Learning
to play the Ukulele
For the past two years I have
taken classes on how to play the ukulele. Ever since I have started playing I
fell in love with it. Sure it can be a lot of hard work but it is fun learning
a new song. It is a great skill that I have been learning, because I can
express so many things through music with an ukulele.
Before I started playing the
ukulele, I always wanted to play an instrument but I felt like I would
never be good at it. But one day I tried, even though it did not
sound good in the beginning when I played, after all of the practicing I got
better and learned how to play many different songs and I enjoyed playing. Ever
since I got better at play the ukulele I bought at better ukulele that helped
me want to play more because of the way it sounds.
Before you try to play notes on
the ukulele, take a good look at the strings. The four strings on the ukulele
give you four open notes. Holding the ukulele, start from the first string, or
bottom string (closest to the floor) and tune it to an A pitch. "Move up,
tune the second string to an E pitch and the third string to a C pitch. the
fourth or top string of your ukulele (closest to you face) turn to a G
pitch." (igloo books pg.10)
These open notes, when
played from 4th to 1st strings, sounds like an old tune, "my dog has
fleas" (igloo books pg.10). For each string there are 12 notes that
you can play by pressing down the strings at different places along the fret
board. Play it now, one note at a time, beginning with the open note for each
string.
The neck of the ukulele should
be rested between your thumb and the base of your index finger of your left
hand with the strings facing away from you. The space between the fingers lets
you bring your left hand fingers to the proper fingering position (igloo
books). It also keeps the neck of the ukulele from touching your index finger.
As you place your left hand fingers of the strings in the spaces between the
frets, hold them in a curved position with the thumb opposite to your second
finger. As you shift your and to higher or lower positions, keep your thumb in
position opposite of the second finger. Use the tips of your fingers to press
the strings to the fingerboard.
Do you enjoy
playing music?
If so what song or
instrument do you like to play?
Igloo Books Ltd. Learn
to Play the Ukulele. N.p.: Igloo, 2013. Print.
