How to Play the Ukulele Quick Start Guide and More PDF

Table of Contents Dedication .....................................................................................................................2   Disclosure .....................................................................................................................2   Quick Announcement....................................................................................................2   Introduction ...................................................................................................................3   Why the Book? ..........................................................................................................3   It’s Time to Start Learning .........................................................................................4   Chapter 1: History of the Ukulele ..................................................................................4   The Origins of the Ukulele .........................................................................................4   The Origin of the Word and Pronunciation ................................................................5   Pronouncing It Correctly ............................................................................................5   Chapter 2: Ukulele Basics ................................................................................................6   The Parts of the Ukulele ............................................................................................6   The Different Ukulele Sizes .......................................................................................9   How to Hold the Ukulele ..........................................................................................10   Chapter 3: Tuning the Ukulele ....................................................................................12   What Is the Standard Tuning for a Ukulele? ...........................................................12   Tuning by Ear ..........................................................................................................12   Piano .......................................................................................................................13   Tuning App ..............................................................................................................13   Electronic Tuner ......................................................................................................14   Chapter 4: Ukulele Chords – Basic and Advanced .....................................................15   The Basics of Ukulele Tablature..............................................................................15   Basic Chords ...........................................................................................................17   Some Advanced Chords .........................................................................................20   Chapter 5: Strumming Patterns ...................................................................................26   Preparing to Strum ..................................................................................................26   Down, Down Pattern................................................................................................27   Down, Up Pattern ....................................................................................................27  

Down, Down, Up Down, Down, Up, Down ..............................................................27   Thumb, Down, Up Pattern .......................................................................................28   Calypso Pattern .......................................................................................................28   A Final Strum Pattern ..............................................................................................28   Getting Better at the Patterns ..................................................................................29   Chapter 6: Let’s Learn Some Basic Songs! ................................................................30   A Quick Tip ..............................................................................................................30   Happy Birthday ........................................................................................................30   Somewhere Over the Rainbow ...............................................................................33   Chapter 7: Ukulele Practice Tips and Drills ................................................................37   Stretching Your Fingers ...........................................................................................38   Simple Fingering Technique ....................................................................................38   Consider Recording Yourself...................................................................................39   Listen to and Watch Other Players ..........................................................................39   Don’t Stop ................................................................................................................40   Chapter 8: How to Choose and Care for Your Ukulele, and the Accessories You Need! ..........................................................................................................................41   Ukulele Recommendations......................................................................................41   Must Have Accessories ...........................................................................................42   Chapter 9: Fun Ukulele Players to Listen To ...........................................................44   Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole ......................................................................................44   Jake Shimabukuro ...................................................................................................45   Eddie Vedder ...........................................................................................................45   5 Most Popular Uke Songs of All Time ....................................................................45   Conclusion ..................................................................................................................46   This Long and Winding Road ..................................................................................47   Keep the Passion ....................................................................................................47   Resources: ..................................................................................................................48   1 © www.superukulele.com

Dedication To Shonee and Alexa. To my subscribers and friends. Thank you for your support.

Disclosure This book contains a few affiliate links. This means that when you click and make a purchase at a site via a link I have provided, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Regardless of whether or not I receive a commission, I only recommend products that I personally use and genuinely recommend, and I always have my subscribers and student's best interest in mind.

In the eBook itself, affiliate links will be noted by asterisks. I thank you for supporting my book in this manner.

Quick Announcement My new Super Ukulele Strumming Course scheduled to be released this year and open to only to a handful of people. Visit www.superukulele.com for more details and watch for the announcement in the super ukulele newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter at

http://eepurl.com/_OQev if you still need to. Please note: there is a CHORD CHART on pages 49-50 of this book for your reference. 2 © www.superukulele.com

Introduction Welcome! I really hope that you enjoy this book and I hope that it helps to put you on a lifelong path of loving the ukulele and the joy that this little instrument can bring.

Why the Book? Some of you might be wondering what inspired the creation of this book. Well, it’s simple really. It’s all of you. I wanted to give back to my students and friends who have been following me on my website, YouTube, and all of the social media accounts. Without your support, this book would not exist! And now that we’ve hit 20,000 SUBSCRIBERS on YouTube, I wanted to do something extra special for you guys. Additionally, I wanted the book to be able to answer most of the basic questions that so many students and friends ask quite often. My goal is here is to provide a book that is simple to read and understand. One that offers some of the basics for beginners and intermediate players. I’m talking about providing the stuff that I wished I had when I first started playing. I thought it would be great to help all of the Super Ukulele community, and I hope you agree.

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It’s Time to Start Learning Now that you know the whys behind this book, it’s time to dive right into it. Throughout the course of this book, we’ll be looking at the history of the ukulele, how to tune, how to strum and play, and so much more. Let’s get going!

Chapter 1: History of the Ukulele When you think of the ukulele, what do you picture in your mind? Chances are that you imagine the beautiful Hawaiian Islands – a perfect tropical setting of azure water and warm, inviting sand. You can probably hear some of that uke music in your head right now. However, what do you really know about the history of the instrument? Many people simply believe that it originated in Hawaii, but that’s only partly true. Let’s take a brief look at the origins of the uke.

The Origins of the Ukulele Here’s a fact that shocks many people. The instrument doesn’t actually originate in Hawaii. Sure, the instrument we know today as the ukulele is the Hawaiian national instrument, but its ancestor actually came from Portuguese immigrants who came from the islands of Madeira. 125 years ago, when they were coming to work on the sugar plantations of Hawaii, immigrants brought along with them their own instruments, known as the machete de braga. This instrument proved instantly popular on the island and within about a week of coming to the island, there were Portuguese musicians giving concerts in the evening.

