The ukulele (spelled Ukelele in the UK and other places, also translated as ukulele, ukulele, etc.) is a Hawaiian plucked string instrument that can create a pleasant and carefree sound. It’s small and cute, makes it easy to carry, and gives people of all ages the opportunity to master this instrument. Learn a few basics about playing the ukulele and over time you will become the best ukulele player you can be!

Learn the Basics

Choose Ukulele. Ukuleles come in several different sizes and corresponding sounds, and it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you. As a beginner, you may want to choose a less expensive instrument rather than purchase an expensive one, but this may not be the case for you. The ukulele can be divided into four different styles.

• The soprano ukulele is the most common style. Its small size and classic “ukulele” sound are easily recognizable. This is the cheapest ukulele and is usually chosen by beginners. The average length of the soprano ukulele is 21 inches (about 53 cm) and has 12 to 14 frets.
• The alto (alto or concert) ukulele is slightly larger than the soprano ukulele. The instrument is 23 inches (58 cm) long and has 15 to 20 frets. Due to its larger size, people with larger hands may find it easier to play than the soprano ukulele. In addition, it has a little more bass than the treble ukulele, making it more complete.
• A little bigger than the alto ukulele is the tenor ukulele. The piano is 26 inches (66 cm) long and has more than 15 frets. It has a more complete sound than the alto ukulele, and because there are more frets on the fretboard, it can play more tones.
• The largest ukulele is the bass (baritone) ukulele, which is 30 inches (76 cm) or more in length and has more than 19 frets. It is tuned the same way as the lowest four strings of a guitar, so the two instruments are very similar. Due to its large size, it doesn’t have the classic ukulele sound, but if you want music with plenty of richness, this is a good choice.

Learn the parts of the ukulele. The construction of the ukulele is slightly different than that of a guitar or other plucked instrument. Before you even start playing, make sure you understand the basic layout of the ukulele.

• The body is a hollow wooden construction like most instruments. There is a small hole under the string that you play.
• The neck is the long wooden part that holds the strings. The base of the neck is slightly rounded, while the flat top is where the fretboard is.
• The parts of the fretboard separated by metal fret dividers are the frets. Each fret divides the strings into different timbres.
• The headstock is the top of the ukulele, where the tuners are located.
• The ukulele has four strings, but different ukulele types may have some differences. The lowest or thickest string is called the first string, and the tallest or thinnest string is the fourth string (note that some ukuleles may have different string thickness arrangements).

Tuning your ukulele. Before you start playing, tuning is very important. Tuning the strings will produce an accurate tone, preventing you from getting discouraged because you are out of tune and mistakenly believe that your skills are poor. To tune the instrument, you twist the tuners on the headstock to tighten and loosen the strings.

• Over time, the tension of the strings will decrease and become looser, resulting in out-of-pitched notes. This means you have to tighten the strings more often than loosen them.
• If you’re facing the ukulele, the top left tuner is “C”, the bottom left tuner is “G”, the top right tuner is “E” and the bottom right tuner controls “A”. Adjusting these tuners will change the sound of the associated strings.
• You can use an electronic tuner or an online tuner to listen to the sound of each string you pluck. Then modify the sound on your instrument until the sound produced by each string matches the tuner.
• If you have a piano or keyboard, you can play the sound corresponding to each string of the ukulele and then tune the two to match.

Learn correct posture. If you hold the ukulele incorrectly, the sound may not be pleasant, you may feel uncomfortable, and you may injure your wrist over time. Before you start playing the ukulele, make sure your posture is correct.

• Whether you’re standing or sitting, you hold your instrument the same way.
• Gently hold the ukulele between your right arm and body while placing it in the crook of your elbow. If you hold the ukulele correctly, you can remove either hand without changing the position of the ukulele. This also means that the ukulele must be held fairly high, close to the waist or chest.
• The neck should rest on the front of the left hand, allowing your four remaining fingers to reach all the strings.
• When you play with your right hand, use the fingernails to brush down on the strings, and the fingertips (the fleshy parts) to brush back up.
• Please play at a position slightly higher than the middle hole of the guitar body. Although this is the correct picking position for a guitar, the correct playing position for a ukulele is closer to the neck.
• Keep your back and shoulders straight to avoid hunching over the ukulele. This improves your posture and appearance while playing and reduces back pain and strain.

