ukulele FOR beginners
This course has been created with absolute beginners in mind but people who are relatively new to the uke will pick up invaluable tips and good practices from these videos.
All of Matt's YouTube videos are a free resource but if you have found them especially useful and feel you would like to donate towards the running costs and help Matt do more you can follow the links below to help out:
£3 Virtual Coffee – https://theukeroom.com/product/3-virtual-coffee/
£5 High Five – https://theukeroom.com/product/5-virtual-high-five-donation/
Or if you prefer you can drop Matt a virtual tip in his jar by paypal: https://paypal.me/ukeroom
1. How to choose the right ukulele size
In this first video in his new Ukulele for Beginners series Matt talks you through all the different sizes of ukuleles looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you decided which works for you.
2. Ukulele tuning - How to tune your ukulele by ear and with an electronic tuner
In this second video in his new Ukulele for Beginners series Matt talks you through the different tunings for ukulele. He shows you how to tune using an electronic tuner, and also how to tune by ear.
3. How to hold a ukulele and using a ukulele strap
4. How to play your first ukulele chords PART 1
This video sets you on the way to playing your first ukulele chords and first two songs. Matt goes into many of the little details that many teachers forget to make sure you set yourself up to become a good player for years to come.
5. How to play your first ukulele chords PART 2
This video sets you on the way to playing your first ukulele chords and first two songs. Matt goes into many of the little details that many teachers forget to make sure you set yourself up to become a good player for years to come.
6. How to strum your ukulele
This video shows you how to strum your ukulele in a thorough but simple way. We'll cover picks vs fingers, angles, up and down strums, swing rhythms, and practice two simple two chord songs. Matt goes into many of the little details that many teachers forget to make sure you set yourself up to become a good player for years to come.
7. How to play C Am F G7 chords
This video shows introduces you to some new chords that are commonly used and will allow you to play thousands of songs - C, Am, F and G7. Matt shows you simple but detailed technique, allowing you to smoothly transition between the cords, explains about the three most common types of chords; major, minor and dominant 7, and gives you a fun play-along to practice with. Matt always goes into many of the little details that many teachers forget to make sure you set yourself up to become a good player for years to come.
8. Counting and changing chords
In this video we learn to use counting to keep time, explore how to make changing chords easier and practice some of the chord's we've learned so far.
9. DO NOT LEARN STRUM PATTERNS!
DON’T LEARN STRUM PATTERNS!! Wait, what?? In this video Matt explains how beginners shouldn’t get hung up trying to learn strum patterns. Ignore all those DU UDU videos from online tutors and watch this instead. I promise it’ll help you massively.
10. Master that G chord (& much more)!!
The G chord is one of those tricky chords that people get in a muddle with. Here Matt uses his usual detailed approach to show you how it can be easy peasy lemon squeezy. Matt also shows you how to combine it with C, Am and F to create the most common chord progression in modern music.
11. SOMEONE YOU LOVED
In this exciting new video you get a chance to use all the skills learned so far to play Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi. You'll learn a really simple pop strum, a new chord and practice smooth transitions.
12. AND I LOVE HER
In this FAB-FOUR-TASTIC new video you learn simple thumb strumming, two new chords, how to finger chords to suit changes and practice everything you've learned so far with the great song from A Hard Day's Night.
13. How to play waltz 3/4 time
Fancy a waltz?! I this video Matt teaches you how to play in 3/4 time, otherwise known as waltz. We’ll learn another two chords, learn about time signatures, practice strumming and much more.
14. Don't be scared of sheet music! Reading measures
DON’T BE SCARED OF SHEET MUSIC! In this video Matt shows you how to use measures as written on sheet music to follow along with songs. You’ll practice playing along with My Bonnie and learn what a brilliant resource sheet music actually is, even for beginners.
15. 3 EASY WAYS TO SPICE UP YOUR STRUMMING
In this video Matt shows you 3 incredibly simple ways to add some really nice dynamics to your playing. Instead of complicated strum patterns that tend to stress beginners, here we have three simple hand movements to add to what you already do. Simple and brilliant!
16. WHAT IS SWING?!
WHAT IS SWING? This video explores the difference to playing in straight time and swing time. We learn what is swing time, how it came about, how to recognise and it, importantly, how to play it.
17. SHOTGUN BY GEORGE EZRA
In this video we learn the George Ezra song Shotgun and see how important it is to know the difference between straight and swing time. We learn about playing straight 8s - a simple and effective strum. Matt shows you how without doing much at all we can add dynamics and speed to our strumming.
18. DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY, BOBBY MCFERRIN
In this video we use learning Don’t Worry Be Happy to see how swing time works. Matt teaches you a really simple way to add an accent on beats 2 and 4 to get that lovely relaxed Island ukulele feel.
19. WARM UP & MUSCLE MEMORY EXERCISES
In this short video Matt shows you three simple hand exercises that will get you warmed up, improve your muscle memory and help your playing.
20. Beginners Fingerstyle Ukulele part 1
In this video (the first of two parts) Matt teaches you the basics of playing finger style as an accompaniment in a song. You’ll learn how and why finger picking can add a lot to a song, see how three positions can make things so much better and learn how to read and write PIMA (finger picking) notation.
21. Beginners Fingerstyle Ukulele part 2
In this video (the second of two parts) Matt teaches you the basics of playing finger style as an accompaniment in a song. You’ll learn how and why finger picking can add a lot to a song, see how three positions can make things so much better and learn how to read and write PIMA (finger picking) notation. You’ll also put it to use playing a classic pop song.
22. How to change ukulele chords smoothly
Matt goes over lots of simple but effective technique to help make your chord changes much smoother and get you playing better. You’ll also learn a new song and a new chord - E7.
23. THE MOST USEFUL UKULELE SCALE
In this video we take a look at the CHROMATIC SCALE and learn how it can help you understand music, learn the whole fretboard and become a much better player. Matt demystifies a whole heap of theory, making it easy to understand and help your playing.
24. UNDERSTAND & PLAY MAJOR SCALES ON UKULELE
Matt will introduce you to your first major scales, showing how amazingly useful they can be, explaining how they work and using them to give you a neat trick to learn the whole ukulele fretboard quickly and easily.
25. HOW TO WORK OUT MELODIES BY EAR ON UKULELE
In this video Matt shares with you how to use some simple scale knowledge to give you the amazing super-power of being able to work out melodies by ear!
26. WHAT ACTUALLY IS A CHORD?
In this video Matt explains what chords are, how the are built and their function. We take a look at the differences between major and 7th chords and learn then power of 7th chords using a cool tune from the 60s.
27. YOUR FIRST UKULELE BARRE CHORDS
In this video Matt explains how barre chords need not be daunting and can be a powerful way to master moving top the fretboard.
28. HOW TO RECOGNISE CHORD TYPES
In the fascinating video Matt explains how songs and pieces of music are built with a palette of chords and that each type of chord is used because of its personality. This not only allows you to understand music better, but means you can predict what will happen next in a song and start to learn tunes by ear.
29. MASTER THE DREADED Bb UKULELE CHORD!
In this video Matt shows you how to master the Bb with lots of helpful ideas and tips. Further, he shows you how amazing it can be and how it’s really 5 chords in one. We’ll practice with a laid back reggae pop song to help you relax into it.
30. Conclusion, thanks and what next
A final conclusion to the Beginners Course. Massive thanks to everyone that has taken part! Matt gives some tips for practice and tells you all about what to do next (including a new Intermediate course!)