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Three of the immigrants who were aboard the ship were cabinetmakers by trade, but they also knew how to create these instruments. These artisans – Manuel Nunes, Jose do Espirito Santo, and Augusto Dias – opened up small shops in Honolulu in 1886 to sell the instruments. King David Kalakaua of the Hawaiian royal family was a composer and musician, and he was also fond of the ukulele, becoming a champion of the instrument and a good player in his own right. Dias also happened to have a good relationship with Kalakaua, and he even taught the King how to build his own ukulele.

The Origin of the Word and Pronunciation So now that you have a better idea of where the instrument originated and how it made its way across the sea and to Hawaii, you are probably wondering why we don’t still call it a machete. It’s actually an interesting story. Back when those immigrants were playing on the street corners of Honolulu, the Hawaiians who were watching them remarked that their hands, moving so quickly along the instrument, looked like little jumping fleas. When you look at the etymology of the word ukulele, that’s what it means! The word “Uke” means flea and the word “Lele” means jumping.

Pronouncing It Correctly In the mainland of the United States, as well as many other parts of the world, you will likely hear people pronounce the instrument as “You-Ka-Lay-Lee”. Although this might be the common way people pronounce it, and maybe you say it this way, it’s incorrect. The correct way to say the word is “Oo-Koo-Le-Le”. Of course, you can always just call it a uke if you prefer.

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No matter how you say it, I can guarantee one thing…you are going to fall head over heels for this instrument! You could call it “Leaping Louse” and still get the same enjoyment out of it.

Chapter 2: Ukulele Basics The ukulele is a fantastic instrument that’s a real joy to play. It’s relatively simple to learn the basics, but it offers enough surprises and nuances that you can continue learning new techniques for many years. In this chapter, we’ll be covering some of the most basic elements of the instrument so you can become familiar. After that, we’ll take off and start actually playing!

The Parts of the Ukulele Knowing the various parts of the ukulele can come in quite handy when you are learning and when you are talking with others about the instrument. You don’t want to simply smile and nod along as they are talking about the nut and the fretboard if you have no idea what they mean! Fortunately, it’s actually quite easy to learn the different names and functions for all parts of this instrument.

Head/Headstock The head, or the headstock, of the ukulele is the top part of the instrument. This is the part where you will find the tuning pegs, and typically, the brand logo or name of the company that made the instrument. 6 © www.superukulele.com

Tuning Pegs The tuning pegs, sometimes called keys, are the parts that hold the strings. You can turn these pegs, which will tune the ukulele by tightening or loosening the strings.

Nut The nut is a light colored piece at the top of the neck and just below the head. It has a groove in it where the strings will sit, and it, along with the bridge, helps keep the strings in place.

Neck The neck is the long piece of wood that connects the head and the body. It supports the fretboard. In the above image, the neck is behind the fretboard and not seen.

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Fretboard The fretboard is along the front of the neck, and it provides a home for the frets. Many of these boards are made from rosewood, but other materials are in use as well.

Fret Markers The fret markers are the little dots on the fretboard. These dots are actually quite handy, since they can let you know immediately where you are playing on the instrument, so you can be sure you are hitting the right notes. The most common places to find the fret markers are on the third, fifth, seventh, tenth, and twelfth frets.

Frets The frets are the metal bars that run along the neck. The “first fret” is the one that’s closest to the nut and headstock.

Body The body of the ukulele has a top, back and sides, and most of the bodies have similar shapes between makers. Many different types of wood are in use when it comes to the body of the ukulele, and some can provide different sounds. Naturally, some are more expensive than others. We will go into more detail in the chapter on buying your ukulele.

Sound Hole It’s a simple name, but it gets the point across nicely. The sound hole is the actual hole in the body of the instrument. This is where the vibrations, and thus the sound, come from when strumming or picking.

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Bridge The bridge sits on the top of the body and is below the sound hole. It features a saddle, which helps to hold the strings in place so they sit higher than the fretboard.

Strings The strings are what you will strum and pick when you are creating vibrations and making sweet ukulele music.

The Different Ukulele Sizes There are four main sizes of ukuleles available – soprano, concert (also called alto), tenor, and baritone. Each is quite different, and it is important for the new player to understand these differences.

Soprano The most common type of ukulele is the soprano, which is 21” long, and has between 12 and 15 frets. The common tunings for the instrument are GCEA, and ADF#B. The frets on the soprano ukulele are often close together, and this can cause some people who have unusually large hands to have trouble playing the instrument. Still, these are a very cost effective option for the most part, and are the most popular size. It’s a wonderful size instrument to start learning on for both children and adults alike.

Concert/Alto The concert or alto ukulele is the next up in size. It is 23” long, and it will typically feature 15 to 20 frets. The common tuning for the alto is GCEA (reentrant or linear). It 9 © www.superukulele.com

has a nice full sound, and since it is a little bit larger than the soprano, those who have larger hands will find it a bit easier to play.

Tenor The tenor ukulele is 26” long and has 15 or more frets. The common tunings include GCEA (reentrant or linear) and DGBE for those who want something with a slightly deeper tone. It has a nice and full, even tone that’s a bit richer than the smaller ukuleles.

Baritone The baritone is the largest of the ukuleles, and it comes in at a whopping 30”. The tuning for this instrument is DGBE, and features 19 or more frets. This produces a nice and deep sound when compared with the smaller ukuleles. These are most common for those who play blues, who pick with their fingers, or who just want a deeper sound. While it is still a ukulele, you will find that it sounds rather similar to a guitar, and doesn’t have the same high-pitch sound as the soprano.

