The Ukulele: A Small Wonder with a Big Heart

Ukulele is easy to start with, you can take it everywhere with you, it's versatile, it's good this great Hawaiian vibe

• Welcome in the ukulele bandwagon!
• Why have I started playing ukulele?
• It's portable
• You can play almost anything
  • Chords
  • Fingerpicking
• Millions of guitar sheets you can use
• People love the cute sound of it
• Singing isn't your thing? Ukulele is for you
• If you love singing
• Such a cool vibe
• It's for everybody!
• Conclusion

Welcome in the ukulele bandwagon!

If you are reading these lines, it's very likely that you too are a fan of ukulele, or a fan in the making.

So WELCOME!!

Ukulele is just an amazing instrument to play, so much fun, and a delight to listen to.

Get your first free ukulele course

Why have I started playing ukulele?

I've always loved music since young age. I've learned it since I was 8 in a music school. Then I played cello. Then I had to stop as I needed to focus on studies.

A few years latfer, I was thinking about a present for my nephew who has LOVED music since he was a baby. And bim, here we were : a ukulele of course. It's small enough for a 6 years old, it's all about music, and it sounds just great. And it's not a toy, it's a music instrument!!

But in the laps of time between the moment I purchased it, and the time I offered it, I tried playing uk'. And I totally loved it from the first note! I couldn't take my hand off it, and sooner than later, I planned to buy it one for myself.

And since then I've never stopped!!

And you? Why have your started the ukulele?

Let me know in the comment section below!

It's portable

I can carry it everywhere. If I go grab a coffee with a friend downtown, I can take it with me, arrive a little early a play in a park. If I go on holiday visit my sister, I can take it with me and play it to her baby girl - yes, she's all-hears to music! If I take the train to Paris to listen to a huge rock concert, I take it with me to play the following day.

It's much smaller than a guitar, a lot lighter, and thus much easier to carry it around. Anywhere, anytime.

That said, be aware that it's kinda fragile too, like many instruments: its thin wood layer won't resist if someone step on it by mistake - so make sure to put it in an extra safe place if you sit down at a coffee shop or a bar. You don't want to discover there's a crack in your titanic, otherwise it's bye-bye to the music.

You can train everyday. Don't skip a week-end or a week, just because you went visit your favorite family cook, Oncle Roger. Bring your uke' and make him groove to a little lick.

Would you like to enjoy playing ukulele? Get your first free ukulele course

You can play almost anything

The ukulele is a very versatile instrument. That's one of the reason it's fantastic!

You can strums, play chords, play fingerpicking. It's fabulous. You can also drum, and have fun doing so - even if it's somewhat limited.

Strum drum pick!

Sing, whistle. Oh yeah, you can sing along, or whistle as much as you want. It seems logic, but it's rather hard to sing while playing the flute, right? It might be a little bit tricky.

Strum, drum, pick, sing, whistle.

Andddd... dance. I mean, if you wish. You are free to stand up and move as you wish. People dance with a violin (like Lindsey Stirling), you can do the same with the ukulele. OK, maybe I've just got too carried on, but you are free to move around, something you can't with some instrument, like the cello, or the piano.

I've learned cello for years, and when I was a young adult, not being able to stand up and walk around while playing was a bit frustrating.

The ukulele is the solution!

Stand up. Move.

Dance.

Strum, drum, dance, pick, singe, whistle.

Chords

OK, that said, what's cool about the ukulele is that every song you can play on the guitar and sing along, you can play them on the ukulele.

You can play a C chord on the ukulele. It'll have a different fingering than on the guitar, but it'll be an C chord. The same for G, Am and F: you can play them on the guitar, and you can play them on the ukulele too. With that, you can play Let it Be by the Beatles.

Fingerpicking

Great melodies and candy to the ears are not reserved only to viola, or such instrument.

Yes, you can play melodies, arpeggios, solos and classical music with your ukulele. You can finger pick the strings, and have a great time with that.

How to strum a ukuelele correctly?

Millions of guitar sheets you can use

As previously mentioned, you have the ability to play chords and sing along.

Despite the different finger placements between playing the ukulele and guitar, an A chord on the guitar is similar to an A chord on the ukulele. This means you can utilize countless songs that have been written with lyrics and chords specifically for the ukulele.

Isn't that fantastic?!

People love the cute sound of it

The ukulele's heavenly sound is adored by many. And count me in too!

It carries a hint of the Pacific ocean, a touch of sunshine, and the essence of vacation.

Whenever I strum the strings, I transport myself to a serene Hawaiian beach, relaxing with the melodic chords blending with the gentle waves.

My feet sink into the warm sand, while the soft evening sun casts beautiful shadows and bathes everything in a mesmerizing orange glow.

Singing isn't your thing? Ukulele is for you

Fingerpicking is a technique that allows you to play one note at a time, unlike strumming chords where you play all the strings together. On the ukulele, you have endless possibilities to play beautiful melodies.

When teaching my students, I often introduce them to kid folk songs that are familiar to everyone.

I also teach them popular intros from rock or pop music that are catchy and well-known. As an example, I have even adapted for the ukulele the theme from Mission Impossible.

Additionally, I introduce my students to some great Hawaiian or Tahitian classical tunes, as well as classical or baroque music if they have an interest in that.

Ultimately, playing melodies with fingerpicking on the ukulele can be incredibly enjoyable, even if you prefer not to play chords.

If you love singing

Are you a big fan of singing? The ukulele is a fantastic instrument that can provide the perfect musical accompaniment to your voice.

Compared to other instruments, it's much easier to give it a try, play a few songs, and sing along.

Such a cool vibe

Relax, you're on holiday!

Everyday of the week!

It's for everybody!

The ukulele is suitable for kids, teenagers, adults, and even the elderly. So, don't worry if you're older, you can still learn, improve, and have a blast with this instrument.

Just to give you an idea, my youngest student this year is only 6 years old, while my oldest student is over 70.

Conclusion

To sum up, ukulele is a fun instrument with so much possibilities packed in a small format.

You can play traditional music, but also rock music, pop music, classical music...

It's an amazing instrument for kids and adults alike, whether sing with it or not.

People love it for its unique sound too: sweet, you're on the Hawaiian beach the moment you pluck a string.