Ukulele Basics: A Beginner's Guide to the Ukulele
My new ukulele starter guide includes a free digital download and eleven videos designed for brand new players (or anyone who needs a refresher)! Learn how to play two strums, three chords, and three songs. Ukulele Basics covers all the essentials of getting started, including:
• How to play chords
• How to strum
• How to play Frère Jacques with the C chord
• How to play Shoo, Fly! Don't Bother Me with the F and C chords
• How to play You are My Sunshine with the C, F, and G7 chord
I love sharing folk songs with my students, and I’ve specifically chosen these three well-known songs because they have easy-to-memorize lyrics, common chord arrangements, and singable melodies. All of these qualities make them great songs for new musicians and help make your learning curve a little bit gentler.
Are you ready to start strumming? Download the PDF and let's play!
Please note: you will have to go through some of the checkout process in order to receive the download link, but you will not need to enter any credit card data. The PDF is free!
How to Tune Your Ukulele for the First Time
Ukuleles purchased online usually arrive with the strings really loose and very out of tune. And if you're a brand-new player, just getting your strings in tune can feel like a challenge!
In my latest video I tune up a very affordable and adorable Diamond Head ukulele, which I purchased from Amazon for about $24. The tuner I use in the video the Snark SN5X. There are so many flashy and fancy tuners out there, but I like this one for its simple design and bright display.
How do you tune up your instrument? I love seeing the tuners my students bring to lessons. Two recent standouts were the Hello Kitty tuner and a flashy contraption that lights up like a pinball machine each time you play a string!
this post contains affiliate links
Learn to Play the Ukulele
Let's Play! The Ukulele Handbook for Beginners is now available in paperback and as a digital download!
My new how-to guide is perfect for anyone who wants to learn to play the ukulele. Created for absolute beginners, this book was designed to make learning to play the ukulele simple and fun. It’s beautifully organized with easy-to-follow diagrams and is accompanied by dozens of instructional videos to guide you along the way.
Watch More Video Tutorials:
My Number One Tip for Beginning Musicians
I've noticed that the most important part of music making tends to get overlooked by new players. And I get it. Beginning musicians have a lot to keep track of. It's a challenge to learn how to play chords, strum, and sing all at the same time! But if you want your playing to sound smooth and skilled, you will have to . . .
Keep a Steady Beat!
Many beginning musicians start strumming a song at a moderate tempo, then speed up as they play. Another common mistake is to play quickly but slow down for chord changes, zig-zagging the tempo up and down for the duration of a song. These are dead giveaways that you are a new player! So what can you do about it? Here are five tips to help you improve your ability to strum at an a consistent speed, no metronome required:
Read MoreMythbusting: Am I Too Old to Learn an Instrument?
Short answer: NO!
Longer answer: Somewhere, someone got the idea that there was such a thing as being "too old" to learn how to make music. And now many people seem to share this weird idea! Where did they learn this? I've spent the past few days thinking about it, and I think it boils down to two common misperceptions:
Myth 1: Music is Mysterious and Difficult
The world of musicians can feel like a secretive club with restricted access. And if you do dare to enter that world, you'll have to dedicate years of tedious practice before you'll be any good. FALSE! In my lessons, I cover the basics— strumming, chords, etc— but I also incorporate a lot of practical music theory so you learn the patterns behind popular music, which gives you a better understanding of how music works. And we dive right into playing (the first lesson includes four songs) so you can experience the joy of making music right away.
Myth 2: Music is Intimidating
What if I try and I'm not any good? Yikes!
Have you ever talked yourself out of trying something new? When I'm feeling nervous or scared in this way, I try to imagine my future self who has already done the scary thing. What will it feel like to have done ________? I also ask myself, what is the worst (realistically) that can happen? It's usually not as bad as my fear makes it out to be. There are some things you probably ARE too old for: playing the lead in Annie or becoming an Olympic gymnast, perhaps, but learning an instrument is not one of those things.
Need some inspiration? Check out Grandma Mary Ho in a video that's popping up all over social media:
H/T to Elaine for first sharing the Grandma Mary video with me. Isn't she wonderful? I'd love to jam with her!
When was the last time you did something even though you felt nervous? How did you get through it? I'd love to hear!
PS: If you're interested in learning how to make music in a friendly, approachable environment, please contact me.
