How to Learn Ukulele at Home by Yourself
Contrary to popular belief the Ukulele is not just a small guitar for kids to play. It is an instrument in the string family just like the guitar. There are also several different types of Ukulele that each has a unique size and sound. The Ukulele comes from Hawaii and is a prominent part of the Hawaiian music culture.
Playing musical instruments has been a huge part of growing up in the United States. Parents and grandparents have been encouraging their kids and grandkids to learn how to play a wide range of musical instruments. Once they grow up they can experiment on their own and frequently choose a different instrument to learn to play. In this article, we hope to share some valuable insight into ways that you can learn to play the Ukulele in your spare time.
5 Methods on How to Learn Ukulele at Home by Yourself
1) How - To Videos on YouTube
How-To videos are one of the most popular ways that people use to learn to do things that they don’t already know how to do. YouTube.com has the largest single collection of video clips on the Internet. With billions of videos housed in its massive library and with thousands of new videos being uploaded every day, you are highly likely to be able to find numerous How-To videos for learning to play the Ukulele.
2) Online One on One Tutoring
For generations, people have been learning to play musical instruments from tutors. The one on one aspect makes it the perfect way to learn how to play a musical instrument like the Ukulele. Today’s digital technology and the Internet has made it even more convenient for those who don’t have the time to leave home to learn to play. Using video chat services such as Facetime and Skype you can work with a tutor from anywhere you have cell service.
3) Online Music Instruction on Digital eBook
Music books have been a favorite way for people to teach themselves to play musical instruments for many years. This type of book makes it easy for a person to learn via the use of full-color pictures, charts, and diagrams. However, today’s digital technology takes this to a whole new level. Digital ebooks can be easily downloaded to any number of personal devices that have a reliable Internet connection such as; a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Online lessons are fast becoming one of the most popular ways for a person to learn how to play a musical instrument like the Ukulele. ArtistWorks is a really good choice of a website that offers Ukulele lessons online. These lessons are all video-based and created by some of the most well-known Ukulele players. By searching the massive database you will be able to find lessons created by professional Ukulele players Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel. All paid members have access to the entire database of video-based lessons.
5) Udemy Ukulele Online Lessons
Another very popular method of online learning of musical instruments like the Ukulele is called Udemy. This online university-style website offers its paid members access to training courses that cover an extensively wide range of topics. As a member, you only need to type Ukulele into the search bar and you will get several available training courses. Each of the courses features some lessons on video. The courses are taught by professionals with extensive knowledge of the topic that they are leading.
8 Practical tips for playing Ukulele better
- Learn the terminology
You must learn the terminology associated with the Ukulele before you get started. This will help you to be able to master playing it a lot quicker. The Ukulele is made up of three major parts; headstock, the neck, and the body. Knowing this information will help you to better understand what you are being taught.
- Learn how to tune your instrument
Just like most instruments in the string family, the Ukulele needs to be kept in tune for you to get the best sound. There are many different methods of tuning a Ukulele, with a clip-on tuner being the most popular. These clip-on tuners can easily be carried in a case, a bag or even a pocket.
- Start with the basic cords
Learning cords is an important part of learning how to play the Ukulele. Like with most instruments, you want to start with the most basic chords or notes to form a good base of knowledge. As you continue to get better, you can advance to more complex cords.
- A little strumming goes a long way
Strumming is one of the most popular ways of playing the Ukulele. Strumming a Ukulele can be accomplished in an upward and or downward motion. Along with the direction of motion, the speed at which you move your hand can directly affect or change the sound that is being produced as you are playing.
- Picking to your heart’s content
Picking or plucking the strings is an alternative method for playing the Ukulele. It can be used in combination with strumming in a song as a way to introduce an additional sound to the song. Picking is also a way to add an extra level of dynamics to your playing and can also be used to supplement your strumming.
- Practice, practice and more practice
An important thing to remember that practice will make perfect. As the saying goes, if you want to get better you must be willing to put in the time to practice as much as you can. The uniqueness of the sound that comes from the Ukulele takes a lot of hard work to master.
- Master all types of the Ukulele
There are four different types of Ukuleles and each one is distinctive in size and sound. The smallest of the four is the Soprano, followed by the concert, with the tenor Ukulele all making up what is commonly referred to as the normal models. The last of the four is the baritone Ukulele which can be a bit of a struggle to get the hang of its size.
- Take good care of your instrument
The final tip you would think is obvious, but it cannot be understated, take good care of your Ukulele. Start with an extra padded carrying case to ensure that it stays safe. When it comes to traveling with your Ukulele it is important to know that the high altitude of flying can cause a dramatic altering of the tuning of your instrument.
Steps to Self-Taught Ukulele
The Ukulele is a unique sounding instrument that is a member of the string family of instruments. It can be played as a solo or you can get together with a group of other Ukulele players and put on a small concert. With there being several different models of the Ukulele for you to choose from you can find one that fits in with the type of music that you are looking to play.
Once you decide on the type of Ukulele you are interested in learning how to play, we have included a detailed description of five of the most common methods that are used by people to teach themselves at home to play the Ukulele. We hope that the information that we have included in this article gives you what you need to make an informed decision.