How to Hold the Ukulele To hold the ukulele properly, you will want to stand up or sit up straight. Proper posture is important for your health, as well as to make sure that you have a good hold on the instrument. You certainly don’t want to drop it! Your right forearm will support the body of the ukulele, but the grip should be relatively loose. You don’t want to drop the instrument, but you still want your right hand to be able to strum and pick effectively. You will support the neck with your left thumb (on the back of the neck) and forefinger (to the front and beneath) at a slight upward angle. The grip should not be too tight, as 10 © www.superukulele.com

you will need to use the fingers to create chords on the strings. Once you start learning chords, you will find that holding the instrument becomes second nature.

You Have to Relax Want to know a secret about holding the ukulele? All you have to do is relax. Too many beginners have a death grip on the instrument, and that makes it difficult to move your hands freely. Now, as any musician knows, or will learn, you need to be able to move your hands and fingers if you want to have mastery of the instrument. So, loosen up that grip a bit, and you will see just how much better it feels and how much more quickly you can progress. Also, when you are first starting, it’s best to learn in a seated position so you can get more comfortable holding the instrument. As you progress, you can stand and play. You better believe I will place a very large focus on relaxation in the next book I’m currently working on.

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Chapter 3: Tuning the Ukulele The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, and the journey to becoming a ukulele player starts with learning how to tune the instrument. In the past, people had to learn how to tune their instruments by ear, but today, you have a veritable wealth of resources and options at your disposal when it comes to tuning. Let’s look at each of these choices.

What Is the Standard Tuning for a Ukulele? Standard tuning for the ukulele is G-C-E-A. Starting with the #4 string and down. You can use other tunings, but for beginners and even intermediate players, this is all you will need to know for now. It’s the default for soprano, alto, and tenor ukuleles. The fourth string, or string closest to your chin, is the G. The C is the next string down, followed by the E and the A, which is the thinnest of the strings. When you strike each of these strings without touching the fretboard, it should play those notes in that order. This is how you will determine whether it is in tune or not.

Too Flat or Too Sharp… What Do I Do? If you are tuning, and you are too flat, you will want to tighten the string when you turn the tuning peg. If you are too sharp, you will want to loosen the string until it hits the right note.

Tuning by Ear For many, this is undoubtedly the most difficult method of tuning a uke, at least when you first start playing. After you’ve played for a long time, you will get to know the sound 12 © www.superukulele.com

of each of the notes intimately, and it will actually become one of the easiest and fastest ways to tune. Some people will not be able to learn to tune the ukulele by ear, but don’t worry! You have plenty of other options as well, and many of these are much easier.

Piano Another way to tune is to use a piano, or a keyboard, if you have one around. Simply play the key on the piano that matches the string you are tuning. You will start by finding Middle C, which is the C that’s literally the closest to the middle of the keyboard. You will start by tuning your ukulele’s C string to Middle C, as it’s the same note and octave. Once you are able to match the C, it becomes easy to match the rest of the strings. Find the closest G, E, and A to the right of Middle C, and then you can tune your strings to those keys which gives you the G-C-E-A, all in the 4th octave. While this is a bit easier than learning to do it strictly by ear, you will find that it still takes a very good ear to make sure you are getting the notes perfect. NOTE: If you have a low G for the 4th string, just tune that string to a G in the 3rd octave and you’re set!

Tuning App The Internet has changed the way that people do just about everything, and that includes tuning stringed instruments. Online apps are very easy to use, and they will make use of your computer’s onboard microphone. You will hit one of your strings, the G, for example. The microphone picks up that sound and then the app will let you know if you are sharp, flat, or playing an entirely wrong 13 © www.superukulele.com

note. Then, simply tighten or loosen the pegs to get closer to the correct note. Hit the string again, and then see what the app says. Follow this method for all of the strings until you have them in tune. It’s nice and easy. You can find apps through your desktop or laptop, and you can check out some downloadable apps for your smartphones and tablets as well. This will ensure you have a tuner with you no matter where you go.

My Website You know how I like to make things as easy as possible for you, don’t you? Well, to make tuning as easy as possible, we’re going to have a tuner right on my website, so if you need to get your uke in shape and ready to play, just visit http://www.superukulele.com/.

Electronic Tuner Another very simple method of tuning the ukulele is with an electronic tuner. It’s a very simple method, but you will need to spend a bit of money on a tuner. Fortunately, you can get some decent ones for under $20. See page 40 under “Must Have Accessories” for this inexpensive digital tuner that I use all the time: http://goo.gl/RyMcp8. To use the electronic tuner just turn it on and play each of your strings to see how far away they are from the standard G-C-E-A that you want. The tuner will let you know how far off you are and in which direction to change the pitch of the string. Then, simply turn the pegs – tighter or looser – to make them match the standard tuning. It’s really quite simple, and having a tuner on hand is a very good idea. The tuner I mentioned above even clips onto your headstock so you don’t have to hold it while tuning. The uke does it for you!

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Chapter 4: Ukulele Chords – Basic and Advanced In this chapter, we’ll be looking at some of the most common chords that you will find when you are learning ukulele songs. Knowing these chords is essential if you want to learn how to play, and fortunately, they are all quite simple to learn. Before that though, let’s look at ukulele tablature and how to read it. This will help you when you are learning chords, and when you start to learn songs.

