‘Ukulele Techniques

Learning techniques on the ‘ukulele is one of the gateways to easier playing. You can know all of the notes in the world, but if you don’t know any techniques you will be somewhat limited in what you can do. With some of these techniques you can play much faster than you normally could.

Arm Wah – A poor man’s modulation effect.

Bending – Learn how to stretch your strings to the max.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs – How to get from point A to point B in one pick.

Harmonics – The chime effect that makes the ‘ukulele ring like bells.

Mono Strum – Pioneered by James Hill. Using a strum to sound only one note.

Octaves – One note from this octave and one note from that octave.

Open String Pull-offs – Rapid-fire notes on one string that are easy to play and sound cool.

Palm Mute – Helps add tightness and a deep tone to your playing.

Rakes – How to add a percussive line of mutes to any note.

Slides - Get smoothly from point A to point B in one pick.

Tapping – Like Eddie Van Halen!

Tremolo picking – Playing one note rapidly.

Trills – Rapidly changing from one note to another and then back.

Unisons – Two notes are better than one!

Vibrato - Subtly bending a string to change the pitch and add emotion.