Learn to Play the Ukulele Fast with This 9-Step Guide [+ 50 Songs!]

Contents hide

How can I get started playing the ukulele?

Step 1: Buy a ukulele

Step 2: Understand the anatomy of the ukulele

Step 3: Know how to hold a ukulele

Step 4: Tuning the ukulele

Useful tools for learning to play the ukulele

Step 5: Understanding and reading the chord grids

Step 6: Learn 6 ukulele chords to play almost any song

Step 7: Strumming the ukulele

Step 8: Learn 6 easy ukulele strumming patterns

Step 9: Practice regularly

What to expect while you learn to play the ukulele

Seek support and guidance

The big picture

Frequently asked questions about learning to play the ukulele

Top 50 easy ukulele songs for beginners

Did you know that mastering a few simple ukulele chords can open the doors to playing countless songs? Whether you are a complete beginner or someone trying to learn to play the ukulele, it is a remarkably beginner-friendly instrument that you can get into quickly from the start.

Starting something from scratch can be overwhelming and confusing. That is why we put together this 9 step guide to learning to play the ukulele fast.

From holding your ukulele to playing soulful rhythms, we will guide you in making your ukulele journey more joyful. Are you excited? Let’s dive in!

How can I get started playing the ukulele?

As you begin to learn to play the ukulele, starting on the right foot is important. Once you start playing the wrong way, you get used to it, and it becomes harder to change your habits.

Before jumping into the ukulele chords and the strumming patterns, there are certain things that you should know to make you feel well-equipped to start playing the ukulele. This is important, as it will help you overcome challenges or confusion and strengthen your foundation.

So, let’s lay the groundwork together, and with patience and a lot of practice, you will be able to strum and play the chords on the ukulele and bring your song to life.

Step 1: Buy a ukulele

If you don’t have a ukulele yet, don’t worry! As a beginner, It is normal to be unsure about which one to purchase, especially if you don’t have someone to guide you during your ukulele journey.

It can be overwhelming to choose the best ukulele that suits your needs out of a wide array of options. But with the correct information, you can find the ukulele that suits you the most.

To simplify the selection process, it will be beneficial to consider a few criteria:

Size: Ukuleles come in different sizes- soprano, concert, tenor, bass, and baritone. The size influences the tonal quality of the ukulele and complements your playability. Try out different ukulele sizes before you stick to one to know what works for you and eliminate what doesn’t.
Budget: Establishing a budget can help you narrow your options and focus on the ukuleles that align with your financial plan. There is a wide variety of ukuleles on the market, ranging from budget-friendly options to high-end instruments. You can browse as you go until you find the perfect one.
Quality: While evaluating the quality of the ukulele, look out for what material the ukulele is made of; the sound should be balanced and must resonate. There are many reputable ukulele brands out there you can check as well, such as Kamaka, Cordoba, and others.
Review: If you’re considering purchasing a ukulele online, take the time to read reviews from other customers. These reviews can provide helpful information about other people’s experiences with the same ukulele model. There are also dedicated ukulele review websites that can provide helpful information.

However, visiting your nearest instrument shop can be incredibly beneficial. This way, you can try out each ukulele in person and make a well-informed decision based on your preferences and comfort. You can explain your level and they will help you choose a ukulele that fits.

Remember that whether you buy online or in person, doing your homework and trying different options will ensure you get the best ukulele.

Step 2: Understand the anatomy of the ukulele

Before you learn to play the ukulele, you have to familiarize yourself with the various components and parts! Let’s take a look at what makes the ukulele:

Body of the ukulele

The hollow, resonating part of the ukulele is the body of the ukulele. This is where you strum, and this is the part responsible for amplifying the sound produced by the string.

Soundhole

Located just behind the strings, the circular soundhole plays a crucial role in projecting the ukulele’s sound. As you play directly over the soundhole, the sound resonates more strongly, resulting in a louder and more vibrant tone. As you move away from the soundhole, the sound becomes softer and quieter.

Bridge

Situated below the soundhole, the bridge serves as an anchor point for one end of each string. The purpose of the bridge is to anchor the strings firmly and hold them in place.

