No Tricks • No Secrets • No Shortcuts • Nothing for Dummies
Learning the ukulele isn't about quick fixes or unrealistic promises. You won't master it in 7 days, 30 days, or even in a lifetime. Instead, you'll embark on an enjoyable journey filled with exploration and endless fun. The key is to stick with it and savor the process.
Become a member of LearningUkulele.com and
Learning Ukulele with Curt to unlock a world of ukulele enjoyment and discovery.
First time here, need a refresher or wanting to sill in some gaps? Start with the Getting Started Series of Ukulele Lessons . Whether you're a beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, you'll find valuable insights to enhance your playing or help fellow uke enthusiasts
The Lessons Series section of the site is an excellent starting point, offering curated and organized collections of lessons focused on specific topics. Each series provides a structured learning path to help you master various aspects of playing the ukulele.
Here are few Snake Oil pitches you get on-line BUT NOT Here on LearningUkulele.com:
- Learn Step-by-Step and Master the UKULELE in less than 30 day • Step-by-step is good depending on the steps, but—30 days—really Ask any accomplished musician how long it took them to get where they are today. Most will say they are still learning and working on their goals.
- Practice Only a Few Minutes X Days a Week • We've all seen these claims for achieving something with little or no effort. It just doesn't work like that, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE TIME & WORK IN. • You get out of what you put into it. Every day is actually one of the secrets. It's just like saving for the future. Save one dollar or euro a week, or save one dollar or euro a day—who has more money one year later? You would be surprised at the young students who don't know the answer is 52 vs. 365 (366 on leap years).
- Learn Without Learning Scales or Getting Bogged Down with Fancy Theory • You wouldn't try to be a writer without learning about the alphabet, words, nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and the grammar that puts it all together. Music is no different — the established principles of music that have worked for centuries and are based on the science of sound and acoustics. Pretty must everything in music originates from some sort of collection of notes, i.e.,
Scales.
However, you can and should learn the principles of music at some point? It does cut down on the amount of information you need to memorize in the long term. - Learn to Play Like (insert your favorite artist's name here) • There is already one of them and countless wannabe clones. Learn to unleash your inner musician / artist. BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE — As there can ever only be one of you. As Dr. Seuss said
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
However, you can and should learn the sources that your favorite players have drawn from, as you can draw from those same sources. - Uke Like a Pro • Only if you study with a real professional.
Looking for a magic potion to learn the ukulele? Sorry, there isn’t one. But after you've tried all the Quick & Easy methods and still haven't seen the results you're after, don't blame yourself or your effort. The issue likely lies with the methods, sources, and teachers you've been using. It's time to put the pieces together with a reliable and effective approach to truly master the ukulele. Join LearningUkulele.com and discover the difference.
Proven Methods — It's one thing that I've learned over the past 30 years, 40 years, 50 years, plus years of serious study, research, and application of music, as well as from my weekly interaction with the 40 to 60, (had 70 at one point) It's that everyone is different. I can adapt to pretty much anything and have a multitude of ways of teaching any given topic. I CAN find what works for you — that IS my role in this and my goal, to help you learn and develop your voice on the ukulele.
The sole assurance I can offer regarding my methods and guidance is that if one invests the necessary time and effort, they will attain desired outcomes. I, my mentors, and my students have all been down the same musical road that you're traveling.
Over the years, I've found that every musician you admire probably started where you did.
The Secret is — There is NO Secret — it IS hard work!
NOW, Lets Get to Work!!!
Now, What You — “WILL” — Get
Here's what you will get with Curt and LearningUkulele.com.
I develop ukulele players into musicians. Although my specialization is jazz, I work with and develop ukulele players in every style. Subjects and areas of study include technique, chords and progressions, improvisation, solo ukulele, sight-reading, ear training, theory, songwriting, and development of a performance repertoire and the skills to pull it all off. If you are taking private lessons with me or have signed up for two or four lessons a month online, we work on what your goals are.
With my, almost 50 plus years of serious study of music and 30 plus years of private teaching. I'm more than sure — I guarantee I can help you achieve your goals.
I haven't traveled the globe (I've played at a bunch of US ukulele festivals) or played with people you might know, so no naming names. I decided to stay at home and be close to my family and not travel much (it's not a glamorous as you think). I've made a living locally, as a professional musician and graphic artist. The Internet has enabled global connectivity.
If you want to know if I have the chops to back it up — Take a listen to my How About More Uke CD .
“The self-taught man seldom knows anything accurately, and he does not know a tenth as much as he could have known if he had worked under teachers; and, besides, he brags, and is the means of fooling other thoughtless people into going and doing as he himself had done.” — Mark Twain
A little tough — but Mark Twain was always brutally honest.
