INSPIRED TO LEARN
The ukulele is an amazingly versatile instrument, and one of the easiest musical instruments to learn. With just 3 or 4 chords you can play hundreds of songs.
This Hawaiian export with Portuguese origins, can be used to play anything from traditional music from around the world, to blues, rock, jazz and classical.
Mysteries of vernacular: Ukulele – Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel
Coustii has great ukulele guides with instructional videos to help you master your instrument.
But where do you start and what do you buy?
Buying a uke
Buying a new uke can be a nerve racking experience. Ukuleles come in many shapes, colours and sizes, and a variety of sounds. There’s lots of advice about buying a ukulele available from online experts. But remember, you can borrow one at some of our jams until you’re sure you want to buy one of your own.
Firstly, know what you’re talking about. Learn the ukulele lingo at Uke Anatomy: Parts of the Ukulele. https://coustii.com/parts-of-a-ukulele/
Then visit the music stores. Ask the store attendant to tune and play the ukes for you. Strum them yourself. Make sure you are comfortable holding and fingering the ukulele, AND that you love the sound.
The parent’s guide to purchasing your child’s first instrument: the ukulele — http://www.musicroom.com/blog/the-parents-guide-to-purchasing-your-childs-first-instrument-the-ukulele
How to Choose a Ukulele — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ARmmxBHB94
How to Buy a Ukulele: 3 Easy Steps — https://www.beginnerukuleles.com/how-to-buy-a-ukulele/
Ukulele Buying Guide — http://www.ukulelemate.com.au/ukulele-buying-guide
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Ukulele — http://www.ukulelemusicinfo.com/buy-ukulele-guide/
Or, check out our For Sale page where members advertise ukuleles for sale when they upgrade.
Need a Tuner?
Ukulele tuners are available online, and as apps for your ipad or mobile phone. Here are some examples of online tuners.
- Uke School, How to Tune a Ukulele — http://www.ukeschool.com/ukulele/lessons/how_to_tune.html
Pineapple Pete provides beginners with advice on how to tune a ukulele.
- Get Tuned, Ukulele Tuner — http://www.get-tuned.com/ukulele_tuner.php
This is a great online tuner – you can change it from standard GCEA to other presets.
- Dolphin Music, Online Ukulele Tuner — http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/article/2928-online-ukulele-tuner-.html
This site provides two options — a Tuning Your Uke video, and a super-easy GCEA tuner graphic where you click on the letter of each string, and it plays the tone you need for that string.
- Ukulele Tabs, Ukulele Tuner — http://www.ukulele-tabs.com/ukulele-tuner.html
Provides sound files for tuning Soprano and Baritone ukuleles.
Just starting out?
Try Colleen’s Easy Ukulele Chords for Beginners — https://coustii.com/ukulele-chords-beginners/
According to Axis of Awesome, you only need 4 chords to play a whole raft of popular songs.
Axis of Awesome, 4 Four Chord Song (with song titles) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ
Need some help finding an elusive chord?
There a wide variety of sites that will show or teach you ukulele chords:
- Ukulele Hunt, Ukulele Tabs and Ukulele Chords — http://ukulelehunt.com/tab-chords/
This site explains how to read ukulele tabs and ukulele chords.
- Ukulele NL, Chord Finder — http://www.ukulele.nl/chordfinder.php
An interactive graphic that displays the chord you choose on the ukulele fretboard.
- EZ Folk, Chords — http://www.ezfolk.com/uke/chords/
EZ folk have information for a number of instruments, but their collection of ukulele chords is reasonably extensive. Click on the name of the chord you want to view, and you’ll see up to 12 variations on the same chords – great for when you’ve got the basics down and are looking to mix it up a little.
- Ukulele Tabs, Ukulele Chord Chart — http://www.ukulele-tabs.com/ukulele-chords-chart.html
One of the most comprehensive list of chords I’ve seen. You can view them by “letter” e.g. A, A#/Bb, B, C, etc. Or you can download a pdf of all their chords to print out.