Copyright Copyright
Intro
Intro
Chapter 1 Buying your ukulele
Chapter 1 Buying your ukulele
Chapter 2 Ukulele Anatomy
Chapter 2 Ukulele Anatomy
Chapter 3 How to hold the Ukulele
Chapter 3 How to hold the Ukulele
Chapter 4 How to read
Chapter 4 How to read Tabs & Strumming patterns
Tabs & Strumming patterns
Chapter 5 Begginer songs
Chapter 5 Begginer songs
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Intro
Intro
You’ll probably ignore this page and
You’ll probably ignore this page and
get straight to the point of this
get straight to the point of this
book, but if you’re reading this I’ll make it short.
book, but if you’re reading this I’ll make it short.
I hope this wont be
I hope this wont be
like the other boring books, but remember you have to learn the basics and
like the other boring books, but remember you have to learn the basics and
it can get kind of boring at times, but at the
it can get kind of boring at times, but at the end it
end it
’
’
s going to be worth
s going to be worth
it, trust me! You will be learning the basics about the ukulele, and be
it, trust me! You will be learning the basics about the ukulele, and be
great. I hope you try and succeed!
great. I hope you try and succeed!
Please don’t get frustrated if you don’t
Please don’t get frustrated if you don’t
succeed the first couple of times,
succeed the first couple of times, this is your first time
this is your first time playing this
playing this
instrument, and remember this instrument is very easy;
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Buying your Ukulele
Buying your Ukulele
Buying your first ukulele isn’t that easy
Buying your first ukulele isn’t that easy. You have to look at the sizes, prices, and. You have to look at the sizes, prices, and brands.
brands.
Size
Size
The ukulele doesn’t come in just one
The ukulele doesn’t come in just one size, there are actually four sizes.size, there are actually four sizes.
The four sizes of the ukulele:
The four sizes of the ukulele:
Soprano- Smallest Ukulele best for Soprano- Smallest Ukulele best for beginnersbeginners
Concert- Most common sized UkuleleConcert- Most common sized Ukulele
TenorTenor –– Larger then soprano and concert, but not the largest; not really used by Larger then soprano and concert, but not the largest; not really used by beginners
beginners
Baritone- Largest of all four Baritone- Largest of all four mostly used by experienced players (not recommended)mostly used by experienced players (not recommended) Since you are a beginner I
Since you are a beginner I suggestsuggest Do Not Use the BaritoneDo Not Use the Baritone or the Tenor, but stay or the Tenor, but stay
away from the Baritone as it is very different from the others. I recommend starting with a away from the Baritone as it is very different from the others. I recommend starting with a soprano or concert, but since soprano is smaller it may be
soprano or concert, but since soprano is smaller it may be easier. Remember whiceasier. Remember which ever sizeh ever size
you’re mor
you’re more comfortable with works, so try going to music stores and holding the ukulele toe comfortable with works, so try going to music stores and holding the ukulele to see which size is best for
see which size is best for you.you.
Price
Price
Ukuleles can be very cheap, but can also be very
Ukuleles can be very cheap, but can also be very expensive. Do not buy a cheapexpensive. Do not buy a cheap ukulele at all! E
ukulele at all! Even if you’re a beginnerven if you’re a beginner, they sound horrible. I recommend buying one, they sound horrible. I recommend buying one around $60
around $60 since it won’t be toosince it won’t be too cheap or not too expensive either cheap or not too expensive either. Don’t waste hundreds of. Don’t waste hundreds of
dollars on your first ukulele; remember you are just a beginner. dollars on your first ukulele; remember you are just a beginner.
Brands, Models, and More
Brands, Models, and More
There is a wide selection of ukuleles, but since you’re a beginner try staying away There is a wide selection of ukuleles, but since you’re a beginner try staying away
from anything too crazily shaped, highly decorated, or any colored ukuleles. If you still from anything too crazily shaped, highly decorated, or any colored ukuleles. If you still
can’t decide on what you want to
can’t decide on what you want to get I recomget I recommend a Kala KA-S or an mend a Kala KA-S or an Alveraze!Alveraze!
This part is optional
This part is optional
These are just some things you can buy along with your ukulele.
These are just some things you can buy along with your ukulele.
