🐨 Ukulalala

• Finger Flex (10 reps)
  

  Stretch your fingers out straight and then curl them into a fist. Hold for a few seconds, then release and stretch them out again.

• Spider Exercise (5 reps)
  

  Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the G string, middle finger on the 2nd fret, ring finger on the 3rd fret, and pinky on the 4th fret. Play each note sequentially, then move your hand up one fret and repeat the process.

        A |-----------2-4-5-4-2----------|
        E |-----2-3-5-----------5-3-2----|
        C |-2-4----------------------4-2-|
        G |------------------------------|

• Begin by playing the scale slowly
• Use a metronome to gradually increase speed
• Use appropriate finger positioning for each note
• See more tips under Fingerpicking

Develop better rhythm, timing, and versatility in your strumming, making your ukulele playing more dynamic and enjoyable.

• A strumming pattern is when you hit all your strings in a sequence of down and/or up strokes
  

  Downstroke (D): Strum from top to bottom, hitting the G string first
  Upstroke (U): Strum from bottom to top, hitting the A string first
  Muted (X): Strum with your palm muting (chuck) the strings by lightly touching the strings without pressing down
  

• Start slowly by playing the strumming pattern with open strings, no chords, building muscle memory
• Play the strumming pattern once for each chord in the chord progression
• Vary your force and rhythm to emphasize certain strums (louder, or softer), adding expression to your playing
• Apply strumming patterns to songs to see how they fit and play along your favorite songs

D
DU
U
D

Fingerpicking is a great way to create a more mellow sound compared to strumming. Add these fingerpicking patterns and techniques to your regular learning practice to build speed, accuracy and familiarity with your ukulele

• A picking pattern is a sequence of strings picked while holding any chord
• Strings are numbered from the bottom to the top
  

  1st (bottom) string = A
  2nd string = E
  3rd string = C
  4th (top) string = G

• Use P-I-M-A where each finger corresponds with a string, or P-I-M where your thumb covers the top 2 strings (no ring finger)

  P = thumb
  I = index
  M = middle
  A = ring

• Start slowly with a simple pattern and maintain a steady rhythm
• Focus on finger positioning and smooth transitions to build muscle memory

A | --------X-----|
E | -----X-----X--|
C | --------------|
G | --X-----------|