Stage 1
Learning and Instrument and Performing: Ukulele
Learning the Ukulele
Basic Information
How people learn to play
Notation
Playing the Ukulele Essentials
Pedagogical articles I can share
Stage 2
Tutorial on Holding the Ukulele and Good Hand Position
When fingering chords, you want to press down hard enough on the fret board for all the notes to speak. If you don’t press hard enough, some of the notes will not make a chord.
Learning and Instrument and Performing: Ukulele
Learning the Ukulele
Basic Information
- History of the Ukulele
- The different types of Ukuleles
- Any accessories needed to play
- Parts of the Ukulele
How people learn to play
- Websites
- Videos
- Tutorials
- Other people
Notation
- Chord Symbols
- Lead Sheets
- Fret reading
- Chords
Playing the Ukulele Essentials
- How to hold the Ukulele
- How to strum the Ukulele
- How to use a guitar pick if needed
- What fingers are needed to play
- How to tune the strings
- Hand formation
- Strum patterns
- Technique
Pedagogical articles I can share
Stage 2
Tutorial on Holding the Ukulele and Good Hand Position
When fingering chords, you want to press down hard enough on the fret board for all the notes to speak. If you don’t press hard enough, some of the notes will not make a chord.
Above is a picture of the parts of the Ukulele. Below is a slide show of pictures showing proper hand position.
Chords
⦁ Show the students chord sheets.
⦁ Make sure they press hard enough and use the correct fingerings.
Useful Websites
http://www.cyberfret.com/first-fret/dario-patrono/how-to-hold-a-note/
Chords
⦁ Show the students chord sheets.
⦁ Make sure they press hard enough and use the correct fingerings.
Useful Websites
http://www.cyberfret.com/first-fret/dario-patrono/how-to-hold-a-note/
Below is a slideshow showing pictures of how to hold the ukulele.
Stage 4 Teaching the Ukulele and talking about our experiences and challenges. |
Stage 3 Performing A Song Somewhere Over the Rainbow |
Stage 5
A two page outline about the Ukulele
History of the Ukulele
· This instrument relates to the people of Hawaii and Portugal. It was originally named the Machete but the Hawaiians renamed it the Ukulele. When translated, it means jumping flee. This instrument is part of the lute family and gained popularity in the United States in the twentieth century.
Different types of Ukuleles
· There is the soprano, concert, tenor, and bass ukuleles. Soprano is the smallest and the bass is the largest. The standard ukulele used is the concert.
Part of the Ukulele
How do people learn how to Play?
· Websites
· Tutorials on line
· Ask for music lessons
· Other musicians
Notation
· Ukulele players read chord symbols and fret sheets. These tell you where the fingers need to be placed on the strings. An example is below. The dots on the charts show you where the fingers need to be placed. The numbers below indicate which finger should be placed there. You should look at this chart like the fret board is standing straight up and facing your body.
How to Strum the Ukulele
· You can use your fingers or you can also use a guitar or ukulele pick. One of the easiest strumming patterns is strumming down the entire time. You take the pick or your fingers and just strum the chords downward. You repeat the process.
Fingers needed to play the instrument
· You can use your fingers or you can also use a guitar or ukulele pick. One of the easiest strumming patterns is strumming down the entire time. You take the pick or your fingers and just strum the chords downward. You repeat the process.
Fingers needed to play the instrument
· When fingering chords, you want to press down hard enough on the fret board for all the notes to speak. If you don’t press hard enough, some of the notes will not make a chord.
Tuning the Ukulele
· The chords on the Ukulele are G, C, E, and A. The string to the left is G and the one at the end is A. What you can do is play those notes on the piano and turn the nobs accordingly so the pitch matches.
Tuning the Ukulele
· The chords on the Ukulele are G, C, E, and A. The string to the left is G and the one at the end is A. What you can do is play those notes on the piano and turn the nobs accordingly so the pitch matches.
Hand Formation
· As stated above, each finger has a number and when you’re learning chords, you will know exactly what fingers to use.
· Fingers need to be curved and relaxed.
· Left hand fingers need to be curved and hover over the fret board or neck of the uke. You don’t want your hands or fingers flying away from it. When you move fast, you want them as close as possible.
· Left hand thumb supports the neck.
· You want to use the tips of your fingers to play the fret board.
· Right hand thumb hovers over the soundhole on the body.
· Right hand should be curved as well.
Holding the Ukulele
· The body should be in your lap.
· The left part of your body should have the fret board.
· Left hand plays the ukulele chords.
· Left hand goes over the fret board.
· Right arm cradles the ukulele so it doesn’t move around.
· The right hand goes over the soundhole to strum.
· As stated above, each finger has a number and when you’re learning chords, you will know exactly what fingers to use.
· Fingers need to be curved and relaxed.
· Left hand fingers need to be curved and hover over the fret board or neck of the uke. You don’t want your hands or fingers flying away from it. When you move fast, you want them as close as possible.
· Left hand thumb supports the neck.
· You want to use the tips of your fingers to play the fret board.
· Right hand thumb hovers over the soundhole on the body.
· Right hand should be curved as well.
Holding the Ukulele
· The body should be in your lap.
· The left part of your body should have the fret board.
· Left hand plays the ukulele chords.
· Left hand goes over the fret board.
· Right arm cradles the ukulele so it doesn’t move around.
· The right hand goes over the soundhole to strum.
Challenges on Teaching
· Strumming. People strummed the fret board instead of the soundhole.
· People can use the wrong fingers to play the chords.
· People don’t press hard enough so some of the strings will not respond. You need to press hard.
Chords
· Show the students chord sheets.
· Make sure they press hard enough and use the correct fingerings.
Useful Websites
· http://www.cyberfret.com/first-fret/dario-patrono/how-to-hold-a-note/
· http://ukuchords.com/
·
· Strumming. People strummed the fret board instead of the soundhole.
· People can use the wrong fingers to play the chords.
· People don’t press hard enough so some of the strings will not respond. You need to press hard.
Chords
· Show the students chord sheets.
· Make sure they press hard enough and use the correct fingerings.
Useful Websites
· http://www.cyberfret.com/first-fret/dario-patrono/how-to-hold-a-note/
· http://ukuchords.com/
·