The Basics of Ukulele Tablature What in the world is tablature? If you’ve never played a stringed instrument, then there’s a good chance that you have no idea. It’s similar to sheet music, but it’s something of a shorthand method that’s far more user friendly whether you are advanced or you are just beginning. When you look at tablature music, you will see four parallel horizontal lines with equal separation between them. These lines represent the strings on your instrument. The bottom line represents G. The next line above G is C, then E, and finally A. It’s helpful to imagine that this is your ukulele fretboard if you were to lay your uke in front of you with the headstock to your left. Once you get that concept in your head, reading the tablature is actually quite simple. (see figure 1 below)

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Figure 1. Intro to Happy Birthday on Ukulele…

The tablature will let you know what strings to play, and what chords to play. It does this by using numbers placed on the aforementioned lines. If the number one were on the G, it would mean that you place your finger above the first fret and play then pluck or strum that string. If there were a zero, then you would hit the open string without placing a finger on any of the frets. If both the one and the zero were in the same vertical position, you would play them at the same time. This is often how they will represent chords. If you notice arrows on the tab going up or down, this indicates the strumming direction. If you see this, pay attention, as it can affect the way the song sounds more than you might imagine. We’ll get more into strumming in the next chapter. Once you grasp the basic concept of tablature, it’s a simple and great way to learn some new songs. In my next ukulele book I’m currently working on I promise to include even more great examples of ukulele tablature. I absolutely relied on good tab as a beginner ukulele and guitar player, and I know that you can benefit from it as well.

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Basic Chords Let’s start with the basics. These are the essential chords. Once you learn these and how to string them together – pun intended – you will be able to play a number of songs, and you will be able to create some of your own unique and fun music. Reading the chords is a bit different from tablature, and it’s important to know the difference. When you are looking at the chord diagrams below, you’ll see that they represent the ukulele’s neck as well. The vertical lines represent the strings, and the horizontal lines represent the frets. The far left string is G, followed by C, E, and A. The thick line at the top represents the nut. Fret 1 is the first line below the nut, followed by fret 2 and so on. The numbers on the diagram indicate the fingers that you will use when you are fretting the strings. •

1 = Index finger

•

2 = Middle finger

•

3 = Ring finger

•

4 = Pinky

•

T = Thumb

If there is an “O” above the representation of the nut, it means you will strum these strings openly, without fretting anything. If there were no indicator, it would mean that you would not strum that string for the chord.

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C Chord The C chord, which you see in the diagram below, is very simple to play. Simply hold your ring finger on the third fret first string, and strum all strings, leaving the G, C, and E strings open.

A Chord The A chord is just as simple. Take your index finger and place it above the first fret on the third string, and place your middle finger above the second fret on the fourth string. Strum all four strings, leaving the E and A strings open.

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F Chord Playing the F chord is a little bit trickier, but still easy enough to handle. You will place your middle finger on the second fret on the fourth string, and your index finger on the first fret second string. Strum all strings leaving the C and the A strings open.

G Chord To play the G, you will be using three fingers. You will place your index finger on the second fret of the third string, your middle finger on the second fret of the first string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the second string. Strum all strings leaving the fourth string (G) open.

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D Chord To play the D chord, you will use your index finger to create a bar across the second fret of three strings – G, C, and E. You then use your fourth finger, or pinky, on the fifth fret of the A string. This is a little more complicated, but the frets should be close enough together to make it doable with just a little bit of practice.

Some Advanced Chords Now that you know more about the basics, it’s time to look into some of the more advanced chords out there. You will find that these can come in rather handy for quite a few different types of songs, so it’s a good idea to add them to your repertoire.

Dm7 D Minor 7 looks complex, but your fingers will get the hang of it! Your index finger will hold the first fret of the E string, your middle finger will hold the second fret of the G, and your ring finger will fret the second fret of the C string. You will use your pinky to fret the third fret on A.

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Am A minor is extremely simple. All you need to do is place your middle finger on the second fret of the G, and then strum that along with open C, E, and A strings.

E7 To make the E7 chord, you will use your index finger on the first fret of G, your middle finger on the second fret of C, strum E open, and use your ring finger on the second fret of the A string.

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G7 G7 is a nice and easy one too. You will play G open, and then use your index finger for the first fret of the E string, your middle finger for the second fret of the C string, and your ring finger for the third fret of the A string.

F9 To play F9, use your middle finger to hold the second fret of G, strum C open, use your middle finger on the third fret of the E string, and strum A open.

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Are these all of the chords? Not by a long shot, but it’s more than enough to get you started in the right direction. On the next page you’ll find a chord chart with all of the above chords, as well as new chords that you can try out. Keep this chart handy, so that you can keep on practicing and getting better. The more you practice, the easier it will be to switch chords and learn to play new songs.

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Chord Chart page 1

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Chord Chart Page 2

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Chapter 5: Strumming Patterns Now that you have an idea of what the chords look like and how to make them, it’s time that we go a little bit deeper and start looking at the different strumming patterns that you can use when you are playing ukulele. These strumming patterns will help to give the instrument that patented jangly sound that everyone loves so much.

Preparing to Strum Remember the importance of posture, and of learning to relax when you are playing. This is the only way that you will become good at actually strumming. Here’s another good tip. You should grow out the index fingernail on your strumming hand, as this will make it much easier to get the sound that you want. The nail doesn’t have to be too long. Having it just about a millimeter or so above the tip of your finger should do nicely. Something else to consider is that strumming the ukulele is nothing like strumming a guitar. When you strum a guitar, you move the entire hand up and down much of the time. Ukulele is different. You want to keep the arm relaxed, and then keep your wrist loose and flexible. You’ll strum by rotating the wrist rather than the entire arm. To get a bit of a louder sound out of the ukulele, you don’t need to strum harder or use a pick. All you need to do is rotate your strumming hand downwards slightly so that more of your nail actually meets the strings. This will give you the power you need without getting your finger all caught up in the strings. Keep it all relaxed – index finger, arm, wrist, shoulders, etc. The more relaxed you are the better you will play, and the better you’ll sound! Now, let’s look at some strumming patterns so you can get started with some songs. 26 © www.superukulele.com

Down, Down Pattern This is a very simple pattern. All you need to do is strum down. The important part is staying on the right beat. It is easy. Count slowly to four, and hit the down strum each time you say a number. Practice at different speeds as well, as different songs will have different beats. This is a good strumming pattern for someone who is brand new to any sort of stringed instrument. It’s simple to learn, and you should be able to master this pattern in no time at all.

