3 Ways to Play the Ukulele

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

The ukulele is an elegant and carefree sounding Hawaiian instrument. Its small size makes it easy to carry and gives players of all ages the chance to master it. Learn a little about the ABC of ukulele and you will eventually become a virtuoso of this instrument!

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Understanding the Fundamentals

Step 1. Choose a ukulele

There are different sizes and they correspond to different ukulele tones, and it's important to select the one that works best for you. As a beginner, you are more likely to choose a cheaper one than invest in a very expensive ukulele, but that may not be the case for you. There are four different types of ukuleles:

• The soprano ukulele is the most common. It is known for its small size and classic unmistakable "ukulele" sound. It is the cheapest of all and is very often chosen by beginners. About 53 cm long, it normally has 12 to 14 frets.

  

• The mezzo-soprano ukulele (or concert ukulele) is similar to the soprano in size, in fact it measures about 58 cm in length and has 15 to 20 frets. Due to its slightly larger size, people with larger hands are better off playing it than the soprano ukulele. It also has a fuller sound.

  

• The next step up from the mezzo-soprano ukulele is the tenor ukulele. It is 66cm long and has more than 15 frets. It has an even richer sound than that of the concert ukulele, possessing a greater range thanks to the longer fingerboard.

  

• The largest ukulele is the baritone ukulele, which is approximately 76cm long and has over 19 frets. It is tuned the same way as the four lowest strings on the guitar, which makes the two instruments very similar. Given its size, it loses the classic ukulele sound, but it's a good choice if you want rich, truly harmonic music.

  

Step 2. Learn about the different parts of the ukulele

The organology of the ukulele is somewhat different from that of a guitar or some other stringed instrument. Before you start playing it, make sure you understand the fundamentals of the instrument.

• The body of the ukulele is the hollow wooden part that makes up the bulk of the instrument. It has a small hole under the strings that you play on.

  

• The handle of the ukulele is the long piece of wood on which the strings are mounted. The neck refers to the slightly rounded back, while the flat front is called the fingerboard.

  

• The keys are the sections of the keyboard separated by the metal dividers called barrette. Each fret divides the strings into different notes.

  

• The head of the ukulele is called the headstock and is the extreme part of the instrument, where the tuning pegs are.

  

• There are four strings on a ukulele, although they can be different depending on which type you use. The thickest or lowest string is called the first string; at the top is the highest or thinnest string, which is called the fourth string.

  

Step 3. Tune the ukulele

Before starting to play, it is essential to tune the instrument. This will give the strings the right tone, and will lessen the discouragement if you think you don't sound right just because your ukulele is out of tune. To tune it, you need to rotate the tuning pegs at the top of the headstock, loosening or pulling the strings.

• Over time, the tension of the strings decreases - they become loose - and therefore they are forgotten. This means that you will need to tighten the strings more often than you need to loosen them.

  

• If you look at the ukulele from the front (placing the instrument vertically and with the headstock up), the peg of the string at the top left is of the C (middle C which corresponds to the C of the image), the peg at the bottom left is of the G (G in the image), the top right peg is of the E (E in the image) and the bottom right peg controls the A (A in the image). By adjusting the tuning pegs you will change the sound of the corresponding string.

  

• Use an electronic tuner or online tuner to hear the sound that each string should make when plucked. Then, adjust the sound until it matches.

  

• If you have a piano or keyboard available, play the key that corresponds to the string you are tuning to compare the sounds.

  

Step 4. Adopt proper posture

If you don't hold the ukulele properly, you won't play very well, feel uncomfortable, and over time, run the risk of hurting your wrists. Make sure you are always in the correct position with good posture before you start playing your ukulele.

• It doesn't matter if you are sitting or standing: you will always have to hold the ukulele in the same way.
• The ukulele should be placed gently between the right forearm and the body, resting at the same time in the hollow of the elbow. If you hold it correctly, you can remove one of your hands without the ukulele changing position. This also means that the ukulele is held relatively high above the body, close to the chest or waist.
• The handle of the ukulele should rest on the thumb and palm of the right hand, allowing you to go around with the other four fingers to touch all the strings.
• Playing with your right hand, use your fingernails to move to the lower strings and your fingertips as you rise.
• It plays a little higher on the harmonic body of the ukulele than the hole in the center. Although the guitar is played at the hole, the ukulele is played near the neck.
• Keep your back and shoulders straight so you don't get hunched over the ukulele. This will improve your appearance when playing, while also reducing tension and back pain.

