How to Play the Ukulele

Learning general uke navigation, tablature, and tuning in this initial video lesson.

Incorporating frets and finger placement into skills.

The instructor guides through fingering charts and six starter chords.

Practicing several chord progressions, then trying various strum combinations.

Learning about major scales and delving into more music theory.

Playing a ukulele melody with chords.

A master musician is taking us into the key of G Major.

Learning how to play the melodies finally for "Aloha Oe" and "Drifting."

Learning suspended chords in G and C major, making both more fun with melodic embellishments.

Turning back to work with the right hand, developing skills at fingerpicking.

Applying fingerpicking skills with greater verve to new chord progressions.

Exploring the circle of fifths while learning about D Major chords.

Developing facility with the D major scale, both forward and backward.

Turning to another essential component of music: rhythm.

Two new time signatures and songs under their belt, considering the minor keys.

Exploring what is heard as a 1/4/5 progression or the 12-bar blues progression.

Discovering the C minor pentatonic scale, using it to add a melody or riff to the mix.

Enhancing chord progressions with sliding chord shapes.

Now that skills have developed, revisiting an earlier song, "Aloha Oe."

Using barre chords to create moveable shapes that transition quickly between frets and chords.

Practicing several songs using barre chords and other moveable shapes.

Taking learning to the next level in this lesson with a Latin, Bossa Nova-style rhythm.

The ukulele can also serve as a drum.

Bringing it all together in a song that combines the skills and techniques learned.