Down, Up Pattern Now, we will add something a bit different to the mix – a strum that goes up. Don’t worry; it’s easy! With this pattern, you will again count to four, saying “one and two and three and four. When you say “one”, you strum down and then immediately strum up when you say “and”. When you say two, you repeat the pattern – down and then up. down (one)

up

down

up

down

up

down

up

(and) (two) (and) (three) (and) (four) (and)

Down, Down, Up Down, Down, Up, Down Now that you are starting to get the hang of it, this should actually be quite easy to figure out. As the name suggests, simply strum down twice, up once, down twice more, up once and then down once. Repeat. Since these are slightly more difficult than the first two patterns, check out a simple way of looking at the counting pattern. The top is the direction of the stroke, and the bottom is your count. A chart like this will follow for all of the other strumming patterns. 27 © www.superukulele.com

down

down

up

down

down

up

(one)

(two) (and) (three) (four) (and)…

Thumb, Down, Up Pattern This one’s a little bit different. First, you will hit a string with just your thumb, and then you will strum down, and then up. Use the same counting technique of “one and two and so on”. The important thing to remember is that you are plucking with the thumb before the down and up, and in this case the thumb starts on “one”. This should help you get the counting correct: thumb

down up thumb down up

(one)

(two) (and) (three) (four) (and)…

Calypso Pattern Here is one of the most important strum patterns you will learn, as it is a part of many different ukulele songs. It’s not too difficult, but make sure you master this pattern. It goes down, down, up, up, down, up. You will love the way this sounds, and it can give any song that authentic Hawaiian feel. Down

down

up

up

down

up

(one)

(two) (and)…(and) (four) (and)…

A Final Strum Pattern You will start by using your thumb to pluck the G. Some call this a modified calypso strum because it is very similar to the down, down, up, up, down, up pattern. The pattern is down, down, up, down, up, down, up.

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down

down

up

down

up

down

up

(one)

(two) (and) (three) (and) (four) (and) …

Getting Better at the Patterns Okay, right about now, you are probably thinking that you get the idea of the strumming patterns and that you can do them without too much trouble. However, maybe it’s just not sounding right quite yet. Part of this might be because you need to make sure that you are doing it in rhythm. Staying on the beat is very important in all types of music. Also, you will want to start adding those chords that we covered in the last chapter. This helps to make even your practice sessions sound great, and you will be able to practice your chords at the same time as your patterns. Another thing that you need to consider is just how comfortable you are with the instrument. Do you remember when we talked about being relaxed when you play? If you aren’t relaxed and at ease, you will find that getting the right sound out of the patterns is more difficult. It might not be your knowledge of the strumming patterns or the chords that are throwing you at all – it might be that you are having trouble relaxing.

Need even more help with strumming the ukulele? Take my new Super Ukulele Strumming Course scheduled to be released this year and open to only to a handful of people. Visit www.superukulele.com for more details and watch for the announcement in the super ukulele newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/_OQev if you still haven’t.

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Chapter 6: Let’s Learn Some Basic Songs! Now that you have the strumming patterns, chords, and know the best way to hold your ukulele, it’s time that you put it all together into some songs. Don’t worry; we aren’t going to have you try anything too complicated. The two songs in this chapter are fun to play, you likely know the lyrics by heart already, and they are a perfect way to increase your confidence so you can go on and learn some truly complicated pieces.

A Quick Tip Keep in mind that when you are plucking an open string, it means you are not holding your finger on any fret on that particular string. Just plucking it as it is, or open.

Happy Birthday First, let’s look at “Happy Birthday”, a song that everyone knows. Once you have this one in your repertoire, you will find that friends and family will always ask you to bring your uke with you to the parties so you can play while everyone sings along. You may also watch my video lesson for Happy Birthday by following this link: http://goo.gl/riCJFs Let’s look at a couple of ways to play the song.

Simple Single Note Technique If you would like a very simple version of this song to play, where you don’t even need any chords, here it is! All you need to do is: Part One: •

Pluck the number four string 2x 30 © www.superukulele.com

•

Pluck the number one string 1x

•

Pluck the number four string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the second fret and pluck the string 1x

Part Two: •

Pluck the number four string 2x

•

Pluck the number one string 1x

•

Pluck the number four string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the fifth fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

Part Three: •

Pluck the number four string 2x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the tenth fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the seventh fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the second fret and pluck the string 1x

•

Pluck the first string open

Part Four: •

On the first string, place your finger on the eighth fret and pluck the string 2x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the seventh fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the fifth fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

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And Many More •

Pluck the number four string

•

Pluck the number one string

•

Pluck the number four string

•

On the first string, place your finger on the first fret and pluck the string 1x

As you can see, this is extremely simple, and you should be able to get the hang of it in no time at all.

