Technique

The manner and degree to which one employs the technical skills of an endeavor as applied to `ukulele.

Published: 02 Mar 2016 Updated: 05 Apr 2019Visits: 0Code: UL401

Category: TechniqueInstrument: Ukulele Subjects: Technique

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Technique


Technique is the manner and degree to which one employs the technical skills of an endeavor.

For ukulele or any instrument that use of the hands, it's the motor skills and the efficient application of the motor skills for the specific musical tasks that are needed and required for performance.

Technique in involves with hands, the fretting hand and the plucking or picking hand. Both hands need to be developed independently and together.

As the ukulele typically doesn't use a pick a strumming and fingerstyle approach is most often used.

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I've organized the related lessons in to their relevant series:

Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics

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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Technique.

UL08-pairs-2

Adjacent String Pairs Fingering Drills

Building on the one, two, three and four finger finger gymnastics, these adjacent strings drills add a change of direction to the exercises.

UL15b

Advanced Single Note Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To develop strong and independent left hand technique these series of graduated drills or finger gymnastics will increase your the comfort zone of usable technique. This lesson expands basic single string drills using multiple strings.

UL15

Basic Single Note Drills for `Ukulele

Basic one, two, three and four note single string drills for ukulele for developing finger strength and independence. It's critical a player develop the finger strength and independence to explore their full musical potential. By developing a great fingerboard hand, you will be able to explore more challenging musical situations.

GL04

Developing Your Single Note Picking

Developing you single note picking starts with holding the pick properly, choosing the proper size and material and actually working on picking on your guitar.

UL08i

Fingering Gymnastics - a.k.a. Fingering Drills Introduction

Ukulele Gymnastics series contains quite a few lessons for developing your finger strength and independence of the fretting hand. The fretting hand is responsible for playing chords and single notes. The fretting hand and plucking hand are responsible for getting the music out.

CAL01

Guitar (applies to `Ukulele also) Fingering and Creativity

This is a guest lesson/article by internationally renowned jazz guitarist and educator Chuck Anderson. Normally, we think of fingering as a technical subject. Using a good and efficient fingering makes sense. It should make anything that you play easier and more dependable.

UL08rz

Repeating Note - Single String Fingering Drills Conclusion

At this point, you can be creative and create any number of repeating note gymnastics to work on specific problem areas you encounter in your technique. This is actually where a good teacher can help in identifying problem areas in your playing.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Technique.

Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking on Ukulele

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

This is the common alternating thumb and two finger strumming style utilizing the thumb, index and middle fingers. Commonly called “Travis” picking in the guitar world. This series of lessons explores and adapts this style to ukulele. Travis Picking is a finger-style made famous by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. This style is commonly played on steel string acoustic guitars.

Chord Switching, Double Stop Drills for Ukulele

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

Switching chords is all about finger independence and working together. This can be developed using the double stop fingering drills presented in this lesson.

Related Songs

Related Songs for Technique.

ANYSONG

Any Song Will Do

Updated: 07 Dec 2015

This is not really a song, but simply saying that for the purposes of a lot of the lessons and lesson series on this site ANY song will do for exploring the lesson's material and concepts presented in the lesson.

Related Books & Charts

Related Books for Technique.

UKEFP01

Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style

Updated: 07 Aug 2018

Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style, 2nd Edition is a new expanded edition that focuses on the alternating thumb fingerpicking style through a series of graduated lessons-chapters incorporating your index and middle fingers with the alternating thumb.

6SUF

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Updated: 04 Dec 2024

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight reading. Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique but also to creativity.

A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

Books

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition.

Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.

Checkout the Books for ALL available books.

Reference Charts

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4

Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

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