Wait—what about, you know, PRACTICE?
Don’t get me wrong — you’ve got to put in the TIME. You do need knowledge, skills, and techniques. These come with practice and with…
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Don’t get me wrong — you’ve got to put in the TIME. You do need knowledge, skills, and techniques. These come with practice and with…
View MoreThe VERY BEST way to learn new ukulele songs and get better is by playing with other musicians
By joining a uke club, you’ll be in the company of fellow uke lovers, bringing in their own influences, knowledge, techniques, and style. And YOU get to soak it all in, and try it all out in safe environment–with a bunch of people playing at the same time, you can mess up and no one will notice…
Every uke club I’ve been to has been lovely and welcoming, so don’t be shy, and don’t say you’re not good enough “yet.” — To get better, you gotta play!
I helped start the wondeful Ukulelel Union of Boston — join us online or in real life! Info here.
This sounds a little odd, but for strumming practice, you don’t need a uke in your hands at all!
As you probably know, all patterns (and non-patterns) are made up of up-strokes and down-strokes. Find the spot on your tummy where your uke would normally press, and just practice your ups and downs right there. You’ll be able to imagine the sound of the strum, without being distracted by the actual sound of the strum–in some ways that’s actually better!
Note: this really works.
Note: do not do this while wearing flannel. The static build-up can reach dangerous levels.
Keep track of what it is you want to learn. For example:
You’ll be primed and ready to make the most of your practice when you don’t have to fumble and wonder, “What shall I do next?”
An ideal practice time for me is waiting for the bus with my son. (We wait inside). Not only do I get some practice time, the boy will often sing along, so it’s a pretty great way to start the day.
When else?
Another advantage of a cheap uke!
Your precious, expensive uke you’ll want to store in its case to keep off the dust, protected by a special dehumidifier, and handled only by adults, ideally wearing cotton gloves.
A cheap uke, you can leave on the couch, toss by the TV, or keep in that humid, dusty kitchen.
The kitchen is actually an ideal spot. How long does a microwave burrito take? Three minutes? What else are you gonna do while its cooking? I can get through “Camptown Ladies” four times in three minutes!
Not that I actually eat microwave burritos.
Very often.
Similar to previous tip, at 30-40 bucks, you might want to grab more than one uke.
I have one in the car — yes, in the car. When certain songs come on, I have to screech to the side of the road. There’s something invigorating about noodling along with Louis Armstrong or Billie Holiday. Or, for that matter, the Beatles or Weezer.
I do NOT play while actually driving.
Very often.
The more you play, the better you get — that’s just math. There are a lot of wonderful (and wonderfully expensive) ukes out there. But buying a cheapie means you can drag your uke around with you and play whenever inspiration strikes.
A couple of great choices, that give a lot of good sound for the money:
See also: my article on best ukuleles under $200 (not cheap, but might give you a few ideas)
There’s an argument for having a super-deluxe uke, too — one that you love and can’t wait to get your hands on. If you’re rich and motivated — power to ya!
See Also: The Most Expensive Ukulele in the World