Saddle

The saddle, typically made of plastic or other materials, rests atop the bridge. The primary function of the saddle is to maintain the distance between the strings and the ukulele’s body. This ensures better playability and prevents buzzing or intonation issues.

The neck of the ukulele

The neck connects the head to the ukulele’s body and plays a crucial role in fretting notes and changing strings to create chords.

Fretboard

The fretboard is a flat, elongated wooden surface along the ukulele’s neck. It serves as the area where you play ukulele chords, and the pitch of the notes increases as you move closer to the body.

Fret

The fretboard is divided into sections called frets, and pressing on these frets produces different sounds. The pitch of the note changes depending on which fret you press.

Fret wire

The fret wires are the metal wires positioned between frets, distinguishing them from one another.

Fret markers

These small dots across the fretboard serve as visual guides to help you identify specific fret positions without counting from the beginning. Common fret markers are found on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets, depending on the ukulele’s design.

Nut

Positioned at the end of the neck, joining it to the headstock, the nut has grooves that securely hold the strings, maintaining their alignment and keeping them in place.

Headstock of the ukulele

Next, the headstock is a vital component attached to the neck of the ukulele and houses the tuning pegs. While the design of the headstock may vary between different ukulele models, it does not significantly impact the instrument’s tonal quality.

Tuning pegs

Tuning pegs, also known as tuners, are affixed to the headstock. Each string on the ukulele is wound around its corresponding tuning peg. These pegs play a crucial role in tuning the ukulele. To adjust the pitch of the strings, you simply turn the tuning pegs clockwise or counterclockwise as needed. The number of tuning pegs corresponds to the number of strings on the ukulele, and each string has its designated peg.

Step 3: Know how to hold a ukulele

You’ll have a better time practicing and playing ukulele if you feel comfortable holding it! Because of this, you have to understand the correct hand placement and posture you should maintain while holding the ukulele. Let’s see how:

1. Position the ukulele

Place the ukulele close to your chest with the sound hole facing forward. Tilt it slightly upwards for better visibility.

2. Right-hand placement for strumming

If you are right-handed, cradle the ukulele body on the right side of your body using your right forearm. Place it gently in the crevice between your lower and upper arms.
Keep your lower hand above the sound hole, allowing easy and comfortable strumming.
Ensure your wrists are relaxed and in a neutral position to facilitate smooth hand movement.

3. Left-hand placement for fretting

Hold the neck of the ukulele with your left hand.
Place your thumb behind the neck for support.
Wrap your fingers around the fretboard, perpendicular to the frets, so that you don’t touch adjacent strings unintentionally, as it may produce unwanted sounds and affect your playing.

4. Maintain an excellent ukulele-playing posture

Ensure you are not hunching over the ukulele. Maintain a straight back to avoid tension and discomfort during playing.

Step 4: Tuning the ukulele

The next step is to tune the ukulele to produce the best possible sound and allow you to play in tune with other instruments.

Let’s see how!

The first thing you will require to tune the ukulele is a Tuner. A Tuner is a device that adjusts the pitch of musical instruments to tune each string to the correct note accurately. You can opt for a clip-on tuner or download a tuning app on your phone for convenience.
Identify the strings and their corresponding tuning pegs to ensure you turn the right peg for each string.
Let’s start with the G string. Strike the string and observe the tuner. You might see that the pitch displayed on the tuner might be way too high (sharp) or too low (flat).
Turn the corresponding tuning peg clockwise if the G string is too low. If it’s too high, turn it counterclockwise.
Repeat the process for the C, E, and A strings. Pluck each string, observe the tuner, and adjust the tension to achieve the correct pitch.
Repeat them once you’ve tuned all four strings to ensure they are precisely in tune. Fine-tune as needed to achieve the most accurate pitch.

Useful tools for learning to play the ukulele

Metronome

First off, a metronome is a device that serves as your rhythmic guide, keeping a steady beat or tempo while you play music. Following its consistent beat, you can develop a strong sense of timing and rhythm, which is crucial, mainly when playing as part of a group. Everyone must synchronize their playing in such settings to ensure a cohesive and harmonious performance.

To begin, you can set the metronome to a slower tempo, allowing you to establish a comfortable rhythm. You can gradually increase the tempo as you grow more confident with the pace.

This practice not only aids in maintaining consistency but also helps in improving your playing speed over time.

