How to Play the Ukulele

Course Overview

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 history. It was initially brought to the Hawaiian islands by immigrant laborers and soon transformed into the ukulele, meaning “gift that came here.” Beloved by the Hawaiian royal family, it quickly became integral to traditional Hawaiian music, particularly hula. With only four strings and a manageably small size, the ukulele is ideal for any occasion. Its broad musical range and simple playability make it a popular, affordable choice for many musicians.

Under the guidance of professional musician and instructor Michael Poupko, embark on a journey to master the ukulele in 24 easy lessons. Michael’s 20-plus years of experience will help take you from a musical novice to a ukulele master. Whether you’re new to stringed instruments or looking to expand your musical skills, this course offers valuable insights into music theory and structure.

Video Lectures

01: The Musical World of Ukulele

Begin your journey by learning the basics of ukulele navigation, tablature, and tuning.

Duration: 21 min

02: Learning Your Way around Your Ukulele

Expand your understanding of tablature with frets and finger placement exercises.

Duration: 12 min

03: Six Starter Chords for Ukulele

Master six starter chords and play along to popular songs with chord progressions.

Duration: 21 min

04: Strumming Techniques for Ukulele

Learn strum patterns to enhance chord progressions and songs like “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Duration: 17 min

05: C Major Scale and Melodies for Ukulele

Play the C Major scale and melodies for songs like “Ode to Joy.”

Duration: 20 min

06: Playing a Ukulele Melody with Chords

Combine previous lessons to play complete chord melodies.

Duration: 19 min

07: Ukulele Chords in the Key of G Major

Explore traditional Hawaiian music with chords and strum patterns in G Major.

Duration: 16 min

08: G Major Scale and Melodies for Ukulele

Learn the G Major scale and melodies for “Aloha Oe” and “Drifting.”

Duration: 17 min

09: Playing with Suspended Chords for Ukulele

Add melodic embellishments to suspended chords in G and C Major.

Duration: 18 min

10: Starting to Fingerpick Your Ukulele

Develop right-hand techniques for fingerpicking individual notes.

Duration: 16 min

11: More Ukulele Fingerpicking Patterns

Apply fingerpicking skills to new chord progressions and songs.

Duration: 15 min

12: Ukulele Chords in the Key of D Major

Learn chords in D Major and experiment with the Bo Diddley Beat.

Duration: 15 min

13: D Major Scale and Melodies for Ukulele

Master the D Major scale and the melody for “D Ditty.”

Duration: 14 min

14: The Feel of Time Signatures on Ukulele

Explore new time signatures 3/4 and 6/8 with “Amazing Grace” and “Moonset.”

Duration: 18 min

15: Introduction to Minor Keys on Ukulele

Discover minor scales and songs using chromatic and diatonic techniques.

Duration: 14 min

16: Twelve-Bar Blues on Ukulele

Play the 12-bar blues progression and minor blues in various keys.

Duration: 15 min

17: Blues on Ukulele with Pentatonic Scales

Enhance blues melodies with C minor pentatonic scale riffs.

Duration: 14 min

18: Ukulele Songs with Sliding Chord Shapes

Experiment with sliding chord shapes for more dynamic progressions.

Duration: 16 min

19: Chords, Melody, and Fingerpicking Combined

Revisit “Aloha Oe” with instrumental arrangements and solo versions.

Duration: 16 min

20: The Freedom of Ukulele Barre Chords

Learn barre chord shapes for quick fret and chord transitions.

Duration: 14 min

21: Ukulele Songs with Movable Chord Shapes

Apply movable chord shapes to new songs using various strum patterns.

Duration: 15 min

22: Latin Groove for Ukulele with C Minor Scale

Practice a Latin Bossa Nova rhythm with efficient chord motions.

Duration: 15 min

23: Percussive Strumming for Ukulele

Discover percussive strumming techniques for a rhythmic groove.

Duration: 14 min

24: Combine Your Ukulele Skills: “The Doozy”

Bring together all skills for a comprehensive song challenge.

Duration: 15 min