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5 Reasons You Should Play & Learn Ukulele

by Brett McQueen

5 Reasons to Learn UkuleleAre you thinking about learning how to play the ukulele? What’s stopping you? Here are five reasons you should be motivated to buy your first ukulele and start playing… TODAY.

Reason #1: It’s cool

When I was a kid, it was cool to throw rotten tomatoes at people’s houses in my neighborhood. Just because something is cool doesn’t mean you should do it, but in the case of playing ukulele, you should totally do it.

Without a doubt, over the past few years, the ukulele has established a stronger presence in popular music, with songs surfacing like Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Oh What a Day by Ingrid Michaelson, and covers of I’m Yours by Jason Mraz.

Reason #2: It’s cheap

Compared to other instruments, like guitars, pianos, or sousaphones, you can get a pretty decent and playable ukulele for well under a $100. Like any instrument, you can always spend more, and the sky is ultimately the limit, but ukuleles are relatively cheap.

Reason #3: It’s easy

It’s true that some people have a more natural aptitude for things than others, so ukulele might be impossible for you, but as a four stringed instrument, most people will tell you ukulele is relatively easy to pick up compared to other instruments.

Like anything though, if you want to be good, you have to set your mind to it. Don’t expect to learn anything without putting in the time and effort.

Reason #4: It’s portable

Learning the ukulele just might allow you to jump start your career as a street performer. While the ukulele won’t fit in your pocket, get a case for it, and you can take it wherever you go–on the subway, to the supermarket, dinner parties, the beach, Narnia–you get the picture.

Reason #5: It’s fun

Fact: no one has never not had fun playing ukulele. In other words, not only is the ukulele a fun instrument to play, but from a tonal standpoint, it’s a fun instrument to listen to and hear. Different types of ukuleles have their tonal differences, but as a whole, there is something playful and soulful about how a ukulele sounds and plays.

Reason #6: Reader Response

What made you start playing ukulele? What do you like about it so much?

Not sure where to go next? Grab the free ukulele lesson book.

Your First Ukulele Lesson And Then Some Book

Join over 50,000 people and get our free ukulele lesson book Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some. Learn new tricks like:

  • How to properly tune, hold, and strum your ukulele
  • The most essential "must-know" ukulele chords
  • How to play 3 extremely versatile strumming patterns
  • How to play "I've Been Working On the Railroad"

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      About

      Brett McQueen
      Brett McQueen is the founder of Ukulele Tricks and author of the internationally-published book Ukulele Exercises For Dummies. He teaches thousands of people from around the world to play ukulele in a non-intimidating, easy-to-follow style. Read more.

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