My methods are customized and drawn from my background in teaching, performance, recording, publishing, research and my own thirty plus years of studying with world renowned jazz guitarist and educator Chuck Anderson . I just never stopped learning, exploring, and researching music.
My private teaching programs are devoted to your learning and advancing your ukulele skills and chops, and they will help you explore any style of music, mainly contemporary and jazz ukulele styles. Jazz ukulele requires the most information, knowledge, and technique of all styles of ukulele. These programs will benefit any ukulele player trying to advance his or her skills and enjoyment of the ukulele.
Take advantage of my thirty-plus years of teaching and fifty years of intense study and research to help you advance in the art of the ukulele and become the ukulele player to match your goals.
Take a look around the site and check out the many FREE lessons and my many books . Take a look around the site and checkout the many FREE lessons, my many books . Or, better yet, support the site and sign up for Premium Access.
Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk
Not only do I know what I'm doing, but I can also explain in detail and in many ways what I do and guide you through the process so you can achieve your goals. Take a look at my Curt Sheller Jazz Trio, How About More Uke? CD for what I can offer to ANY aspiring ukulele player.
Now, honestly, one thing that I'm not that great at is typing. Hence, all the typos on the site and I never formally studied writing ( probably also self-evident ), but hopefully getting better. — Curt
“Press on: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” — Calvin Coolidge, The 30th. President [1923-1929]
Should You Study Music With A Teacher or Should You "Wing" It On You Own?
This question always comes up in this type of discussion about music.
Here is Chuck Anderson's take on the question.
An objective assessment of the two alternative approaches leads me (Chuck Anderson) invariably towards the formal route. Why? Because without guidance, there is a tendency to go in circles, What do you practice, when do you move to the next topic? When are you doing something wrong? How do you practice what doesn't exist to you?
— Chuck Anderson
PDF & Hard Copy Books
Immediate Downloads of PDF Books. Hard Copies are, naturally shipped.
Most, if not all of the above books are available for FREE download as part of a Premium LearningUkulele.com Site Access.
In addition to on-line, right here on LearningUkulele.com, hard copy books are available at , Funky Frets and a few select ukulele dealers. Retailers wishing to carry books by Curt Sheller can contact me, Curt directly here on LearningUkulele.com for more info and to get setup. However, I'm pretty much going all digital and make the content viewable online - just like you can preview a book at a traditional book store.
Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written, and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee
Learning Ukulele
The Good News - initially the ukulele is a lot easier to learn than the guitar or most other fretted stringed instruments. You can get initial success pretty early one. Now the Bad News - there are no Tricks, Secrets or Shortcuts when learning any musical instrument and the ukulele is no different. To take it beyond the basic requires learning how things work in music and mastering the technique required for simply enjoying the ukulele.
Using my proven teaching methods All I can guarantee IS that you WILL learn and progress.
Jack Webb of Dragnet TV fame said if best, "Just The Facts, Ma'am."
The Tricks are just the tools and building on a core - solid foundation. The Secrets - well there are no secrets, it's how music works, and we work in relationship to music. And Shortcuts typically come back and bite you. Skip the tricks, secrets, and shortcuts, and you won't regret it down the road. My site does dispense a lot of tips I've discovered, researched and explored along the way to help with learning the ukulele. I can be your guide, coach, mentor, teacher for exploring the ukulele.
You won't have to:
- Practice - you'll EXPLORE the ukulele and all its potential.
- There are no Rules - just the PRINCIPLES of music and how it all works together.
- Play - well you can call it play but it is a bit of WORK - but a lot of fun.
Your Fearless `Ukulele Leader
- Practice - you'll EXPLORE the ukulele and all its potential.
- There are no Rules - just the PRINCIPLES of music and how it all works together.
- Play - well you can call it play but it is a bit of WORK - but a lot of fun.
Your Fearless `Ukulele Leader
Curt Sheller - ( Me, myself and I ) is-are an independent, by choice, musician, graphic artist, music store owner, publishing company, web developer (these sites), etc... catering to the needs of ukulele players and musicians worldwide with the resources, expertise and information you need to develop as a musician.
Curt Sheller Publications was created by Curt Sheller (me) in 1995 and has been on the web since - over 20 years. I have over 50 plus years ( that sounds old ) of playing experience, and I have been involved in private music education for the past 30 years. I have performed and presented workshops at various ukulele festivals around the USA since 2004.
I'm one of those rare performers that can communicate what I do to a student in a detailed manner and customized to their needs. Like I said - I'll guarantee your progress as long as you do the work.
