If you’re new to playing the ukulele, you have a lot to learn. Not only do you have to practice chords, scales, and strumming patterns, you have to learn about the many parts and components of ukuleles.
One of the most important ukulele components to worry about is the strings. Choosing the right strings is vital to the overall sound and playability of your instrument.
Need help picking the best ukulele strings for you? Read on! This guide has all of the information you need.
Musicians have been struggling to play the dreaded ukulele e-chord for years. In fact, many ukulele players can’t play the e-chord, and choose to avoid songs that include it.
The e-chord is particularly difficult to fret, meaning it requires the hand and fingers being placed in an awkward position. The tricky nature of the ukulele e-chord means that transitions between chords also become more tedious.
How do you play an E chord on a ukulele? Put the index finger on the second fret of the first string, your middle finger on the fourth fret of the fourth string, your ring finger on the fourth fret of the third string, and your pinky on the fourth fret of the second string. This is the correct way to play the e chord on a ukulele.
Ukulele players often find it easier to avoid this chord altogether, or use a similar chord in its place (most commonly the E7 chord).
However, to be a truly well-rounded ukulele player, the ability to play all major chords is essential. Eventually, players become restricted by their avoidance of the e-chord and unable to master their craft.
Thankfully, by following these professional ukulele chord tips, mastering the e-chord is possible for even the most uncertain players. With a little time and practice, this chord begins to blend in with all the others and becomes part of a comprehensive ukulele playing skill set.
Are you ready to do what it takes to overcome the ukulele e-chord? Then let’s dive in!
Whether you want to jam out to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “Hey Jude,” you need to become familiar with how to read ukulele tabs. Fortunately, once you get the hang of it, it proves surprisingly straightforward to read and write ukulele tablature (a.k.a. tab). Expect to progress at a rapid pace, astonishing your friends and family with your newfound song repertoire.
That said, mastering ukulele tabs could feel downright frustrating without a basic understanding of how the system works. You also need to understand its strengths and limitations. So, let’s dive into everything you need to know about ukulele tab.
Famous tunes adapted for ukulele abound. We’ve already mentioned two of them above, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Hey Jude.” There’s also:
The list goes on and on. This gives you a taste of some of the awesome renditions you’ll perform as you progress through ukulele literature.
What do all of these songs have in common that’s central to learning tab music on the ukulele? You can probably hum most if not all of them. Right?
That’s a central concept when it comes to successfully using tab to learn music. Why? Because unlike standard musical notation, tablature does not express tempo (timing) and rhythm.
The ukulele is a popular instrument that is easy-to-learn and fun to play! It can make virtually any song sound great and people love hearing their favorite tunes played on a ukulele. The small size of ukuleles also means they are very portable — making them the perfect option for taking camping or traveling.
But did you know there are many types of ukuleles? The largest ukulele is called a baritone ukulele. It is a great choice for anyone interested in a ukulele with a deeper and richer sound.
If the idea of a baritone ukulele sounds interesting, you have reached the right place. This guide will share all of the information you need to know about baritone ukuleles including where they came from and what materials they use. We’ll also share some of the best ukuleles on the market.
The ukulele was first created by instrument makers in Hawaii in the 19th-Century, to emulate the Portuguese machete — a small instrument used by Portuguese immigrants. “Ukulele” loosely translates to “jumping flea” in Hawaiian, which may be a reference to the quick finger movements of skilled ukulele players. The ukulele eventually became popular internationally and has been used by some very prominent musicians over the years.
The baritone ukulele was sold commercially sometime around 1950 in the United States. There are conflicting stories about who was responsible for the design of the baritone ukulele, with both Arthur Godfrey and Herk Favilla developing the instrument at different times.
This is a common question for beginners and it is a very important one too! The overall sound we produce with our instrument depends on our right hand technique. And amongst other things, our right hand technique depends on whether or not we use the pick.
Do you need a pick to play ukulele? Traditionally, the ukulele is played with the combination of fingers and fingernails. But while you don’t need one, you absolutely may use one! The pick can be useful at times and it is your instrument after all! Let’s explore a little further.
Historically, the first ukulele players did not play with a pick. The traditional technique is to use a combination of fingers and fingernails to pluck individual strings as well as to strum. The traditional Hawaiian rhythms, for example, were always strummed using the thumb or the index finger or a combination of both.
As we’ve mentioned in other articles here, this kind of technique (fingerpicking) allows for specific movements, positions and gestures of the right hand that are not possible otherwise. It also produces a specific sound that would also be different with the pick. These are the main features of what we know as the normal technique and sound of the ukulele.
So if you are a stickler for tradition, you will not need a pick. Continue developing your left hand strength and your right hand’s fingerpicking dexterity and you’re good to go! But if there are issues that make you wonder whether you need a pick or not, read on because you’re probably not wrong.