🐨 Ukulalala

• Finger Spread (10 reps)
  

  Place your hand on a flat surface, and gently spread your fingers apart as wide as you can. Hold for a few seconds and then relax.

• Finger Rolls (5 reps)
  

  Place your fingers on the A string (bottom string) on frets 1, 2, 3, and 4 using your index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers respectively. Play each note in sequence and then move to the next string (E, C, G), repeating the pattern

        A |--------------9-11-12-11-9--------------|
        E |------9-10-12--------------12-10-9------|
        C |-9-11------------------------------11-9-|
        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

DU
XU
DU
XU

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-----------|