Transpose feature

With this feature, you can effortlessly adjust the pitch of a song, making it ideal for trying out different vocal ranges or simplifying chord progressions. You can find this feature on a lot of websites.

Also, this allows ukulele players to adapt the song’s key to suit their unique vocal abilities, resulting in a more comfortable and enjoyable performance.

Additionally, shifting a song’s pitch can often lead to more accessible and common chord shapes, ideal for players who prefer accessible finger placements. This feature enables ukuleleists to experiment with diverse chord progressions.

Capo

Finally, a capo is a clamp you place over the fretboard of a ukulele to raise the instrument’s pitch. The capo enables ukuleleists to play chords and songs in higher keys while maintaining the same chord shapes and finger placements.

If a song is too high or low for a singer’s vocal range, placing the capo on a suitable fret can bring the song to a more comfortable pitch for the vocalist.

A black capo that you use when playing guitar or ukulele. — A capo

One thing to remember when placing the capo is that the fret following the capo is considered the first fret, and the fret after that is called the second fret, and so on.

Step 5: Understanding and reading the chord grids

A chord grid diagram, also known as a chord chart or chord diagram, is a visual representation of a chord formation on a ukulele or other stringed instrument. The chord grid diagram provides specific information about forming a chord by indicating the finger placements on the strings and frets.

The chord-grid diagram consists of:

Horizontal lines that represent fret wires
Frets are present between two consecutive fret wires
Vertical lines are the strings
G string is the left-most vertical line, while A is the right-most one
O = an open string you play
X = do not play the string
The numbers on the strings indicate which finger you use and where to place each one.

Try figuring out the finger placements of each chord. Start with the easiest ukulele chords to advance into the complex ones. Try out different variations of the same chord to broaden your horizon. Doing so will help you adapt to different playing styles and chord progressions.

Step 6: Learn 6 ukulele chords to play almost any song

Although exploring and learning multiple chords can help you in your ukulele journey, learning all the chords out there is optional. You can stick to the basic ones and still be able to play most of the songs out there. These are some easy ukulele chords that you can start with. As you become more confident playing, you can gradually introduce more complex chords and explore variations. Let’s check out some of the most basic ukulele chords.

C major

The C major chord is one of the first chords beginner ukuleleists try. To form the C chord, place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A-string. Keep your other strings open—Strum from the G string down to the A string. The C chord is bright and cheerful, perfect for many songs, especially those in the key of C major.

A minor

To play the Am chord, place your middle finger on the second fret of the G string of the ukulele.

Then, strum from the G string down to the A string.

F major

To play the F chord, place your index finger on the first fret of the E-string and your middle finger on the second fret of the G-string. Press down these two strings firmly while keeping the others open to prevent the muting and buzzing of the strings. Strum from the G string to the A string.

G major

Next is the G chord, another fundamental chord widely used in ukulele playing. To play the G chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the C string, your middle finger on the second fret of the A string, and the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E string. Leave the other strings open and strum all the strings. The G chord brings a sense of brightness and energy to your playing and is perfect for upbeat and cheerful tunes.

E minor

To play the E minor chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the A string, middle finger on the third fret of the E string, and ring finger on the fourth fret of the C string. Press the strings firmly to prevent the muting and buzzing of the strings, and strum from the G string to the A string.

D major

Lastly, learn how to hold and strum the D major chord. Place your index finger on the second fret of the G string, middle finger on the second fret of the C string, and ring finger on the second fret. Press the strings firmly to prevent the muting and buzzing of the strings. Ensure your palm is not touching the A string, as it can mute the A string.

Step 7: Strumming the ukulele

Now that you’ve mastered the left hand’s role in holding chords, it’s time to shift our focus to the purpose of the right hand in playing the ukulele – strumming.

Strumming techniques on ukulele

Finger Strumming:

When strumming with your fingers, you have two options: using your thumb or the fingernail of your index finger. If you opt for thumb strumming, position it above the strings and move it up and down to create a soft and gentle sound, perfect for slower songs and ballads. On the other hand, using your index finger’s nail requires angling the finger downwards, above the strings, and making contact with the strings during the strumming motion.

