Ukulele Playing Made Easy and Light

Ukulele beautiful, light and well crafted, it gives one the feeling of being in Hawaii, with its light breeze soft sands and yeah coconuts and friendly faces. This instrument was brought in by the early Portuguese settlers around the 19th century and the ukulele was used and developed in different genres of music like jazz, pop and folk music.

There are 4 models in the market.

1*Soprano

2*Concert

3*Tenor

4*Baritone

All these different varieties have their own peculiar sounds and of course, they are all small and very light in weight. The ukulele is an easy instrument to learn and it does make learning it a lot of fun.

As in learning any instrument, I would encourage you to start with the basics. The ukulele has four strings and it is tuned to G, C, E and A.

When tuning the Baritone uke the strings are tuned to D, G, B and E. When tuning the instrument a pitch pipe or piano does help a lot to get the ukulele to be tuned as close as possible to the intended pitch.

The thumb and fingers are used to pluck and finger pick the strings. Normally a few simple chords would help to get you going and there are tabs that you could pick up. This instrument is good fun, easy to learn and lets gets you into that Hawaiian atmosphere.

Tuning the Ukulele to standard C tuning(G,C,E,A)

click to download Ukulee Standard C Tuning pdf file

If you have a piano, pitch pipe or an electronic tuner tuning your instrument will be much easier. The Ukulele is tuned to the C standard tuning. Note that the 3rd string is tuned to middle C and the 4th string, is tuned to G a perfect 5 up from middle C. The 2nd string is tuned to E a major third above middle C. The 1st string is tuned to A a major 6 above middle C.

1.A-maj6 above middle C

2.E-maj3rd above middle C

3.C-Concert C

4.G-Perfect 5 above middle C

If you observe you will notice that the middle C is the lowest note and the 1st string is the highest note.

Reading Ukulele Tabs

click to download Ukulele Tabs

There are four horizontal lines drawn in traditional manner and this indicates the four strings on the ukulele. Each line represents the corresponding string and the numbers will show which frets needs to be addressed.

In measure 2 we have two C notes and it is played on the 3rd open string, then there is an E note played on the 2nd open string.

Then there is the A note, on the 1st open string. Now we have all the four open strings labeled on the four horizontal lines.

Remember that you are not reading tabs but simply working out the positions on the four horizontal strings of the ukulele.

Chords for Ukulele Playing

There are six basic chords that are written for you .

Measure 1 is a C chord, played on the 1st string, 3rd fret C note, 2nd string,E note, 3rd string C note, and 5th string G note.

Measure 2 is an F chord, 1st open string for A note, 2nd string, 1st fret for F note, 3rd open string for C note and 5th string 2nd fret for A note.

Measure 3 is a G7 chord, 1st string 2nd fret for B note,2nd string 1st fret for F note, 3rd string, 2nd fret for D note and 5th open string for G note.

Measure 4 is an Ami chord, 1st open string for A note, 2nd open string, for E note, 3rd open string for C note and 5th string, 2nd fret for A note.

Measure 5 is a Dmi chord, 1st open string for A note, 2nd string, 1st fret for F note, 3rd string, 3rd fret for D note and 5th string, 2nd fret for A note.

Measure 6 is an Emi chord, 1st string, 2nd fret for B note, 2nd string, 3rd fret for G note, 3rd string, 4th fret for E note and 5th open string for G note.

Uke Tabs and Notesfinale

Click to download UkuleleTabs and Notes

In the 1st measure we have a C chord and the tabs are G note on the 5th open string, 2 E notes on the 2nd open string and a G7 chord with a D note on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.

In the 2nd measure there is a C chord with tabs on the 2nd open string E note and same string 3rd fret G note.

Measure 3 has two chords an F and a Dmi the tabs are 1st open string two A notes and same string 3rd fret C note and back to 1st open string A note.

Measure 4 has two chords Emi and G7, the tabs are 2nd open string E note then same string 3rd fret, for the G note.

Measure 5 has a C chord and the tabs are on 2nd string, 3rd fret for G note then E note on the 2nd open string, then 3rd string 2nd fret D note.

Measure 6 has a Emi chord, the tabs are on 2nd open string E note and same string, 3rd fret G note.

Measure 7 has an F and Ami chord, the tabs are 1st open string two A notes, then 2nd string, 3rd fret G note, then 3rd open string C note.

Measure 8 has a G7 and a C chord and the tabs are 2nd open string E note, then 3rd string, 2nd fret D note then 3rd open string C note.

Summary of Ukulele Playing

When you strum the chords play it in a downward motion and try to hit all the notes, some people use a soft pick, it depends on you and the type of tone you are looking for. Mostly the index finger is used in an up/down motion to get the rhythm going. All the chords need to be familiarized with and when you ready try to use the basic chords for other uke songs. Remember there are no tabs for uke playing instead the four horizontal strings will indicate where the note are where to fret it. The G7, Ami, Emi and Dmi chord needs a steady hand to handle it.

So practice the above and go have some fun with the chords.

click to go to top of Ukulele Page

back to Ultimate Guitar Playing Homepage