THE WONDERFUL

QUICKSTARTGUIDE TO

UKULELE PLAYING

THANK YOU AND WELCOME

Thank you for downloading this quickstart guide to playing the ukulele.

This short course will provide you with the most basic ukulele lessons to help you get started.

We are confident that after you've mastered the basics, you will want to learn more. You'd be pleased to know that there are a lot of free ukulele lessons on the internet. We encourage you to look into those as well.

We also encourage you to look for other ukulele players to jam with. This is by farthe best way to learn. Plus, you'll get to meet new friends in the process.

Now before we proceed with the lesson, allow us to formally welcome you to the wonderful worldwide community of ukulele players!

UKULELE ANATOMY

Let's get started with the basic anatomy of the ukulele.

HOLDING THE UKE

And here's how you cradle the ukulele.

First, place the ukulele across the area where your chest and stomach meet. Cradle it with your right arm. Be gentle though. Don't press your arm too hard onthe ukulele body as this will affect the instrument's sound projection.

With your left hand, lightly grip the ukulele neck.

Place your right hand over the general area between the soundhole and where the ukulele neck meets the body. This is where you will strum.

STRUMMING

Now let's try some basic strumming.

It's important that you keep your strumming hand relaxed and loose. For beginners, it would also help to not think about the upstrum too much. Just focus on the downstrum.

Before we proceed with the actual strumming, let's count out a basic and straightforward 4/4 beat.

One and two and three and four and...

Do a downstrum everytime you say a number.

One and two and three and four and... D D D D

Remember to just let your strumming hand drop. Keep your wrist relaxed and loose.

One and two and three and four and... D D D D

Repeat the whole thing for several sets of 4 counts until you get the hang of it.

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

STRUMMING

Now let's add the upstrum. The thing with the upstrum is that it naturally happens because you will have to raise your strumming hand in order to perform the next downstrum. You just need to hit the strings on the way up. Try it. For this basic exercise, the upstrum should happen whenever you say “and.”

One and two and three and four and... D U D U D U D U

One and two and three and four and... D U D U D U D U

One and two and three and four and... D U D U D U D U One and two and three and four and... D U D U D U D U

Repeat the whole thing for several sets of 4 counts.

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |

BASIC CHORDS

Now let's learn some chords. But before that please note that the ukulele strings are numbered 4, 3, 2 and 1 starting from the string closest to your chin, which is the G string. So the numbering is:

G = 4C = 3E = 2A = 1

The most popular beginner ukulele chords are:

To form the C chord, place the ring finger of your strumming hand on the third fret of the first string.

For the G chord, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string; the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string; and the index finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.

BASIC CHORDS

For the Am chord, simply place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.

Finally for the F chord, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string as with the Am chord and place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.

CHORD AND STRUMMING EXERCISES

Do the following exercises:

Exercise 1:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C C C C

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | G G G G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am Am Am Am

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | F F F F

Exercise 2:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C C G G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am Am F F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C C G G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am Am F F

(sounds like “Im Yours,” Stand By Me” and many other songs)

CHORD AND STRUMMING EXERCISES

Exercise 3:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F

(sounds like “With Or Without You” in a lower key)

Exercise 4:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F C G Am F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F C G Am F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F C G Am F

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C G Am F C G Am F

CHORD AND STRUMMING EXERCISES

Now let's mix up the chords a bit.

Exercise 5:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C Am F G C Am F G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C Am F G C Am F G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C Am F G C Am F G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C Am F G C Am F G

(a common old school rock n' roll chord progression)

Exercise 6:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C F G G C F G G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C F G G C F G G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C F G G C F G G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C F G G C F G G

(sounds like “La Bamba” and a lower key “Twist and Shout”)

CHORD AND STRUMMING EXERCISES

Exercise 7:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | C C C C

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | F F C C

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | G F C G

(12 Bar Blues)

Exercise 8:

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am F C G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am F C G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am F C G

| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | Am F C G

(sounds like “Zombie” in a lower key)

MORE TIPS

Remember to always keep your strumming hand relaxed. Your wrist should be loose. As an exercise, sit down and hold up your strumming forearm up to your chest area. Then, let it drop down to your thigh. Let your strumming hand hit your thigh. Repeat as needed.

Later when you master that motion, you can try to make your strumming action abit smaller. Get a magazine or a piece of paper and use it as a hand fan to cool yourself. Notice that what you're basically doing is a strumming motion.

As for your fretting hand, avoid the mistake of forming chords one finger at a time like a spider crawling across the fretboard. Your fingers should be able to get into position all at the same time... everytime.

Try this exercise: Form the G chord and strum while counting out “one and two and three and four and.” Now everytime you get to the last “and” – the one that follows four – you should very slightly get your fretting fingers off the fretboard. Then, as you say “one” simultaneously return to the original chord position.

Actually, just think of it like your relaxing your grip on the ukulele neck while keeping your fretting fingers in the same chord shape position.

Do this exercise with chords like G, F, Dm, Bm and all the other chords that require two or more fingers to form.

UKE ON BEYOND THE BASICS

There you have it. Your quickstart guide to ukulele playing. With just those four basic chords you can already start playing a lot of songs. If you're up to it you may even start writing your own music using the same chords.

As mentioned at the start of this guide, it would be great if you can find other ukulele players to jam with. Playing with others is by far the best way to learn and master this wonderful instrument.

You may also choose to search for free lessons on the internet so you can study at your own pace wherever you may be.

You might also want to check out the ukulele course in this link. It's a full ukulele course that covers a variety of musical styles. This is a convenient alternative to searching individual lessons on your own.

Full disclosure: the course is not free and if you choose to purchase it we will earna commission.

Whatever you decide is fine with us. What's important is that another person has discovered the ukulele and is now on his/her way to becoming a full fledged member of the worldwide community of ukulele enthusiasts.

And to further show our appreciation for your interest in the ukulele, here's a chart showing more chords that you can use to play even more songs.

MORE CHORDS

Enjoy playing the ukulele. Happy strumming!

P.S.

Happy Music Pasay is at the 2nd floor of the North Wing of SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines.

Happy Music Quezon City is at Unit D 2nd floor ITC Timog Commercial Building, #80 Panay Avenue corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City.

Please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/happymusicPH/