Sunday, March 10, 2013
New to Ukulele ?
So You’ve Just Got Your First Ukulele
When I got my first ukulele, I was completely clueless. This was in the dark days before the internet had been discovered. I didn’t even realise that the strings weren’t supposed to go thickest to thinnest and restrung it.
So, to save you from the social disgrace I experienced, I’ve put together a tutorial covering the basics that every first time uke owner needs to know. Here’s what it contains:
- Five Things to Know.
- Five Chords to Learn.
- Five Songs to Play.
- Five Websites to Visit.
- Five Things to Get Free.
- Five Things to Buy.
- Five Videos to Watch.
- Five YouTube Channels to Subscribe to.
Five Nuggets to Know :
1.How the Ukulele is Tuned
From the string nearest your head to the string nearest the ground it goes: gCEA (there are other tunings, but this is by far the most common, so don't worry your pretty little head about those for now). Unlike most instruments, the string nearest your head is pitched higher than the next two strings (it’s indicated by the small g in gCEA). You can hear the notes here: Tuning Notes
2. How to Read Chord Charts
How to Read Ukulele Chord Charts
2. How to Read Chord Charts
How to Read Ukulele Chord Charts
3. How to Make Your Ukulele Sound Good
Definitely worth getting into good habits right from the start: Get Good Tone
4. The History of the Ukulele
John King is the patron saint of ukulele history. This is an excellent article
on the early history of the uke:
A Strum Through Ukulele History
For something more brief (and inaccurate) here’s my quick breeze through ukulele history:
Ukulele History: A Brief and Inaccurate Guide
5. These 10 Tips for Beginners
Ten Tips for Ukulele Beginners
Five Chords to Learn :
1. C
Ring finger on the third fret of the A-string
2. F
Middle finger on the g-string at the second fret. Index, E-string first fret
3. G7
Middle finger: C-string, second fret. Index (pointer) finger: E-string, first fret. Ring finger: A-string, second fret
4. Am (A minor)
Middle finger: g-string, second fret
5. Em (E minor)
Ring finger: C-string, fourth fret. Middle finger: E-string, third fret. Index finger: A-string, second fret
This is how the chords look in diagram form:
Five Songs to Play :
1. Over the Rainbow
When Israel Kamakawiwo'ole covered this song it became an instant ukulele classic. This version is the more beginner-friendly one played by Jason Castro on American Idol.
Over the Rainbow
When Israel Kamakawiwo'ole covered this song it became an instant ukulele classic. This version is the more beginner-friendly one played by Jason Castro on American Idol.
Over the Rainbow
2. Ring of Fire
The ultimate Johnny Cash song.
Ring of Fire
3. Hallelujah
Originally by Leonard Cohen but the definitive version was recorded by Jeff Buckley. Beirut regularly play this live on the ukulele.
Hallelujah
4. Blitzkrieg Bop
Three chord classic from the Ramones. Make sure you start by shouting,
"1,2,3,4" at an entirely unrelated tempo.
Blitzkrieg Bop
5. This Too Shall Pass
OK Go’s song is also a straightforward three chord jamalong. And there’s an easy bit of tab when you start to tackle that.
More songs and tips for ukulele beginners here.
Five Websites to Visit :
1. Ukulele Hunt
That would be my website and probably the place you got this. To make sure you don't miss anything, you can get email updates by entering your address in the sign up form in the top right hand side of this page.
Ukulele Hunt
2. Top 50 Ukulele Sites
Including this one on the list is cheating; a bit like being granted 3 wishes and saying, "I wish for a million wishes." There are loads of websites here that you have to check out. The best place to start finding out what's available on the net.
Top 50 Sites
5. Chordie
If you can't find the chords for a song written up for ukulele, Chordie has loads of chords and can be adjusted for uke. It's aimed at guitar so it's not always ideal or accurate, but it's better than nothing.
Chordie
Five Freebies to Grab :
1. AP Tuner
Nothing is going to ruin your ukulele playing more than being out of tune. With AP Tuner you can play the uke into a mic and it will tell you when it's in tune. For standard tuning, you're looking for G4,C4,E4,A4. AP Tuner
Mac alternative: Chromatic Tuner
2. GoChords
A quick and easy way to write up your own chord sheets. Free too! GoChords
3. Audacity
Free sound recording software. The quickest way to get better is record yourself as often as possible and catch what mistakes you're making: Audacity.
Audacity is available for Mac but if you have GarageBanduse that.
4. Power Tab
Write your own ukulele tabs. The website itself is very confusing. You candownload it directly here: PowerTab
Mac alternative: GuitarPro. Not free but better than Power Tab and suitable for Windows/Mac/Linux. It’s the software I use.
5. Ukulele Music
If you’re a Spotify user I’ve put together a bunch of ukulele playlists. Or you can catch up on the best ukulele videos here.
Five Things to Buy :
1. Ukulele Tuner
If you're going to be playing the uke out and about, you'll need a tuner. These clip on to the end of the uke and can tell whether you're in tune no matter how much noisy it is. My current favourite is the Snark tuner.
Ukulele Tuners
2. Strings
If you've got a cheap ukulele, the chances are the strings that came with it are not great. Putting better quality strings such as Aquila will improve the sound.
Aquila Strings
3. Ukulele for Dummies
The book I wrote for ukulele beginners. It’s the most comprehensive ukulele book out there. It covers all the basics and goes on to introduce playing a bunch of styles.
Buy it on Amazon US or Amazon UK. Or read more about it here.
4. Ukulele Chord Book
Always useful to have a reference book on hand.
Ukulele Chord Book
5. Metronome
Metronomes do the simple and very important job of keeping time in your playing. You can buy a real-life one or get one on your phone. There are plenty of free ones around but my favourite iOS app is Visual Metronome. On Android I use Mobile Metronome which has free and paid versions.
Visual Metronome (iOS)
Mobile Metronome (Android)
Five Videos to Watch :
1. Jake Shimabukuro - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The most popular ukulele video on YouTube. It's a masterclass in arranging a song for instrumental ukulele.
Jake Shimabukuro - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
2. James Hill - Billie Jean
James Hill is absolutely the best ukulelist in the world right now.
James Hill - Billie Jean
3. Roy Smeck - His Pastimes
The Wizard of the Strings. A legend on the ukulele and many other stringed instruments.
Roy Smeck - His Pastimes
4. Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Shaft
The original ukulele orchestra and still the best.
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Shaft
5. Eddie Vedder - Can’t Keep
The Pearl Jam frontman reworks one of his songs for the ukulele.
Eddie Vedder - Can’t Keep
Five YouTube Channels To Subscribe To :
1. Ali Ingle
Gruff-voiced Liverpudlian with an excellent line in songs.
youtube.com/aliingle
2. Keston Cobblers’ Club
Great British folk group. Don’t always include the ukulele but always include the amazing.
youtube.com/kestoncobblersclub
3. Wilfried Welti
Top-notch ukulele instrumentalist who blogs at Ukulele-Arts.com.
youtube.com/wwelti
4. Walk off the Earth
Shot to fame with their five-people-one-guitar version of Somebody That I Used To Know. Now that they can afford one instrument each they regularly include ukulele.
youtube.com/walkofftheearth
5. Garfunkel and Oates
Actors Kate Micucci (the ukulele-playing Gooch on Scrubs, and the ukulele-playing Shelley in Raising Hope) and Riki Lindhome (Life is Short, Gilmore Girls) team up for innuendo-laden duets. For something more family friendly, check out Kate’s solo song Dear Deer.
youtube.com/rikilind
ukulelehunt channel
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