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Ukulele Scales: How to Play C Major Scale Position #2 on Ukulele

by Brett McQueen

Last week we looked at how to play a C Major Scale in Position #1 on ukulele. Today we continue on and learn C Major Scale in Position #2 farther up the fretboard (there are a total of five positions).

By learning the notes of C major scale in all positions, you learn all natural notes on the ukulele fretboard (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), or any note that is not an accidental (sharp or flat). When you learn all the natural notes, it’s easy to figure out where the other notes are later.

Learning the C major scale is the foundation of learning the notes of the ukulele fretboard and opens up future possibilities like:

  • How to fingerpick the melody of a song on the fretboard
  • How to build chords across the fretboard
  • How to riff and improvise solos across the fretboard (like in the blues or jazz)

Let’s learn Position #2 now.

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When to Play the Easy Hawaiian D7 Versus the Barre D7 Ukulele Chord

by Brett McQueen

There are often several different ways to play the same ukulele chord.

In fact, you can search for many of these ukulele chord variations in the Ukulele Tricks Chord Library.

A perfect example of this is the easy-to-play Hawaiian D7 ukulele chord versus the more difficult standard D7 barre chord.

When you play a different variation of a ukulele chord, it’s still the same chord because it has the same notes contained in the chord, but those notes are often rearranged in a different order or in a different octave.

Some variations are easier to play than others.

And some variations create a different timbre or texture to the chord (bright vs. mellow).

But some variations are more preferable than others in certain circumstances.

In this lesson, let’s compare the Hawaiian D7 ukulele chord and the D7 barre chord and figure out which one is the best to use.

[Continue Reading...]

Ukulele Scales: How to Play C Major Scale Position #1 on Ukulele

by Brett McQueen

Learning the ukulele fretboard unlocks a whole new way of experiencing the excitement and joy of making music on the ukulele.

When you understand the relationship of notes across the fretboard, you can do things like:

  • Figure out where to fingerpick the melody of a song on the fretboard
  • Discover how to build chords across the fretboard
  • Riff and improvise solos across the fretboard (like in the blues or jazz)

But to do these things, it all starts with learning the C major scale on ukulele.

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Why I Don’t Recommend Learning to Play Ukulele “Left-Handed”

by Brett McQueen

I am left-handed and I’ve been playing ukulele for over 20 years.

But I don’t play left-handed.

Well, technically, I use my left hand all the time when I play ukulele, but I don’t play “left-handed” in the traditional sense, and if you’re a lefty, I don’t think you should learn to play ukulele left-handed either.

To play left-handed, you use the left hand to strum and right hand to fret chords.

Many famous musicians have played their stringed instrument left-handed like Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, or Justin Bieber.

Jimi Hendrix Left-Handed Guitar Player

The famous guitar player Jimi Hendrix shredding his left-handed guitar using the left hand to strum and right hand to fret chords

This is opposite to playing ukulele right-handed, the most common way, where you use the right hand to strum and left hand to fret chords.

If you’re a brand new lefty ukulele player and trying to decide to learn “left-handed” or “right-handed”, here are my two main reasons for why I tell new students to learn to play ukulele “right-handed” even if you’re a lefty and the two exceptions to consider.

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5 Challenges Every New Ukulele Player Has to Tackle

by Brett McQueen

Teaching over 10,000 students in the Strumming Tricks online video lesson course has given me direct line of sight into your biggest beginner ukulele challenges.

It’s normal to feel discouragement and even frustration as you’re first learning.

It can even feel like you’re the only one facing those challenges or like there’s something wrong with your capacity for making music.

More often than not, you aren’t alone.

See if you’ve faced any of these top five beginner ukulele challenges.

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3 Best Ways to Play the E Major Chord on Ukulele

by Brett McQueen

There comes a point in a ukulele player’s journey where one must face head on, with courage and bravery, that dreaded and difficult-to-play E major chord on ukulele.

By learning the E chord on ukulele, you unlock a whole new world of playing songs on the ukulele with the most notable song using the E chord being Hey Soul Sister by Train.

Don’t worry because together in this lesson we look at three of the best ways to play the E major chord on ukulele. I provide you with three variations of E major and give you the pros and cons of each, so you can learn how to play the E chord and determine which one is easiest for you.

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How to Play the Calypso Strum on Ukulele

by Brett McQueen

When you’ve learned your first chords on ukulele, it’s time to start strumming!

With strumming, it’s all about keeping a steady, consistent rhythm.

To help ourselves keep a steady rhythm, in this lesson, you count out loud to a count of four: 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on, and you learn to strum on the most popular strumming patterns – the calypso strum.

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Learn to Play Your First Four Ukulele Chords For Beginners

by Brett McQueen

You’re tuned up and ready to play!

It’s time to learn your first ukulele chords.

You might be surprised to know that with just these few ukulele chords you can play hundreds of songs on the ukulele.

These ukulele chords for beginners are where every ukulele player should begin.

Watch the video to discover these chords.

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The Story of Ukulele Tricks and How It All Started

by Brett McQueen

If you would have told me eight years ago that over 10,000 amazing ukulele players would be learning along with me I would have never believed you.

In 2010, I had just graduated from college after studying music and theology.

I knew I loved music but I wasn’t sure what was next.

During a music internship in college, I was given a ukulele as a parting gift. I was thrilled because I grew up playing ukulele since I was six years old when my grandfather taught me how to play I’ve Been Working On the Railroad.

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Uncovering Connections Between Musical Notes, Ukulele Frets and Piano Keys

by Brett McQueen

Is it easier for a ukulele player to learn piano notes or a pianist to learn ukulele notes?

And how are the notes of the ukulele fretboard related to the notes of the piano?

In this lesson, you discover:

  • The relationship between musical notes and the notes of the ukulele fretboard
  • The relationship between musical notes and the notes of the piano
  • The relationship between the notes of the ukulele fretboard and the notes of the piano

Let’s dive in.

[Continue Reading...]
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    About

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    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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