Tuner
Tuner
-
-
For a beginner I suggest you buy a tuner since you can’t tune your
For a beginner I suggest you buy a tuner since you can’t tune your
ukulele. A really good tuner is the Snark SN-2, which is around 11 or 12
ukulele. A really good tuner is the Snark SN-2, which is around 11 or 12
dollars at your local music store.
dollars at your local music store. Another tuner, which is cheaper, is the
Another tuner, which is cheaper, is the
Snark SN-1, which is around 8 or 9 dollars at your local music store.
Snark SN-1, which is around 8 or 9 dollars at your local music store.
Extra Strings
Extra Strings
- Really come in handy! Sometimes you can pop your strings
- Really come in handy! Sometimes you can pop your strings
and you’re going to h
and you’re going to h
ave to wait to buy more strings so always have back up
ave to wait to buy more strings so always have back up
strings.
strings.
Picks
Picks
- y
- y
ou don’t really need picks to play the ukulele
ou don’t really need picks to play the ukulele
, but if you want to
, but if you want to
use one, go ahead.
use one, go ahead. Remember ukuleles need special picks called felt picks so
Remember ukuleles need special picks called felt picks so
don’t try usi
don’t try usi
ng a simple plastic guitar pick
ng a simple plastic guitar pick
because it won’t really sound
because it won’t really sound
the same.
the same.
Strap
Strap
-
-
if you can’t hold
if you can’t hold your ukulele while playing
your ukulele while playing
,
,
or you’re
or you’re
just scared
just scared
to drop it? Buy a strap!
to drop it? Buy a strap!
Case
Case
- If you travel a lot or like taking your ukulele out in public, buy
- If you travel a lot or like taking your ukulele out in public, buy a
a
case for protection.
case for protection.
Stand
Stand
-
-
If you’re a clean freak and don’t like leaving your ukulele just
If you’re a clean freak and don’t like leaving your ukulele just
laying around or you’re too scared that you will probably step on it? Buy a
laying around or you’re too scared that you will probably step on it? Buy a
stand for your ukulele, to be safe.
stand for your ukulele, to be safe.
Capo
Capo
- This is actually for
- This is actually for more advanced players,
more advanced players,
it’s used to play certain
it’s used to play certain
songs
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
The Ukulele Anatomy
The Ukulele Anatomy
Now that you’ve figured out what ukulele you want or already purchased it
Now that you’ve figured out what ukulele you want or already purchased it, I am going, I am going to show you the
to show you the anatomy of the ukulele. You obviously need to know the parts of theanatomy of the ukulele. You obviously need to know the parts of the
instrument you’re playing. instrument you’re playing.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Lesson 1: How to hold the ukulele
Lesson 1: How to hold the ukulele
Not too low
Not too low
Perfect
Perfect
Not too high
Not too high
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
How to read tabs
How to read tabs
Tabs are very easy to read,
Tabs are very easy to read, it just depends if you can play themit just depends if you can play them
The first step of reading tabs is knowing the strings of your instrument. In this case, The first step of reading tabs is knowing the strings of your instrument. In this case,
it’s the u
it’s the ukulele.kulele.
Lets go over the strings Lets go over the strings
Tabs are usually written in horizontal lines. The first line at the top is your first Tabs are usually written in horizontal lines. The first line at the top is your first string so
string so A and it just goes down here’s an examplA and it just goes down here’s an example:e:
A---0--- A---0--- --- E---2--- C---3---
G---2---First you will play open A
First you will play open A firstfirst Next 2
Next 2ndnd fret on the G string fret on the G string 2
2ndnd fret E string fret E string Last 3
Last 3rdrd fret C string fret C string Do not play this all
Do not play this all togethertogether
It’s
It’s supposed to be one at supposed to be one at a time as it shows in a time as it shows in the tab, just follow the order and the tab, just follow the order and pluckpluck each string
If all the numbers are aligned or more than one number
If all the numbers are aligned or more than one number are aligned, you play the stringsare aligned, you play the strings
together. This is an example of a chord
together. This is an example of a chord
A---0--- A---0--- --- E---0--- C---0---
G---2---One last thing if there is / One last thing if there is / that means to slide down to that fret for example that means to slide down to that fret for example on the Aon the A string you slide down from the 3 string you slide down from the 3rdrd fret to the 5 fret to the 5thth fret. fret. A---3/5--- A---3/5--- --- E---1--- C---2---
G---So those are the basics of
So those are the basics of reading tabs now lets move on to strumming patterns.reading tabs now lets move on to strumming patterns.