Method 2 of 3: Learning the Chords

Step 1. Learn some basic chords

Chords are produced by playing more than one note at a time to create harmony. To play a chord, use the fingers of your left hand to press the strings on multiple frets at the same time. Learning to make chords is simple; you are given the string number, fret number and finger to use to create each sound.

Step 2. Learn the major major chords

Major chords are made up of three or more notes played simultaneously, where the distance between the first and second notes covers the distance of two full tones. Major chords are associated with happy or joyful music.

• To play a C major chord, place your ring finger on the fourth string and third fret.

  

• To play an F major chord, put your index finger on the first fret of the second string and your ring finger on the second fret of the first string.
• To play a G major chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the third string, your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string and your ring finger on the third fret of the second string.
• To play an A major chord, put your index finger on the first fret of the third string and the middle finger on the second fret of the first string.
• To play a D major chord, place the middle finger on the second fret of the first string, the ring finger on the second fret of the second string, and the little finger on the second fret of the third string.
• To play an E major chord, put your index finger on the first fret of the fourth string, the middle finger on the second fret of the first string and the little finger on the fourth fret of the third string.

Step 3. Learn the major minor chords

Minor chords are produced with three or more notes played simultaneously, where the distance from the first to the second note is three semitones. Minor chords are considered darker and sadder than major chords.

• To play an A minor chord, place your middle finger on the second fret of the first string.
• To play an E minor chord, put your index finger on the second fret of the fourth string, and your ring finger on the fourth fret of the third string.
• To play a D minor chord, place your index finger on the first fret of the second string, the middle finger on the second fret of the first string, and the ring finger on the second fret of the third string.
• To play an F sharp or G flat minor chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the second string.
• To play a B minor chord, make a barré with your index finger on the second, third and fourth string (keeping your finger flat to squeeze all these strings on the second fret at the same time) and put your ring finger on the fourth fret of the first string..

Method 3 of 3: Playing the Ukulele

Step 1. Practice training your sense of timing and rhythm

Once you have mastered the fundamental notes and chords, putting them together may seem easy, but you need to pay attention to the timing. In order for your music to sound compact and melodic, it is important that you know how to keep a good rhythm.

• Keeping the rhythm with your right hand will be difficult at first, as you will have to learn to quickly switch the fingers of your left hand between notes and chords. When practicing, try to avoid pauses when adjusting your fingers to improve tempo.
• When playing, counting in quarters can be helpful in maintaining the rhythm as you go up and down with your right hand.
• If you have a hard time doing the rasgueado in time, try using a metronome. It is a small electronic device that emits small clicks at a constant speed: the beats of the metronome serve as a reference point for finding the right tempo and maintaining the rhythm. You can adjust the speed according to your needs.
• Don't try to play too fast in the beginning, as you will make more mistakes. Start at a slow, steady pace to work your way, then gradually increase the tempo.

Step 2. Learn whole songs

Once you master the basic major and minor chords, you can play just about any beginner song. Use the knowledge you have learned so far to improvise some songs and play them by ear.

• Many ukulele music books contain popular tunes that are easy for beginners to learn. Grab one at your local music store and start playing!
• If you want to learn your favorite songs, search online for ukulele tabs. The tablature is an alternative musical notation system to the classic score that indicates in a simplified way the different chords, the positions of the fingers and other information needed to play a song.

Step 3. Practice every day

The most important thing to do in order to improve your ability as a performer is constant exercise. You don't need to have an innate talent for music to become a fantastic ukulele player, you just need perseverance and diligence. Doing 20 to 30 minutes of practice a day will help you become a true master!

Advice

• If you start playing self-taught, without the help of an experienced teacher, you will end up acquiring bad habits which will then be difficult to change. While you can learn just as well without formal lessons, a teacher's guidance is essential to correct any personal performance problems.
• New strings that have not been properly tensioned are quickly forgotten. To prevent this from happening, try to leave the ukulele strings tightly pulled overnight to let them stretch out.
• Ask a local music store about the best songs and the best masters.

Warnings

• Ukuleles should not be played with guitar picks because they wear out the strings. Use your fingers or a felt pick.
• Be careful not to drop the ukulele. It's fragile! To carry it around, use a carrying case.