Ukulele Course Checklist
Created by Cheli
Step‑by‑step guide to learning ukulele from setup to playing songs and advancing skills.
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Checklist Items (22)
Preparation
Choose the right ukulele size
Select soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone based on hand size and desired tone.
Tune your instrument
Use a tuner app or clip‑on tuner to set G‑C‑E‑A standard tuning.
Adopt proper playing posture
Sit upright, hold the ukulele against your chest, and keep your fretting hand relaxed.
Basic Chords
C major chord
Place ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string; strum all four strings.
G major chord
Index on 2nd fret of C, ring on 3rd fret of E, middle on 2nd fret of A.
F major chord
Index on 1st fret of E, middle on 2nd fret of G.
A minor chord
Middle finger on 2nd fret of G string.
D minor chord
Index on 1st fret of E, middle on 2nd fret of G, ring on 2nd fret of C.
Strumming Techniques
Downstroke practice
Strum downward with the nail or pad of your index finger, keeping wrist loose.
Upstroke practice
Brush upward with the nail of your index finger; aim for even volume.
Basic down‑up pattern
Play D‑D‑U‑U‑D‑U (down, down, up, up, down, up) in 4/4 time.
Swing feel strum
Emphasize the off‑beats: play long‑short pattern for a jazzy groove.
Fingerpicking
Thumb‑bass pattern
Use thumb to pluck the G string on beats 1 and 3 while fingers play higher strings.
Alternating bass
Alternate thumb between G and C strings to create a moving bass line.
Simple arpeggio exercise
Pluck strings in order G‑C‑E‑A repeatedly, focusing on even tone.
Song Practice
Learn "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" intro
Practice the C‑Em‑F‑G progression slowly, then add the melody.
Play "Riptide" verse
Use Am‑G‑C progression with a steady down‑up strum.
Try "Hey Soul Sister" chorus
C‑G‑Am‑F loop; focus on chord changes timing.
Work on smooth transitions
Switch between chords using a metronome at 60 bpm, increasing speed gradually.
Next Steps
Set a regular practice schedule
Aim for 15‑30 minutes daily, logging what you worked on.
Join an online ukulele community
Participate in forums like Ukulele Underground or Reddit r/ukulele for feedback.
Explore advanced techniques
Learn chord melody, hammer‑ons, pull‑offs, and slide playing.