Thinking of picking up the ukulele? Wondering where to start? You have come to the right place! Here at Uke Like The Pros, we are all about helping folks get started with their own ukulele journey. After all, it’s a journey we are familiar with!
Not only do we offer a series of great courses that will take you from a beginner to… well, ‘uking’ like the pros, but we also have a great community for members where you can interact with fellow uke enthusiasts of all levels and learn and grow together!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to get started on your uke journey today!
Buying The Right Ukulele
You can’t play what you don’t have! But with so many options out there, how do you know which uke is right for you? And how do you make sure you are getting a quality instrument without breaking the bank?
Well, let’s take it one step at a time.
What Size is Right for Me?
The first thing you want to know is that ukuleles commonly come in 4 sizes: soprano (the smallest), concert, tenor, and baritone (the biggest).
For more information on the four sizes, and to help determine which might be right for you, head over to this article.
If you can, I highly recommend you go to a real store and try some ukuleles out, just to get a better feel for which size is the most comfortable for you!
Where to Buy?
It’s easy in this day and age to look to Amazon for everything. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of scrolling through all your options and then having your order pop up on your doorstep 2 days later? But before you go that route, check out these resources to learn some of the risks of ordering a uke on amazon.
So where should you get your uke then? Well, like I mentioned above, I recommend going into a music store if you can. Nothing can truly replace getting to put your hands on an instrument before you buy it. This allows you to get a feel for the size, the weight, and the overall quality of the instrument.
The problem is, not everyone has access to a music store near them, and even if they do, many music stores don’t have very good selections when it comes to the uke. This is where online retailers come in. If you go this route, you want to find a reliable retailer specializing in ukuleles (aka not something like Amazon). Of course, we are a bit biased here regarding which site offers you the best deals, the best service, with the widest selection of ukes (hint: it’s the Terry Carter Music Store!), but there are several others out there. Do your research!
For more on where to buy your ukulele, see here.
I Have My Uke, What Now?
Congratulations on completing the first step in purchasing a uke -now it’s time to jump in and get playing!
Let’s Tune Your Uke!
The very first thing you need to do in order to start playing your uke is get it in tune!
And for those linguistic learners out there who prefer the written word, we’ve got you covered here!
Bonus tip: while you can always pull up a video (like the one above), or download an app, the quickest way to tune up your uke is to get yourself an electric tuner – here are some of the best affordable options available.
Learn Some Chords!
Now that you’re all tuned up, it’s time to learn some chords! One of the things that’s so great about the ukulele is how easy it is to learn the basic chords. No other instrument can match the uke when it comes to how quickly you can go from unboxing to strumming along to your favorite songs.
Let’s start with the first chord all uke players are taught (and the easiest to play!) – the C chord. Click here for an intro to reading chord charts and how to play the C chord.
And once you’ve mastered the C chord, here are some more basic chords to add to your repertoire.
Get Strumming!
Linguistic learners, click here.
Sign Up For a Class or Course!
We live in a time when if there is something you want to learn, all you have to do is Google it and someone has probably made a tutorial for it. YouTube alone is littered with free tutorials teaching you most everything you could want to know about the ukulele.
So why sign up for a class? Well, we’ll tell you why!
Consistency is Key
If you are using free tutorials as your primary learning source, your progress will likely be sporadic. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to bounce around from song to song, technique to technique.
When taking a class, you commit to a regimented program of lessons that are designed by a professional to teach you techniques incrementally, allowing you to improve consistently. A course frees you up from trying to find the perfect lesson to build on the skills you have, without biting off more than you can chew (which is what leads many people to give up on instruments).
And listen, we understand not everyone has the extra money to spend. That’s why we also offer a lot of free content (like this blog!) to help you out on your journey. We also have great beginner courses (some as low as $20) that you can try before commiting to a membership.
If you can swing it though, a uke like the pros membership is a great way to commit to yourself as you begin your journey. Not only do you get access to over 20 courses and discounted prices on special workshops (or free access with the premium membership), but you also get to be part of a community of fellow uke players at all stages of their journey! With monthly competitions, exclusive access to live lessons with Terry, community forums, and special discounts, being a part of the community at Uke Like the Pros is a great way to keep yourself motivated and engaged as you traverse the ups and downs of learning a new instrument.
Conclusion
Well, what do you think? Gonna give the uke a try? Already started? Let us know in the comments. We hope you found this article helpful and that you can feel confident moving forward with us on this journey!
For more lessons on chords, techniques, and songs to help you along on your own uke journey, make sure to check out our site www.ukelikethepros.com. We offer you a bunch of great ukulele content that comes hand-in-hand with an awesome ukulele community that will support you in this journey.
