Start with an ukulele in standard tuning. I use an ukulele with a low G.
This is the strum pattern I use to play Burn from Hamilton. Click here for a free chord chart. When you're ready to play-along, click here for my corresponding ukulele play-along video.
There are 3 different picking/strum patterns in the song.The picking pattern used is very similar to the riff, so learn the picking pattern first. You can practice the picking pattern on an Am7 chord (all open strings). When you have the right hand motion down, then you can try playing with the chords in the song.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Am7
A|-0-----0-----
E|-0---0-0-0---
C|-0-0-------0-
G|-0-----------
When there's a split measure, the picking pattern is:
1 2 3 4 5 6
D Em7
A|-0-----2-----
E|-2---2-0---0-
C|-2-2---2-2---
G|-2-----0-----
2. Riff
The important thing to keep in mind about the riff is that it's based off chord shapes. That means that holding down chord shapes with your left hand will give you most of the notes. To play notes that aren't part of the chord, use whatever free fingers you have on your left hand to press additional frets. You also may need to modify the chord shape.
For example, for the first part of the riff, your left hand should hold down a Bm chord. Then, you can press down your middle finger onto the 3rd fret of the E string to play that additional note.
Bm F♯
A|-2-----------1------------
E|-2---2-3-2---2---2-3-2----
C|-2-2-------2-1-1-------1--
G|-4-----------3------------
Gmaj7 Dsus4
A|-2-----------0-----0------
E|-2---2-3-2---3-2---3-2----
C|-2-2-------2-2---2-2---2--
G|-0-----------2-----0------
3. Bridge strum pattern
The bridge strumming pattern is DUd where the first 2 strums are louder than the 3rd:
123456 DUdDUd