How to read strumming patterns
How to read strumming patterns
Ok so in
Ok so in middle school I was in mariachi for 3 years, and well the middle school I was in mariachi for 3 years, and well the teacher would give usteacher would give us
music that was basically strumming patterns accompanied by chord on the top,
music that was basically strumming patterns accompanied by chord on the top, so it wasn’tso it wasn’t
really hard at all. Well I decided to write my music for
really hard at all. Well I decided to write my music for you guys like that you guys like that too because whytoo because why not? It’s obviously easier to read since you don’t have to
not? It’s obviously easier to read since you don’t have to focus on afocus on all these notes, soll these notes, so
lets get started.
lets get started.
Here are the basics;
Here are the basics;
Means
Means a a down down strum strum and and means means an an up up strum strum so so let let me me give give you you an an exampleexample
here is an example
Now
Now you’reyou’re probably wondering what that x means, probably wondering what that x means, well that’s a choke. Choking is well that’s a choke. Choking is likelike
basically muting your strings.
basically muting your strings. I can’t really explainI can’t really explain, so perhaps you should go on YouTube, so perhaps you should go on YouTube
and figure it out.
and figure it out.
Ok so you’re going to see
Ok so you’re going to see different patterndifferent patterns for examples for example
Well basically all I can say is if the notes are tied together play them together. The next
Well basically all I can say is if the notes are tied together play them together. The next
thing you got to know for
thing you got to know for both tabs and strumming patterns is a forward repeat signboth tabs and strumming patterns is a forward repeat sign
Here is an example of one
Here is an example of one
This sign just means to repeat; go back to the last forward repeat sign and repeat as many
This sign just means to repeat; go back to the last forward repeat sign and repeat as many
times as the song says.
times as the song says. So that’s it on So that’s it on strumming patternstrumming patternss! Pretty easy huh? Well! Pretty easy huh? Well let’slet’s get get
started on the actual music. Oh and by
started on the actual music. Oh and by the way a chord chart will be the way a chord chart will be provided in the backprovided in the back
of the book!
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Beginner songs
Beginner songs
Ok this first song is pretty
Ok this first song is pretty easy, were going to start off with a tab to easy, were going to start off with a tab to help you preparehelp you prepare
for your next song. Be aware
for your next song. Be aware that I hand wrote the music all by that I hand wrote the music all by myself and I apologize inmyself and I apologize in
advance for sloppiness, but I
This next song is going to
This next song is going to involve strumming and plucking so you will be reading tabs andinvolve strumming and plucking so you will be reading tabs and
strumming patterns.
The next song is just a
The next song is just a more complex strumming pattern not too hard.more complex strumming pattern not too hard.
Basically you repeat this the whole song
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Intermediate songs
Intermediate songs
For this song I
For this song I am just going to give you the am just going to give you the strumming pattern and the chords with thestrumming pattern and the chords with the
lyrics
lyrics separately.separately.
Once xx x xxxxxxx Once xx x xxxxxxx Em Em Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Way xx high Way xx high And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxx And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxx Em Em Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Blue xxxxx fly Blue xxxxx fly And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxx And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxx
High xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xx where xxxxxx find xxxx High xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xx where xxxxxx find xxxx
Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxx Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxx Dreams xxxxxx xx xxxx true Dreams xxxxxx xx xxxx true Someday xxxx xxxx xxxx x xxxxx Someday xxxx xxxx xxxx x xxxxx Em Em Wake xx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxx xxx behind xxxx Wake xx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxx xxx behind xxxx Where xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx Where xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx Em Em Em Em Bluebirds xxxxx Bluebirds xxxxx And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxx xxxx And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxx xxxx Oh xxxx xx xxx can't xxxx Oh xxxx xx xxx can't xxxx Someday xxxx xxxx xxxx x xxxxx Someday xxxx xxxx xxxx x xxxxx Em Em Wake xx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxx xxx behind xxxx Wake xx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxx xxx behind xxxx Where xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx Where xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx
End on End on
Em
Em
High xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xx where xxxxxx find xxxx High xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xx where xxxxxx find xxxx
Em Em Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Somewhere xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Way xx high Way xx high And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxx xxx xx And xxx dreams xxxx xxx xxxx xxx xx oh xxxx xx xxx can' oh xxxx xx xxx can'tt xxxx xxxx