Back to the 'Ukulele
After a 20 plus year break from the 'ukulele - ( couldn't figure it out back then and no info around, let alone a finding a qualified teacher for 'ukulele ) - In 2003 I began taking advantage of my jazz guitar skills, training, teaching and performance experience and started pursuing and exploring the potential of the ukulele. Researching the field I saw very little material organized at a level that actually works for intermediate to advanced players – most of the beginner stuff is suspect as well. I have developed an international reputation as a ukulele expert having written 50+ books for ukulele and guitar. In my private teaching practice I typically have between 50 to 60 students a week of all levels depending on the season.
Checkout my ukulele CD, “How About More Uke?” - I've been planning and talking about this CD for a few years and finally have gotten around to getting it done.
A Few Popular Lessons
- Basic Open Position `Ukulele Chord Chart
- Core Chords - The Big Six - Building a Solid Chord Foundation
- Songs Using a Common 1 5 6 4 Chord Progression
- Core `Ukulele Chords, Traditional and Contemporary Triads
- Chord a Day, January 1st - C
- Building a Solid Jazz Chord Foundation for `Ukulele
- Selecting a `Ukulele
- Types of `Ukulele Chords
- Learning the `Ukulele Fingerboard (Finally!!!)
- Six Essential Scales for `Ukulele
- Movable `Ukulele Chords
- Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson One
- Natural, Sharp and Flat Notes of the `Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning
- 4-part Contemporary Chords, a.k.a. Jazz Chords
- Reading Ukulele TAB - Alternate Notation
- The Harmonized Major and Minor Scale Charts
- Hearing the Changes
- Understanding a `Ukulele Chord Diagram
- Remembering Songs
- Key Signatures - Introduction
- "Learning The Blues Scale on `Ukulele
- Dominant Seventh Chords?
- Reading for `Ukulele Series - C Tuning
- Exploring Jazz Chords on `Ukulele, Standard Example - Autumn Leaves
- Open Position Chords
- `Ukulele Blues, Example D
- Ear Training
- Harmonic Analysis Lesson Series
- Reading Music on `Ukulele Series - Reading in Open Position
“Press on: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” — Calvin Coolidge, The 30th. President [1923-1929]
“The ukulele is a noble little instrument... anyone serious about music will eventually come to play one.” — Bob Brozman
“How long can you call something a fad before you just have to admit the thing is just here, it’s hit a steady state, and it’s just going to be around?” — James Hill
“Curt, I really enjoyed your set at The Whiskey--your low key intros, mic persona provided a cool contrast with your complex uke technique and ingenious arrangements!” — Jared Denhard
“Chords can not be named out of context. They can only be named in the context of a chord progression or chord sequence and then only when the chord's harmonic function within that progression can be determined.” — Curt Sheller (me)
“That's the single most sensible statement about music that I've read in months, maybe years. Thanks, Curt.” — John Kavanagh, The 4th Peg Parlor Room
“I wanted to pay you a compliment. (Now don't get a big head!). I have purchased many books over the past 15 years I have been playing and none of them come even close to having the detailed and easy to understand information yours have. I really got a chance to get some practicing in and am finding your books to be such a great learning tool. I also purchased a timer like you suggested and my practice sessions the past 4 days have been my best in years.” — Take care, Nick Matty
Updates and new lessons, songs and information is posted just about everyday.
If I'm not teaching or gigging I'm working on the web site.
More Info on My Background
You can checkout my Music, Art, Publishing and Programming bios at: Bios . I have worn a lot of different hats over my adult working career – music and art has always been the BIGGEST part of it.
Should You Study Music With A Teacher or Should You "Wing" It On You Own?
This question always comes up in this type of discussion about music.
Here is Chuck Anderson's take on the question.
An objective assessment of the two alternative approaches leads me (Chuck Anderson) invariably towards the formal route. Why? Because without guidance, there is a tendency to go in circles, What do you practice, when do you move to the next topic? When are you doing something wrong? How do you practice what doesn't exist to you?
— Chuck Anderson
Student and Site Access Plan Options
Two ways to get the greatest benefit from the LearningUkulele.com and myself — more info about Curt Sheller.
I've had countless ukulele players at festivals, and guitarists approach me and say, "I wish I lived closer to you. I'd love to take lessons." With the Internet your as close as ever and can benefit from my performance and teaching experience.
Monthly One-on-One Private Lesson Plans
Details of the lessons plans are available on the main page of the student section.
Monthly and Annual Site Membership Option
A second way of taking advantage is subscribing to an affordable site subscription plan. There are are several membership plans available that include FREE months and FREE books downloads.
