Smile

Description

Smile is one of the most touching melodies ever written. The music was composed by Charlie Chaplin for the 1936 film Modern Times, while the English lyrics were added years later. Its timeless message of hope, resilience and finding joy even in difficult moments has made it a beloved classic around the world.

This SwingBook features an intermediate solo ukulele arrangement. The melody spans almost the entire fretboard, making full use of the instrument's range to create a rich and expressive sound. It is also an excellent study in chord voicings, introducing colourful variations such as C, Cmaj7, C6 and Cadd9 instead of relying only on basic chord shapes. Along the way, you'll naturally develop smoother chord transitions and a deeper understanding of jazz harmony. The arrangement includes melody, tablature, chord diagrams and lyrics.

Learn more about this song

Explore the free interactive Smile Grille, where you can:

• transpose the song to any key,
• switch between ukulele, guitar and piano chords,
• learn the history of the tune,
• discover interesting facts,
• and explore more versions of this timeless film and jazz classic.

→ Open the interactive Grille