If you’ve got a new ukulele for Christmas or are considering taking up playing one, you’ll soon find there are lots of on-line resources to help you, whatever your level:
- Two useful free guides for beginners can be found from Ukulele Hunt‘s Alistair Wood – So You’ve Just Got Your First Ukulele & Ukulele Tricks‘ Brett McQueen – Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some.
- In 2018 we published a Twelve Days Of Ukemas guide to give you different things to try out over the holiday period, recommending some of the most useful sites and reliable tutors, suitable from total novice to intermediate & advanced players, and in many styles of playing, teaching & music genres. Check out each day for much more detail:
| Day & Summary | Day & Summary |
|---|---|
| 01 – Helmut Bickel – Fingerstyle | 02 – New Uke For Xmas – Useful sources |
| 03 – Bernadette’s 30 Day Challenge | 04 – Songs & Songbooks – eg MUJ |
| 05 – James Hill’s Uketropolis | 06 – Danno Sullivan – Play It Daily |
| 07 – Cynthia Lin – Tutorials | 08 – Phil Doleman’s Two Minute Tips |
| 09 – Samantha Muir – Classical Uke | 10 – Ten Thumbs Productions – Tutorials |
| 11 – Richard Hefner – ezFolk Lessons | 12 – Stuart Fuchs – Tips & Tutorials |
- Have a general look around this website, as we pick out a wide selection of our favourite tools & tips, on-line uke lessons, songbooks, chords, music theory, forums, equipment & other website resources. In particular, my musings on what helped me when I first got my uke as a complete beginner may prove a useful summary if you’re totally new to playing.
- Joining a local group is always a boost – whether you are a beginner, improver or expert player. Due to the pandemic, this might not be an option face-to-face currently – but look out for the many online gigs, strumalongs, lessons and festivals that are happening wordwide from groups, tutors and performers.
- If you need advice on buying an instrument, Barry Maz has a wealth of independent reviews on Got A Ukulele as well as other handy info to help get you started.
Good luck & happy strumming!
Jeanette
People of Lewisham's Ukulele Club 