Add some Chords You only need three simple chords! G7, C, and F. They are all very simple, and you should know them well by now. Part One: •

Pluck the number four string 2x

•

Pluck the number one string 1x

•

Pluck the number four string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

•

Now, you will play a G7 chord 1x

Part Two: •

Pluck the number four string 2x

•

Pluck the number one string 1x

•

Pluck the number four string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the fifth fret and pluck the string 1x

•

Now, you will play a C chord 32 © www.superukulele.com

Part Three: •

Pluck the number four string 2x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the tenth fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the seventh fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

•

Now, you will play an F chord

Part Four: •

On the first string, place your finger on the eighth fret and pluck the string 2x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the seventh fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the third fret and pluck the string 1x

•

On the first string, place your finger on the fifths fret and pluck the string 1x

•

Now, finish it up with a C chord

And Many More… Part Two •

Pluck the number four string

•

Pluck the first string

•

Pluck the number four string

•

On the first string, place your finger on the first fret and strum up and down with your strumming hand.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Another favorite, and one that sounds amazing on ukulele, is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Even though you will see that it is a relatively simple song, it sounds quite impressive when you play.

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A good tip, if you’d like to try it, is to buy a “Low G” for your number four string, as it can make this song sound even fuller. This is how IZ played it. If you don’t have it, don’t worry; you can still play without it and simply go with your regular G. Now, let’s learn how to play it!

How to Strum You have a few options. You can keep it rather simple and use all down strums if you would like. However, you don’t have to keep it quite this simple if you don’t want to. In fact, it’s better to change up your strum pattern and add something more interesting, as it will give the song more of an authentic sound. Consider using the following strumming pattern – down, down, up, up, down, up, the Calypso. Yes, this is a bit more complex, but when you nail it, you are going to love the way this song sounds. You can still get more complex as your skills and your confidence grow. Use some thumb plucks similar to what you would use for the Calypso strum pattern. Keep in mind that as you are learning to play, you can modify and alter the strum. If you can’t get that Calypso feel right now, you will be able to soon enough. Just keep practicing.

What Chords Do You Need? To play the song, you will need to have certain chords mastered. The chords you need are C, Am, F, F9, G, E7. We’ve covered how to play all of these chords earlier, so go back a chapter to refer to the chord diagrams if needed. In addition, this song includes an E minor.

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To play the E minor, you will place your index finger on the second fret of the first string, your middle finger on the third fret of the second string, and your ring finger on the fourth fret of the third strong. You will play the fourth string open. Remember to use the Calypso strum pattern throughout for each of the chords. Now, let’s see how to put all of those chords together.

The  Intro   Each one of the chords will follow into the next chord after you play the Calypso strumming pattern. •

C = 1x

•

Em = 1x

•

Am = 1x

•

F = 1x

•

C = 1x

•

Em = 1x

•

Am = 1x

•

F9 = 1x

•

F = 2x

It’s a very good idea to watch some videos or listen to some tracks of people playing this song on uke so you can get a good idea of just how the rhythm goes. Understanding that rhythm is the key to help you really sell this song. You can also add an extra bit to the introduction as an option if you would like. This is from Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s very popular rendition of the song. Here’s how it goes. Now you will play the strum pattern for each of these chords twice. 35 © www.superukulele.com

•

C = 2x

•

Em = 2x

•

F = 2x

•

C = 2x

•

F = 2x

•

E7 = 2x

•

Am = 2x

•

F = 2x

Do you need to have the extension of the intro? It’s not necessary, but it does add another dimension to the song.

The  Chorus   This is the part that everyone knows and loves. Again, you will play the strum pattern twice for each of the chords. •

C = 2x

•

Em = 2x

•

F = 2x

•

C = 2x

•

F = 2x

•

C = 2x

•

G = 2x

•

Am = 2x

•

F = 2x

The  Verse   Now, we’re on to the verse! 36 © www.superukulele.com

•

C = 2x

•

G = 2x

•

Am = 2x

•

F = 2x

•

C = 2x

•

G = 2x

•

Am = 2x

•

F = 2x

That’s all there is to the verse, and by the time you’ve mastered this part… guess what? You’ve mastered the entire song. As you can see, even though it might sound complex, it’s still relatively simply to play. With just a little bit of practice, you will find that you really can play this song. Now that you have a couple of solid songs under your belt, you should feel very good about learning even more songs on the uke. Who knows, you might even want to start writing your own songs at some point!

Chapter 7: Ukulele Practice Tips and Drills By now, you have a lot of skills and techniques under your belt, and you are well on your way to becoming a great ukulele player. However, it’s also important that you learn some other practice techniques and drills that will help you to become an even better player. After all, you should always be striving to become better at everything you do, and that includes playing the ukulele. In this chapter, we’ll cover a few tips, ideas, drills, and techniques that can help you to improve.

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Stretching Your Fingers Something that you might notice when you first start to play is that you might have some sore fingers. This occurs for a couple of different reasons. First, your fingers aren’t used to the strings, and it will take a little time to build up some tougher skin on your fingers to make playing a bit easier. This happens with everyone. Another thing that could be causing a different type of pain in your fingers is simply trying to make all the chords and change from one chord to another quickly. It can sometimes seem impossible to have your fingers get into the right chord shape. While it gets easier with practice, you can do a few other things that might be able to help as well, including some simple stretches. You don’t even need your uke for this. Consider doing it a couple of times a day, as well as before and after you practice to help keep your fingers limber and nimble. Simply stretch your fingers by pressing them toward the palm and then toward the back of your wrist, alternatively. Rotate and stretch your wrist. This helps to get the blood flowing, and it helps get the fingers ready to play. It also helps to avoid cramps before, during, and after playing.

