Whether you're celebrating National Talk Like a Pirate Day or sailing the high seas, playing a pirate tune on the ukulele is a fantastic way to pass the time. Try one of these tunes from ukulele teacher Willy M.; they're rated arrrr for pirates! Who doesn’t want to play the ukulele? It’s the perfect instrument for sitting on the beach in summer. But while you’re sitting on the beach, relaxing, watching the boats sail by, seeing the crabs scuttling along the sand, what naturally comes t

Have thought about buying a ukulele, but not sure what to choose? Maybe you don’t have a lot of extra money to spend. Did you know you can build your own ukulele? No, you don’t have to be a professional, or even particularly handy with tools. All you need are the right supplies and a desire to build it! This can also be a great lockdown/rainy day activity for you to do with your children, especially if they are interested in learning to play the ukulele.  There are several different DIY

Whenever you pick up a new hobby, it's a great idea to start following some blogs on the topic. Learning ukulele is no exception, and luckily for you, there are many great blogs about playing ukulele. Whether you're taking private ukulele lessons or trying to teach yourself, these blogs are a great place to learn ukulele online, explore new ideas, and have fun along the way. Read on to discover the best ukulele blogs around! 1. Uke Nut If you're interested in learning to play fingerstyle uk

As far as songs to learn on the ukulele goes, You Are My Sunshine is near the very top of my list to recommend to students. It checks all of the boxes of a good first song to learn:  Number 1: It has a very simple and easy to hum melody  Number 2: It only has three chords (C Major, F Major, and G Major) in it and is usually played in the key of C (our favorite on Ukulele!) Number 3: It is very recognizable and is somewhat already in our ear, so we don’t have to go in blind and learn it

The warm and bright tone of the ukulele instantly transports you to a tropical island. Its airy sounds conjure up images of swaying palm trees, sandy shores, and lapping waves. And those beachy images are not far from this instrument’s origin story. In fact, this dreamy-sounding instrument had its beginnings on the island of Madeira off the coast of Portugal. In the 1800s, the ukulele made its way to Hawaii by way of immigrants. The word “ukulele” literally means “jumping flea,”

Looking for some happy ukulele songs to play? Music teacher Willy M. put together this great list of easy ukulele songs that are sure to brighten your day... I've had bad days. You've had bad days. Sometimes there's no escaping them. It's like the wise sage once said, "it rains on the just and the unjust." But instead of sulking, it always helps to find a pick-me-up, whether that be a delicious pint of ice cream or learning some fun ukulele songs! What Are Some Happy & Easy Ukulele Songs? T

Are you ready to learn some tunes using basic ukulele chords? The great news is, learning just a few ukulele chords means you can learn hundreds of easy beginner ukulele songs. Once you have your uke in hand, you’ll be cranking out uke songs in no time. All you need to do is learn the basics, and get a few easy ukulele chords under your fingers. What Basic Ukulele Chords Should I Learn? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlXsL_-hMhw&t=5s To play the most songs, the most important basic u

The 'ukulele is a lot of fun to play, and we are fortunate to be alive in a time with so much information readily available about this instrument. In fact, there is so much info, it may be overwhelming and confusing. If you're a beginner, you may not know what to expect when committing to taking that first ukulele lesson, or to study any musical instrument. This article covers what you need to know about your first weeks practicing 'ukulele, from using the tips of your fingers to changing be

Get your uke and start strumming! Music teacher Christopher S. shares how to play five common ukulele strumming patterns... In order to play any stringed instrument, such as the guitar, mandolin, or ukulele, you have to learn how to strum it. Strumming is an essential part to playing the ukulele, which gives it that true Hawaiian-Island sound. If you’re going to learn how to play Hawaiian ukulele songs, you need to master the right strumming patterns.  In this article, I will d

Ukulele strumming patterns can help you fit right into a specific style or make you stand out like a sore thumb. There are multiple aspects to strumming in various styles, including: Accents Count Eighth-note feel Techniques To fit into a certain style, you must understand and match those aspects. Listening is key, as well as mimicking favorite songs and players. While I don’t usually teach specific ukulele strumming patterns to my students (instead I give them a framework for