Live ‘Ukulele

Wanted: ‘ukulele or music related tips. Please leave your tips in the comment box so that we can grow this page into a resource for players of all levels looking for ideas. If you submit a tip we will give you full credit and link over to your web site.

1. Learn to read standard music notation. At least well enough so that you can work your way through a piece of simple sheet music.
2. Don’t hold chords with your thumb curled around or on top of the neck. Instead, place your thumb on the top half the neck-back. If you can get used to playing like this, it makes all of your playing easier. You can also stretch to more frets.
3. When figuring out a song, find what key it is in first, by noodling around to find what major or minor scale works. From there you can find the chords relative to that key, and use the notes that are in the scale to figure out the majority or all of the song.
4. Buy a string winder, it will make changing strings much easier.
5. Harmonize with yourself by playing the melody and the bass note of the current chord. (It helps to hold the chord and play the melody around it.)
6. When you are performing a song, don’t stop. Even if you forget the song or make a mistake, don’t stop. If you don’t stop, only musicians will know you goofed when you do. If you stop, everyone will.
7. When you are playing plugged-in at home, be sure to close your bedroom door so family members don’t go insane. ~Hippie Mom
8. Remember that music is fun. If you aren’t having fun playing, sell your ‘ukulele(s).
9. Learn songs by ear as well as learning them from tabs.
10. Be sure to keep your fingers arched over the fretboard instead of pushing down at an angle. Everything you play will sound cleaner.
11. Using lots of effects all the time does not make you cool. (In my eyes)
12. Using lots of effects all the time doesn’t make you better at the ‘ukulele.
13. The more fingers you can use for picking, the easier it will be to play.
14. Don’t give up (unless you aren’t having fun - see above) ~Hippie Dad
15. When learning a new song don’t butcher your way through it. Break it up into parts and learn it that way. ~dnewton2
16. Practice Bar chords. master them and you can play anything. ~JT Shea
17. Remember that silence is just as powerful as any note.
18. Join your local strummers group. It makes all the difference and helps keep you motivated. ~Lucy Hinds