BY DANIEL WARD | FROM THE SUMMER 2025 ISSUE OF UKULELE It has been eight years since I first started writing for Ukulele. Since 2017, I’ve written lessons for just about every issue, and to celebrate, I’m sharing eight essential tips to help you improve your technique, expand your musical knowledge, and get more joy out of your […]
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For GCEA-tuned ukuleles, these 8 chords will get you far: C, G, F, D, Am, A, Dm, G7 Bonus chord is also the easiest (all open strings!): Am7 See diagram for finger/fret positions.
8 most useful chords Read More »
There are dozens of strumming patterns out there, but you need only know a few to play virtually any song: All down: D, d, d, d Up-and-down (on-beat, 1&3): Du, du, Du, du Up-and-down (off-beat, 2&4): du, Du, du, Du Island / Calypso: d, dU, -u, du Swing or country:
5 effective strumming patterns (plus a couple of bonus ones) Read More »
Knowing the parts of a ukulele will help you understand how to play it and best care for it. HeadstockThe top part of the ukulele that holds the tuners. It can be slotted or solid, which affects tuner placement but not sound. Tuning PegsAlso called tuners or machine heads, these adjust string tension to change
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🎵 Types of Ukuleles: A Quick Guide Ukuleles come in four main sizes, from smallest to largest: Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone. Each has its own feel, sound, and ideal use case. 1. Soprano Ukulele Size: ~21 inches (smallest) Tuning: G–C–E–A (usually high-G) Sound: Bright, classic “island” tone Best for: Beginners, kids, traditional uke lovers Pros: Lightweight, portable,
