learning to play the Ukulele

Christmas 2011 my hubby bought me a Ukulele for christmas, my first thoughts were, I can't play one of these, my son played guitar and sounded brill, hubby plinked a bit on his guitar.

2 years later and i can play a range of songs some chords i cannot play but i can play lots of songs, not from memory which is a bit of a bind, but i have a folder that have all my favorite songs it, it just keeps getting thicker.

I self taught through Youtube, Ukulele mike was fabulous he was my nightly tutor, blimey were my fingers sore, I could not play for a week until they had stopped hurting.  when they had toughened up a bit i could play for longer each week.

My fingers ached at being bent in different positions, I could not play the E chord, even now i find bar chords a struggle, well in fact i just dont play them.  Even now i cannot play the E chord very well, i usually play the Em or Em7.

My favorite songs at the moment are

Baker Street
Redemption Song
Logical Song
Echo Beach


and many more.........

I remember i started by finding a song that i could play along to which used 4 chords

C Am F G

when i found i was comfy playing those chords then i would add another one in.

finger shapes are really important, even if you dont play a tune just practice strumming the chords.

Oh and the blinking strumming patterns, grrrrrrrr i nearly lost my mind over them.  I watched ukulele mike over and over again trying to understand the DD UU D, i nearly packed it all in.   but no i really loved singing my heart out and strumming my little ukulele.


More to follow <><><><><><><><><><><><>

19th February 2013

Yesterday picked my Favorite uke up and had a litte strum, well 5 songs later I decided to put it down for a rest.  I was a little rusty because not played it for nearly a week.  I find that the strumming patterns are getting easier and i can strum along to songs better than i could at the beginning.

If you are a beginner, keep at it, it is worth all the hard work.  I know I am well and truly hooked.

Take care till next time.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Hi there

Yup, I'm still playing the ukelele and I can play a lot more chords, some are still a bit tricky, and the strumming patterns are getting a little easier, I find it worse trying to remember the songs I have heard on the radio and trying to remember them when I get home, its the hazards of getting older me thinks.

Take care till next time
Kriss