Hi everyone, I'm new to UU so I just have a couple of quick questions.
First, what is your best piece of advice that you would give to someone just trying to learn to play the ukulele?
Second, when I am switching chords (even when I'm not strumming) the strings make noises when I move my fingers. Is it just that I have "sticky fingers" literally or is this something I am doing wrong? (It also could be due to the uke I'm using since I am practicing on a really inexpensive souvenir with plastic strings until my new uke comes). I want to make sure that this isn't a technical problem that will be harder to solve later if I'm "set in my ways."
Thanks everyone!
Hi, Bec -
Others have already given you good advice (i.e. Practice and Have Fun), but I can offer you some encouragement. I've been at the 'ukulele now for almost 3 months, and have never really played any instrument before in my life. Now, I've reached the point where I can play about a dozen songs well enough so people can almost recognize them. Yes, they are easy songs, but still ...
So, here are my few token words to a fellow n00b -
1. Take your first week or so to just get used to the instrument. How it feels, how to hold it, how to place your hands etc. Just strum it without worrying about making a chord or playing notes. Get used to how your hand moves across the strings, and how to place your finger to hit all four on the up and down strokes. Move your left hand along the fretboard, and try to just get an idea of how hard to press the strings, where they are, and where the frets are.
2. Have fun with this.
3. Set small goals. Start by just making a C chord sound like a C chord. Take your time and deliberately position your fingers into the basic chord shapes before strumming, and strum slowly to make sure all four strings sound clean. Don't worry about switching between chords yet, just make them sound right.
4. Have fun.
5. Slowly begin switching chord positions. Move between easy ones first (A and F, G and C, C and A, etc). Pick a simple song (one with the simple chords), and start slow enough to make the chords sound right, then keep practicing the transitions until you can actually begin to hear the song. Then practice more.
6. Have fun.
7. Keep practicing, and enjoying it. Don't take it as a matter of too much importance, and don't get discouraged. Everyone started out like this. Everyone. And everyone needs to practice (no matter how good they are). Everyone.
8. Have fun.
Remember, the 'ukulele is all about having a good time. The second it stops being fun, take some time away and let yourself recharge. You'll find that in a couple of weeks you'll have made some pretty impressive progress.
And be sure to search for 'ukulele help and tutorials. There are a ton of them on the web. And this is a fantastic resource, too.
Oh, did I mention that you should have fun with it?