Practice Chords

Learn some basic chords. A chord is a harmony produced by playing more than one note at a time. To play a chord, you must press different fret strings with your left hand at the same time. Learning to play chords is easy, you’ll be armed with a list of string numbers, fret numbers, and the specific fingers you need to recreate each sound.

• Learn to play basic major triads. A major triad is composed of three-tone groups that sound at the same time, and there is a full two-tone difference between the root note and the third tone. Major triads are generally cheerful and lively music.
• To play the C major triad, place your ring finger on the fourth string and the third fret.
• To play the F major triad, place your index finger on the second string, first fret, and your ring finger on the first string, second fret.
• To play the G major triad, place your index finger on the third string, second fret, your middle finger on the fourth string, second fret, and your ring finger on the second string, third fret.
• To play an A major triad, place your index finger on the first fret of the third string and your middle finger on the second fret of the first string.
• To play the D major triad, place your middle finger on the first string and the second fret, your ring finger on the second string and the second fret, and your little finger on the third string and the second fret.
• To play the E major triad, place your index finger on the fourth string and the first fret, your middle finger on the first string and the second fret, and your little finger on the third string and the fourth fret.

Learn to play basic minor chords. A minor chord is composed of three or more tone groups that sound simultaneously, with the root and third notes separated by three semitones. Compared to major triads, minor chords are considered sad sounds.

• To play the A minor chord, place your middle finger on the first string and second fret.
• To play the E minor chord, place your index finger on the fourth string, second fret, and your ring finger on the third string, fourth fret.
• To play the D minor chord, place your index finger on the first fret of the second string, your middle finger on the second fret of the first string, and your ring finger on the second fret of the third string.
• To play an F# or Gb minor chord, place your index finger on the third string on the first fret, your middle finger on the first string on the second fret, and your ring finger on the second string on the second fret.
• To play the B minor chord, block the second, third, and fourth strings simultaneously with your index finger on the second fret, and press the first string on the fourth fret with your ring finger.

Playing the Ukulele

Practice pacing (controlling time). Once you learn some basic notes and chords, putting them together may seem simple, but it takes time. For the music you play to sound cohesive and tonal, you must have a good sense of rhythm.

• When you learn how to quickly adjust your left hand to play different notes and chords, it can be difficult at first to keep playing in rhythm. As you get better at moving your fingers, try to avoid pausing between adjustments to your finger movements to improve your timing.
• Try counting to four beats as you play to help you stay in rhythm.
• If you have trouble playing in time, try using a metronome. This is an electronic gadget that emits sounds at regular intervals to help you play on time. You can adjust to a suitable beat tempo.
• Don’t try to play too fast at first as you may make a series of mistakes. Start playing at a slow, measured pace and slowly increase the speed.

Learn to play a complete piece. Once you master all the basic major and minor chords, you can play almost any beginner tune. Using your current playing rhythm and fingering skills, you will soon be able to play a piece of music that can be recognized by others.

• Many ukulele sheet music features popular songs that are easy for beginners to learn. You can pick up a sheet of music at your local music center and start playing!
• If you want to learn to play your favorite song, you can find the ukulele sheet music for that song online. The sheet music is the ukulele piece and tells you the different chords and fingering positions needed to play the piece.

The most important thing to improve your overall playing technique is regular practice. You don’t need to have natural musical talent, just perseverance and hard work to become a great ukulele player. Practicing for at least 20 to 30 minutes every day will help you become the virtuoso player of your dream instrument.

Tips

• If you rely solely on written or video tutorials without the guidance of an experienced teacher, you may develop bad habits that are difficult to change. Although you can learn effectively without taking formal lessons, the right guidance from an experienced player can be very useful in correcting any personal playing problems.
• Strings that are not stretched will quickly go out of tune. To avoid this problem, you can tighten the strings very tightly and let them sit overnight.
• Ask your local music center about the most suitable practice songs and instructors.
• The ukulele should not be played with a guitar pick as these picks can damage the strings. Instead, you use your fingers or a ukulele-specific felt pick.
• Be careful not to drop the ukulele on the floor. Ukuleles are very fragile! Please put it in the hard case when carrying it around.