Pick Strumming:

Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger for pick strumming, with the pointed end facing downward towards the strings. Ensure a firm but not overly tight grip. This technique allows for greater precision and brightness in your strumming, making it ideal for various genres and playing styles.

For further guidance, refer to this video to see how to use a pick to strum the ukulele.

Where to strum the ukulele?

Strumming the ukulele can confuse many beginners, leaving them uncertain about where to strum and which part of the instrument yields the best sound. However, fear not; every ukulele has a sweet spot that produces a well-balanced and resonant sound.

You can find the sweet spot at the junction where the neck and the ukulele’s body meet. While this remains consistent for soprano ukuleles, it may vary slightly based on size.

Take the time to explore different strumming positions on your ukulele, paying close attention to the tone produced at each point. As you strum across the strings with your fingers or a pick, listen attentively to how the sound changes when you strum closer to the fretboard, the bridge, or around the sweet spot. Observe the differences in tone, volume, and resonance.

Letting your wrist take the lead

Strumming with your wrist instead of your entire arm is a fundamental technique to impact your playing positively. It’s a common mistake for beginner ukuleleists, but with some attention and practice, you can swiftly correct it before it becomes a habit that’s hard to break.

When strumming, focus on using your wrist to create the rhythmic motion. Keep your arm relaxed and let your wrist take the lead. By doing so, you’ll find that your strumming becomes more fluid and precise.

A loose wrist also reduces tension and strain, preventing potential discomfort or injuries from prolonged playing sessions. As you strum with your wrist, be mindful of any tension creeping into your arm or hand, and make a conscious effort to release it. The goal is to achieve a relaxed and comfortable strumming motion.

Step 8: Learn 6 easy ukulele strumming patterns

The strumming pattern significantly influences your performance’s overall musicality and expression. You can easily add emotion and depth to your music by varying the speed, emphasis, and direction of your strumming.

Your strumming choices can significantly impact the song’s overall mood, whether you want to convey an exhilarating burst of energy or a soft and comforting atmosphere.

As you become more familiar with strumming patterns, you’ll have the confidence to experiment and improvise. You can modify existing patterns or create your own, infusing your music with originality and creativity.

Before you start strumming, keep your metronome on to check your rhythm!

What is 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &?

In a strumming pattern, “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &” refers to the rhythmic counting of beats while strumming a musical instrument, such as a guitar or ukulele. The numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent the main beats of a measure, and the “&” symbols represent the subdivisions between the beats called the half beats.

So, a whole beat is made up of 2 half beats: 1 (half beat) and & (half beat) being one whole beat, 2 (half beat) and & (half beat) being one whole beat, and so on. This counting system helps musicians maintain a steady rhythm and synchronize with the song’s timing.

Now, without further delay, let’s dive into the strumming pattern!

Strumming Pattern #1: All down strums

Let’s start with the most straightforward strumming pattern: All down strums. All you have to do is strike the strings downward using your fingers or a pick. Focus on maintaining a steady rhythm as you strum all the strings in one fluid motion.

To further enhance your strumming proficiency, consider practicing along with a metronome. A metronome is a valuable tool that sets a precise tempo, helping you develop a strong sense of timing and stay in sync with the beat. You can improve your rhythm’s consistency and ensure you hit every note precisely on the beat by strumming with the metronome.

Strumming Pattern #2: Down, mute, down, mute

To play the D-X-D-X strumming pattern, start with a down strum. Next, perform a muted strum by brushing your fingers or palms across the strings lightly.

Prepare for the second down strum with the same motion. Follow it with another muted strum to complete the pattern. Practice this rhythmic pattern to add flair to your ukulele playing.

Strumming Pattern #3: Down, up, down, down up

For the D-XD-DX strumming pattern, keep an eye on the spacing between strums. To perform the strumming pattern, start by strumming down across the strings. Then, skip the next half beat, lightly muting the strings with your fingers. Afterward, strum down across the strings again, skipping the next half beat and lightly muting the strings while strumming down to create a percussive sound. Finally, complete the pattern by strumming across the strings again while lightly muting with your fingers.

Strumming Pattern #4: Down, down up, up down up

For the D-DU-UDU strumming pattern, start by strumming down across the strings. On the next beat, perform a down-up strum (DU), which means you strum down and then immediately strum up across the strings. And after skipping a half beat, strum up across the strings, then strum down, and finally, strum up again.

