Overview
Course No. 40210
Small Instrument, Big Impact: Discover the Ukulele. With roots in the Portuguese braguinha and Hawaiian origins dating back to the 1870s, the ukulele is an instrument with a vibrant and storied history. Initially introduced to Hawaii by immigrant laborers on sugar plantations, the braguinha was transformed into the ukulele, meaning “gift that came here.”
The ukulele was favored by the Hawaiian royal family and became a staple of traditional Hawaiian music. With only four strings and a manageable size, the ukulele is a versatile instrument, making it ideal for every occasion. Dive into the magical world of this instrument with Michael Poupko, a professional musician and instructor.
In How to Play the Ukulele, Michael’s patient, easy-to-follow approach takes you from novice to master in 24 lessons. The course combines music theory with hands-on examples, allowing you to explore the ukulele for years to come.
Video Lectures
01: The Musical World of Ukulele
Meet your instructor and learn the basics of the ukulele, including navigation, tablature, and tuning as you begin your musical journey.
Duration: 21 min
02: Learning Your Way around Your Ukulele
Expand your understanding of tablature while practicing frets and finger placement through several short exercises.
Duration: 12 min
03: Six Starter Chords for Ukulele
Play along as you learn fingering charts and six starter chords on your ukulele, enabling you to access hundreds of easy songs.
Duration: 21 min
04: Strumming Techniques for Ukulele
Practice chord progressions and various strum combinations, culminating in the songs “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “One, Five or Six to Four.”
Duration: 17 min
05: C Major Scale and Melodies for Ukulele
Learn about major scales and apply your knowledge by playing the C Major scale and melodies like “Ode to Joy.”
Duration: 20 min
06: Playing a Ukulele Melody with Chords
Combine what you’ve learned to play a chord melody for the songs you’re practicing, marking a significant leap in your skills.
Duration: 19 min
07: Ukulele Chords in the Key of G Major
Dive into the key of G Major, learning your first song, “Aloha Oe,” while revisiting several earlier strum patterns.
Duration: 16 min
08: G Major Scale and Melodies for Ukulele
Learn the G Major scale and practice playing melodies for “Aloha Oe” and “Drifting.”
Duration: 17 min
09: Playing with Suspended Chords for Ukulele
Expand your repertoire by learning suspended chords in both G and C major, applying them to the composition “In the Air.”
Duration: 18 min
10: Starting to Fingerpick Your Ukulele
Develop your skills at fingerpicking, allowing you to play individual notes in a sequence for a more nuanced musical expression.
Duration: 16 min
11: More Ukulele Fingerpicking Patterns
Apply your fingerpicking skills to new chord progressions and songs, enhancing your musical versatility.
Duration: 15 min
12: Ukulele Chords in the Key of D Major
Explore chords in the key of D Major, practicing the D, G, G7, A, and A7 chords while learning the Bo Diddley Beat.
Duration: 15 min
13: D Major Scale and Melodies for Ukulele
Master the D Major scale and practice playing the “D Ditty” melody in harmony with chords.
Duration: 14 min
14: The Feel of Time Signatures on Ukulele
Learn about new time signatures (3/4 and 6/8) while practicing songs like “Amazing Grace” and “Moonset.”
Duration: 18 min
15: Introduction to Minor Keys on Ukulele
Shift your attention to minor keys and understand the relationships between them while learning new songs.
Duration: 14 min
16: Twelve-Bar Blues on Ukulele
Explore the 12-bar blues progression and learn new strum patterns in different keys.
Duration: 15 min
17: Blues on Ukulele with Pentatonic Scales
Learn the minor pentatonic scale and apply it to create melodies and riffs over the blues progression.
Duration: 14 min
18: Ukulele Songs with Sliding Chord Shapes
Add excitement to your playing with sliding chord shapes, practicing the song “Easy Peasy.”
Duration: 16 min
19: Chords, Melody, and Fingerpicking Combined
Practice a chord melody arrangement of “Aloha Oe,” both in a traditional and solo version.
Duration: 16 min
20: The Freedom of Ukulele Barre Chords
Learn to use barre chords to create moveable shapes that allow for quick transitions along the fretboard.
Duration: 14 min
21: Ukulele Songs with Movable Chord Shapes
Apply your skills to more complex songs using movable chord shapes and various strum patterns.
Duration: 15 min
22: Latin Groove for Ukulele with C Minor Scale
Explore a Latin Bossa Nova style rhythm and learn to apply chords with smooth motion.
Duration: 15 min
23: Percussive Strumming for Ukulele
Discover how to use the ukulele as a percussive instrument, blending strumming with rhythmic techniques.
Duration: 14 min
24: Combine Your Ukulele Skills: “The Doozy”
Bring together all the skills and techniques learned throughout the course in this final lesson featuring the song “The Doozy.”
Duration: 15 min