Simple Fingering Technique To make your fingers faster, and to replicate that “jumping flea” look, you have to practice. A very simple drill that you can do utilizes just the first four frets of the uke – although you could change this up if you wish. Start by using you ring finger on the first fret of G, and pluck the note. Quickly follow by using your middle finger to fret the second fret on G, and pluck that. Do the same with the third fret using your ring finger, and the fourth fret using your pinky. Then move to 38 © www.superukulele.com

the third string and do the same thing. Do this for all of the strings. Run through the drill a few times before every practice or play session. When you are doing this, not only will your fretting fingers get some practice, but you will also be practicing your plucking with your thumb. As you progress, you can make things more challenging by skipping strings, going in reverse, and anything else that would throw you for a loop!

Consider Recording Yourself Do you want to get better? Sometimes, it’s difficult to know exactly what it might be that’s holding you back with your playing. Something that you may want to start doing is actually recording some of your practice and playing sessions. You can record with just an audio recorder, but it’s really a better option to include video. This way, you can literally see if you are making any technical mistakes when you play. Since most people have access to a smartphone with a video recorder, or even a point and shoot camera that offers video, it should be quite easy to do. You can see if your posture is bad – remember, you want to stand or sit straight. You can check your technique for strumming, making chords, plucking, hitting individual notes, and more. It’s also fun to watch yourself, especially when you compare your improvement over time.

Listen to and Watch Other Players In the last chapter, I will provide you with names of some of the top uke players out there from today and yesteryear, so you can check out their music. It certainly does pay to watch the legends, but you can get quite a bit from the 39 © www.superukulele.com

YouTube sensations and current artists working today. Always take the time to watch other players and see what interesting things they do with the instrument. You will find that it can help to improve your appreciation of the ukulele, and it can inspire you to become a stronger player.

Don’t Stop This one’s nice and simple. Don’t stop playing. Far too many players, no matter what instrument they decide to pick up and try, don’t keep it up. They learn a bit about the basics, but they find it too challenging to continue, or they feel they aren’t making the progress they want. Few people will pick up a uke and be a virtuoso when they strike their first chord. It takes time and dedication. As long as you are willing to practice, you will get better. In fact, with practice, we can go out on a limb and say that you will be pretty good before you know it. However, nothing worth having comes without the hard work, so make sure that you are actually practicing and learning as much as you can! Watch for new ukulele lesson announcements from my newsletter and visit my website for links to new and existing free lessons.

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Chapter 8: How to Choose and Care for Your Ukulele, and the Accessories You Need! While knowing how to play is important, you also need to make sure that you have the right uke and all the accessories you need to make playing even more fun. You will need your ukulele, naturally, and some other important gear, such as a tuner, strings, and a bag, and a stand. When you are choosing a ukulele, you need to make sure that you choose the right one. Even though you want to buy the first thing that you see, you’ll want to make sure that you temper your excitement and make the right choice

Ukulele Recommendations What are some of the best ukulele’s out there? If you haven’t played before, then it’s almost impossible to know what you should choose! Well, I can help you with that too. You want something that will sound great, something that looks great, and something that won’t set you back a fortune. Let’s look at some of the top recommendations for ukes on the market today.

http://goo.gl/nu1PVz TENOR UKULELE* Kala KA-10. An awesome ukulele that I've used in most of my lessons on YouTube. Highly rated on Amazon, easy to play, and a screaming good price. http://goo.gl/uWGIQE TENOR UKULELE** Kala Tenor Ukulele - Cutaway w/ EQ Gloss A very nice handsome ukulele that comes with all the bells and whistles like a built in 41 © www.superukulele.com

tuner, equalizer, volume control, Grover tuners, cutaway, and is made from the famous Hawaiian Koa. http://goo.gl/HKxwhD TENOR UKULELE*** Martin 1T IZ Tenor Uke. My FAVORITE Ukulele! This beauty is build after the Martin Ukulele used by the great Israel Kamakawiwo' ole, AKA "IZ". A must have for serious Uke players and collectors. The price is higher than average for this uke. http://goo.gl/wqAe2Z SOPRANO UKULELE Kala KA-MK-S Makala Soprano Ukulele Bundle Comes with Gig Bag, Tuner, Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth. Not as versatile as a Tenor Ukulele and smaller fretboard, but an authentic sound for a great beginner price. http://goo.gl/38gfK3 CONCERT UKULELE Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Ukulele Bundle Comes with Gearlux Case, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, Clip-On Tuner, and Austin Bazaar Polishing Cloth - Hawaiian Koa. A good Concert size ukulele for the price. http://goo.gl/Ys6wii BARITONE UKULELE Oscar Schmidt OU52E Mahogany Baritone Acoustic-Electric Ukulele - Natural. A good Baritone ukulele that is easy to play with a deeper sound.

Must Have Accessories After you have a nice ukulele, it’s time to start looking at some of the other accessories. Once again, these are great products. I’ve had experience with many of them, and I’m

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sure you’ll have just as great an experience. So what type of items will you need? Well, you need to have a bag for your uke if you plan to take it with you. Since it’s a nice and small instrument, it’s something you will certainly want to have with you as much as possible. A good gig bag will ensure that it stays nice and safe when you travel. When you are at home, you’ll need a stand where you can put the instrument. You might even want to buy a strap, which can make it easier to hold. Finally, having a tuner on hand is always a good idea. If you have something from each of these categories, you should have everything you need to enjoy your ukulele now and for many years to come. Let’s look at some great accessories! http://goo.gl/RyMcp8 SNARK TUNER Even if you have a built-in tuner on you ukulele, you may have a dead battery on it and a need to use the trusty Snark Ukulele Tuner. Cheap and dependable. I've used it so many times. http://goo.gl/tnRSXz SOPRANO STRINGS Aquila AQ-4 Soprano Regular Set High G Ukulele Strings. http://goo.gl/GMlJx2 TENOR STRINGS (106U) Aquila Super Nylgut Tenor Set. Awesome strings for the price for a Tenor Ukulele. http://goo.gl/jjb8NN TENOR STRINGS W/ LOW G (107U) Aquila Super Nylgut Tenor Low G Set. If you want your tenor uke to sound the way "IZ" uke sounded when he played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", you need a set with a Low G for the number four string. 43 © www.superukulele.com

http://goo.gl/kezPhM CONCERT STRINGS W/LOW G (104U) Aquila Super Nylgut Concert Low G Set. Make your concert uke sound deeper. Good set for a decent price. http://goo.gl/okDCqJ BARITONE STRINGS Aquila USA Aquila Baritone Ukulele Strings. Just some good standard strings for your Baritone Ukulele. http://goo.gl/cVNZG6 UKULELE STAND You need to have something to set your ukulele on to keep it from being damaged, and this stand is a great option.