Strumming Pattern #5: Down, down up down up

In the strumming patterns we saw earlier, the time signature was 4/4, which means there are four beats in a measure, and the quarter note (a note that gets one beat) receives one beat.

The strumming pattern D-DUDU has a time signature of 3/4, which means there are three beats in a measure, and the quarter note (1/4 note) gets one beat.

Here, we play a down strum, skip a half beat, and play a down strum immediately, followed by an up strum, down strum, and then again up strum.

Strumming Pattern #6: Down, mute down, mute

The time signature of this one is also 3/4. We first play a down strumming pattern for the D-XD-X strum and then skip a beat. Then we mute the strings, followed by a down strum. We skip the next half beat and play a down strum afterward.

Step 9: Practice regularly

Imagine easily strumming your ukulele, confidently playing your favorite songs, and impressing your audience with your skilled performance. However, reaching this expertise demands consistent and focused practice – that’s the key.

Setting aside at least 20 minutes for daily practice as you learn to play the ukulele is important. A regular practice routine lays the groundwork for improvement.

A mom and daughter playing ukulele together As you invest time each day, you’ll observe smoother chord transitions, gradually overcoming the awkwardness many new players experience. Additionally, your strumming patterns will progressively lose their mechanical feel, adopting a more natural and flowing rhythm. Your progress will be very evident.

Remember that while innate talent can contribute, the dedication to practice truly shapes your progress in playing the ukulele.

What to expect while you learn to play the ukulele

Learning the ukulele won’t always be a breeze. There will be hurdles that require some genuine effort and dedication to overcome. Knowing what challenges might come your way is essential so you can be ready to tackle them head-on. Let’s look into them one by one, and let us figure out how to overcome each.

Slow chord transitions

At the beginning of your ukulele journey, facing challenges with chord transitions is a usual experience. As a beginner, your fingers still adapt to the unique finger placements required for each chord shape. Simultaneously, your mind processes the chord patterns while coordinating your fingers to land in the correct positions. This can make shifting from one chord to another a complex task, taking longer than expected.

During this initial stage, your fingers might respond more slowly than you’d like, and achieving smooth and quick chord changes can seem daunting. It’s completely normal to encounter these hurdles while you work on developing muscle memory and coordination.

To overcome this, you can:

Use a metronome. Begin with a slower tempo, and as you gain confidence playing it at a faster tempo, gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
Identify troublesome chords and practice those transitions until you feel comfortable with them.
Visualize the transition and mentally picture the finger movements required for the chord change.

Finger soreness

Your fingers adjust to the unique motions required for playing, which can result in discomfort and tenderness. This is because you’re using muscles and applying pressure in ways your fingers aren’t accustomed to yet.

As you progress and continue practicing, your fingers will gradually become more accustomed to the demands of playing the ukulele, and the soreness will diminish over time. It’s all part of the learning process, and with consistent practice, your fingers will adapt and toughen up, allowing you to play more comfortably.

To overcome this, you can:

Practice regularly to build the strength of your finger muscle.
Start slow with slow practice sessions and increase the duration of the sessions as your fingers build strength. Don’t push yourself hard to get it right on the go, as it can only lead to excessive soreness.

Maintaining a steady tempo

While learning your first few chords and strumming patterns, rhythm fluctuations are common. The tempo might speed up or slow down unintentionally, affecting the overall flow of your playing. However, this challenge is a natural part of the learning process and can be overcome with practice and focused effort.

To overcome this, you can:

- Use a metronome. Start with a slower tempo and keep increasing the tempo as you go.
- Play along with the tracks. Your primary focus should be aligning your chords to the song’s rhythm.

Getting comfortable with strumming patterns

Understanding and managing strumming patterns might seem puzzling, especially if you’re new to playing the ukulele. Coordinating chord changes with hand movements can be tricky, resulting in initial difficulties. However, it’s important to remember that this challenge is common for beginners. Don’t worry if you find it confusing initially – you’re not alone in facing this obstacle.

