aaamusic | On 17, May 2021

Music has been proven to have multiple benefits on humans, sometimes even on animals. From relaxing the mind to calming the spirit, jogging your adrenaline, and promoting mood, the beneficial effects of listening to music are just too many to mention. Well, musical instruments are at the forefront when it comes to the creation of music, especially stringed instruments!

Now, the ukulele is by far one of the most popular stringed instruments. This stringed instrument of Portuguese origin has overtaken the guitar severally in terms of popularity. Playing this instrument can be very fulfilling. It provides several benefits, including improved hand-to-eye coordination, enhanced mental health, and lower stress levels, among others.

However, the ukulele is also not the easiest instrument to learn and master. If you are stuck on your routine and want a simple way out, do not panic. This piece gives you tips that will have you playing like a pro in no time.

1. Pick the Right Ukulele for You 

One thing about the ukulele is that it is portable and easier to learn since it has fewer strings compared to the guitar. However, not all ukuleles are alike. Among other factors, they differ in terms of the construction material, design, size, and budget. As pointed out in a review article on Baritone Ukulele at Acoustic Realm, different players have different needs. This is why it pays to find out which ukulele works best for your needs. It makes the learning process easy and your experience more fulfilling.

2. Find Helpful Resources Online

Nothing beats the benefits of learning from the experts when you want to advance in any field. This is more so when it comes to learning an instrument. The professionals have some tricks up their sleeves that can be beneficial to you. You can hire a coach, buy a book, or follow YouTube tutorials. This will take you out of your slump. You could also join online groups or discussion forums with other Ukulele players. This gives you an avenue to air your worries and get answers. Also, you get to share ideas and challenge each other, thus boosting your learning curve.

3. Tune Your Instrument

You may be a seasoned player but ill-tuning can make you look like an amateur. Therefore, it is critical to ensure your instrument is tuned well before playing. Failure to do this will have you strumming out of tune. This can be very nerve-wracking if you are sure you are touching the right chords. Remember, one of the fun facts about the ukulele is that it is tuned differently from the guitar. Tuning your instrument each time you play will help you stay motivated and improve your strumming skills over time.

4. Familiarize With Chords

Another trick to learn the ukulele faster is to find a song that you love and practice with it. However, do not let the many available chords overwhelm you. Few major ones will work for most of the songs. Pick two to three chords and play while switching them up. If you want to learn faster, do not hurry to follow the music tempo. Instead, start slow. You can always increase your movements as you familiarize yourself more with the equipment.

5. Practice

Practice is critical when learning anything, especially a musical instrument. The most renowned instrumentalist did not get overnight success. The great saying of practice makes perfect is true in this context. Spare some time each day to learn a new chord or perfect what you already know. Through this, you familiarize your hands with the Ukulele. This takes the focus off your hands and lets you concentrate on the tune.

6. The Perfect Hold

Most beginners find the Ukulele flying from their hands before they can even play. This can be very frustrating and if you lack patience you may quit. Therefore, take your time in learning how to perfectly hold the instrument. If seated, maintain an upright posture and support it with the area below your chest. A bad posture puts strain on your back and hands which can make you cut the sessions short.

7. Sing to Your Strums

It doesn’t matter whether you are a concert or bathroom singer, just make sounds. Humming to a song will keep you grounded on the chords and rhythm of the song. This ensures you don’t get off-tune. Also, it helps you to switch things up. This is where you get to try out new strumming patterns for additional sounds. This is a great way to learn.

To become a master at playing this instrument requires patience and effort. This is all the more reason to consider recording yourself before applying these tips. Especially if you are a beginner, you should notice a substantial improvement after some time.