First `Ukulele Lesson

First `Ukulele Lesson…

The standard notation is there for reference at this point in time unless your goals also includes to read actual music — the notes.

• Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

Right Hand Technique

For Single Note technique the ukulele is typically played with your fingers. For single notes the thumb is pretty much relegated to down strokes. The finger down a better job when handling the up strokes. The first assignment is the practice each separately.

• Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics — Developing Technique

Left Hand Finger Strength and Independence

The left hand will do things that its hasn't been called on to do before. The fingers of the left hand need to operate independently of each other and at times together. The first series of assignments start with developing single finger independence.

Some of the notes that I relay to the student are to play notes right behind the frets. After showing them the proper thumb placement and how to get it themselves, I have them take finger one, the finger tip and run it up and down the fingerboard on string one and feel the frets. Then do it again super, super slow and as soon as you feel a fret stop - and that's where to play a single notes.

This exercise has you train each finger in play their own fret on each string starting with string one, closest to your toes and then string two, string three, string four and back to strings three, two and one. Repeating this on fret two with finger two, fret three with finger three and finally fret four with finger four. You can't do too many of these and you can do them while watching TV. It's totally to develop the motor skills and independence.

• Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics — Developing Technique

Chords and Chord Progressions

Then it's in to your first chords and chord progressions with some basic strums.

The first lessons is really to set the foundation for what is too follow. In the general scheme of things and based on what's written in the lessons book, it might appear that a lot is not getting done. However there is a lot between the lines that goes in the lessons that don't make it to the lessons sheet and all depends on what any one individual brings to the lessons. Elements such as there experience with learning and play on other instruments. Their age and life experiences, their goals and expectations for the ukulele.

You first chord is naturally one of the most common chords everyone learns on ukulele - the C or C major chord.

Then it's on to the common chords in the common keys that are next, as one of you your main goals is most likely to play songs. A song acts as a recipe and tells you what you need to know to play the song. that is one of the big benefits of private lessons. There is a lot more to the song that is actually on the page.

Chord and chord progressions (songs) are what you will need the most of and is the largest number of lessons available on the site.

Next is learning various style and the rhythmic patterns - the strums, that can go along with these chords and chord progressions.

Recommended Lessons Series

• Common Chord Progressions and Remembering Songs
• Weekly Beginners, Getting Started Series
• Ukulele Strums - Getting Started
• Modular Phonetic Rhythm by Chuck Anderson

Checkout the over 70 Lesson Series available.