To overcome this, you can:

- Say it out loud to ensure you know what you are doing and register the strumming pattern in your mind.
- Try to build muscle memory. Keep practicing the strumming pattern until your hands are used to it. Aim to reach a stage where your hands can execute the pattern effortlessly without requiring your conscious focus for a smooth performance.
- Practice along with the music. This helps you adapt your strumming to different genres and styles.

Muting the strings

Do you encounter issues while playing the strings that don’t produce the desired sound? For instance, do the strings sometimes seem partially or entirely muted? This situation typically arises due to two primary reasons:

You might need to apply more pressure on the strings. Ensure that your fingers firmly press the strings against the frets to produce clear tones.
Another factor could be accidental contact with a string you shouldn’t touch. This interference can result in muted or unwanted sounds. Pay attention to the positioning of your fingers to prevent unintentional contact with neighboring strings. Try arching your fingers at right angles to prevent this from happening.

By addressing these two factors – applying proper pressure and maintaining accurate finger placement – you can significantly enhance the sound quality produced when you play the strings.

Record yourself!

Recording yourself while playing the ukulele is a powerful tool for improving your technique. You gain insights, making it possible to spot improvement opportunities, fix errors, and enhance skills. Self-evaluation is encouraged, which is essential for musical development.

Listening to your recordings simplifies spotting mistakes, helping you fix them through regular practice. It guides your learning process, making it easier to become better at playing.

Moreover, this approach is excellent for understanding yourself as you learn to play the ukulele. It helps you figure out what you’re good at and where to improve, like getting your timing right and accurately playing the notes. Listening lets you hear how loud or soft you’re playing and how your chords flow.

As you listen more, your sense of music sharpens. You start noticing small things like how your notes sound when you play them and how you make your music expressive. Recognizing these details helps you get better overall.

Recording is simple; even a smartphone works. Use the recording to help you get better at playing. It’s a way to fix mistakes, improve skills, and become more aware of your music.

Setting goals and tracking progress

While you learn to play the ukulele, you should set goals and track your progress. Doing so can bring you motivating results. It gives you a clear understanding of your accomplishments and establishes a structured path for your learning journey. You define your objectives and aspirations by setting goals and directing your efforts. This organized approach ensures you remain engaged and purposeful in your ukulele learning.

Seek support and guidance

Lessonpal’s pool of tutors includes excellent ukulele instructors familiar with the nuances of instructing at every skill level. Their knowledge includes a range of genres, styles, and techniques, satisfying various musical preferences. Students who want to learn to play the ukulele can develop the courage to take on challenges, master techniques, and express their musicality.

One-on-one interaction with an experienced teacher creates a setting for clarifying doubts, receiving prompt feedback, and asking questions. This fosters a stronger bond with the instrument and improves the educational process as you learn to play the ukulele. Your learning journey will be rewarding and enriched due to Lessonpal’s commitment to giving you the top guitar instructors.

The big picture

So there you have it! Nine steps and six chords to get you on your way to learning to play the ukulele. Now you know all about the anatomy of the instrument, how to buy one that fits you, how to hold it and tune it, six useful chords, and tips for ukulele success.

Good luck learning. Also, don’t forget to check out 50 songs and ukulele chords below these FAQs!

Frequently asked questions about learning to play the ukulele

Can you play any song on the ukulele?

Yes, you can play a wide variety of songs on a ukulele. You can play diverse tunes across genres, from pop to folk and beyond, mastering basic ukulele chords and learning chord progressions.

What are some songs everyone learns on the ukulele?

Many beginners start with classic ukulele songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Riptide,” and “I’m Yours.” These songs often use common ukulele chords and are great for honing your skills.

What is the easiest song on the ukulele?

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is one of the easiest songs to play on the ukulele. Its simple melody and repetitive chord pattern make it an ideal starting point for beginners.

How do you memorize ukulele chords?

Practice is the key to memorizing ukulele chords. Start with a few basic chords and practice transitioning between them. Use chord charts, online resources, and repetition to reinforce your memory of chord shapes and finger placements.

Can I teach myself to play ukulele?

Yes, you can teach yourself to play the ukulele. Learn to play the ukulele on your own or with an instructor. With the abundance of online tutorials, chord charts, and instructional videos, self-learning is a viable option. Consistent practice, patience, and a structured approach will help you progress significantly on your ukulele journey.