways, but the one that captures the breezy, rolling feel of the original is a simple down-up pattern. I’ll give you the exact rhythm I use in my own covers, and you can tweak it to match your style later.

Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up

The pattern is: D – D – U – U – D – U. That’s down, down, up, up, down, up. Say it in a flow: "down, down, up, up, down, up." The trick is to keep your wrist loose and never stop moving your hand. Even when you’re not hitting the strings, keep that up-and-down motion going like a pendulum. The pattern just picks out which strokes actually touch the strings.

Here’s a little practice hack: mute the strings lightly with your fretting hand so you just hear a percussive "chk" sound. Then drill the pattern while counting. Once the rhythm feels natural in your body, add the chords. Start with Am using the pattern, then switch to G, then to C. You’ll notice the song immediately starts to feel alive. At Strum & Shine, I’ve seen beginners get this pattern down in under ten minutes by muting first.

Step 4: The Iconic Intro Riff (Simplified)

The picking intro is what makes "Riptide" instantly recognizable. It might look intimidating, but I’m going to break it down into tiny, manageable pieces. If you’re brand new to plucking individual strings, give yourself permission to just strum the chords for the intro at first. You can always layer the riff in later.

Plucking the Melody

The melody uses only the open A string and notes on the C and E strings. Here’s a super simple tab for the first line:

A |--0---0---0---0---
E |--0---0---0---0---
C |--0---2---0---2---
G |-----------------

Pluck the open A string, then the C string at the second fret, then the open E string, then back to the C string second fret. That’s the four-note phrase. Play it slowly and evenly, using your thumb or index finger, whichever feels most natural. Repeat it a few times, and you’ll hear the melody emerge.

The full riff adds a few more notes, but this two-fret movement is the heart of it. If you want to explore the complete picking pattern, you can find a full breakdown in the song library over at Strum & Shine, but this core loop will get you through the intro and the verses when you’re starting out. Keep your plucking hand relaxed, and don’t be afraid to let the notes ring into each other.

Step 5: Putting It All Together

Now for the most satisfying part: playing the actual song. The structure is straightforward, and once you know the roadmap, you’ll be able to play along with the recording or just jam on your own.

Song Structure

The whole song follows this chord progression: Am – G – C – C (hold the C for two bars in some sections, but the pattern is consistent). The intro, verses, and chorus all use the same sequence. That means you can loop it endlessly and it will sound right.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Intro: Strum or pick the Am – G – C pattern.
Verse 1: Same chords. "I was scared of dentists and the dark..."
Chorus: "Lady, running down to the riptide..." Still Am – G – C.
Verse 2: Same again.
Bridge: There’s a short instrumental break where you can keep the same chords or try the picking riff.
Outro: Fade out on Am – G – C.

Because the chords never change, you can focus entirely on your strumming hand and the vibe. That’s the beauty of this song.

Singing While Playing

If you want to sing, start by humming the melody while you strum quietly. Then whisper the lyrics, then gradually sing out. The timing of the words will naturally click into your strumming because the song is so rhythmically forgiving. I recommend playing the recording in the background and matching your strumming to Vance Joy’s voice. It’s a fantastic way to build confidence. I still remember the first time I sang "Riptide" on camera for a Strum & Shine tutorial—I was nervous, but the simple chord structure held me steady. Let it hold you, too.

This song is a gift. It’s simple, it’s forgiving, and it’s the kind of tune that makes people want to gather around and sing along. The more you play it, the more you’ll find your own little flourishes and rhythms. That’s the ukulele magic right there.