Chapter 9: Fun Ukulele Players to Listen To We’re almost at the close of the book, but not to worry! Your journey with the ukulele is just beginning, and it never has to end. In this chapter, we will look at some great ukulele players, as well as songs and albums you should listen to as a means to expand your uke horizons. Some of these are the classics, and some you might not have heard of before. I’ve included some picks that you may never have even known touched the ukulele.

Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole His medleys of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” are extremely popular, and catapulted this player to even more fame. These songs were used in a number of television shows, commercials and films over the years, which is probably where you first heard the music of Iz.

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It’s important to realize that he was far more than just these songs though. He incorporated the ukulele into many different types of music, including reggae and jazz, and he remains one of the most popular players in Hawaii today. Check out all of his albums – Ka ‘Ano’i, Facing Future, E Ala E, and N Dis Life.

Jake Shimabukuro While he was a recording artist with some fame in Japan and Hawaii in the early 2000’s a video of him uploaded to YouTube in 2006 that really made him famous. The video showed him playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on the ukulele. It became an instant hit, and it was one of the first videos to go viral. Check out his album Grand Ukulele, and look him up on YouTube.

Eddie Vedder Yes, it’s that Eddie, the front man for the band Pearl Jam. Here’s a name that you probably didn’t realize had anything to do with the ukulele, but he loves the instrument. In 2011, he released an album appropriately titled Ukulele Songs. It’s a very interesting album and it takes the instrument into some different directions that many might not expect. It is very well worth listening to so you can see just what’s possible with the instrument.

5 Most Popular Uke Songs of All Time While this list will probably be a bit controversial, I thought I’d include a list of the most popular – at least some of the most popular – ukulele songs of all time. If you haven’t heard all of them, then you have some homework to do. •

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

•

“Tiptoe Through the Tulips” 45 © www.superukulele.com

•

“I’ll See You in My Dreams”

•

“Ain’t She Sweet”

•

“Aloha ‘Oe”

Now, this is just a small list, but it’s a nice start. Once you start listening to some of the great ukulele players out there, you can start adding to your own list of favorites. I keep my own separate ukulele playlist on my devices so I have quick and easy access to ukulele music. I listen to this playlist often and I can even say that I’m almost surely in a better mood when I do. The ukulele must be one of the sweetest instruments on the planet, and if you haven’t figured this out yet, I’m certain you will soon. If you made it this far in the book, I know you are already making big steps in getting better at playing the ukulele, and that you are motivated to do so. Listening to songs from talented artists and watching their techniques in video format will give you deeper insight and can only help you improve even more.

Conclusion Now you have a wealth of skills that will take you from an absolute novice to a decent player, and it will get you there faster than you might actually think! I’m constantly impressed by the dedication many people have in improving their ukulele playing skills, and I must say that this motivates me to give my students…my friends…anything I can in order to help in any way. I know in my heart that many of the readers of this book will, through their dedication, play important roles in the next generation of influential ukulele players in this world. You may one day become that ukulele artist that others want to listen to and learn from. And you’ll have a great deal of FUN along the way!

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This Long and Winding Road I’ve loved the ukulele all of my life. It’s a love that will never leave me, and it’s something that I want to share with the world. Everyone should – and can – play this instrument. There is a low barrier to entry in terms of cost. It’s small and portable, loud when you need it to be and quiet when you don’t. It can play a range of different types of music, and it has a beautiful legacy. These things are the joys of the ukulele I want to share with my students, my friends. That’s why I started my website and my YouTube channel. That’s why I continue to pour my heart and soul into showing people the ukulele. It’s unbelievable to think that I’ve hit 20,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel. With so many people wanting to learn and showing their love for the ukulele, it’s become my mission to give as much to my students and friends as possible. The result is the book you’ve just completed. My hope is that you came away learning something about the ukulele, and that it fuels a passion for the instrument that lasts you the rest of your life.

Keep the Passion My passion for the ukulele will never end, and I hope that after reading this book and learning a few songs, you feel the same way. Now…what are you doing still hanging out around here? Go have some fun with your ukulele!

And one quick thing… I’m getting a little crazy here and I’ve decided to write yet another and more complete ukulele book. If there is anything in particular you would like me to include, please leave me a comment via my YouTube channel or by visiting the contact page on my website.

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Resources: http://www.superukulele.com https://ukuguides.com/guides/parts-of-the-ukulele-explained/ http://www.ukuleletricks.com/ukulele-sizes-soprano-concert-tenor-baritone/ http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org/ukulele-history http://www.get-tuned.com/tuning-the-ukulele-to-itself.php https://ukuguides.com/tips/10-ukulele-tips-for-beginners/ http://www.gotaukulele.com/2011/03/ukulele-beginners-tips-finger.html http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15486-ukulele-songs/ http://jakeshimabukuro.com/

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Chord Chart Page 1

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Chord Chart Page 2

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