Hi all, I'm new to this site, and I apologize if this has been posted already, I did have a look. Anyway, I've been playing ukulele for about 2 years. I still consider myself a beginner. The problem I have, is that since I've started, I've hardly learned how to pick at all and I only know one strum pattern (DDUUDU) and it's driving me crazy. I'm trying to expand my knowledge as well as I possibly can, but it's seriously starting to panic me now as my best friend is buying me a pricey electro-acoustic for Christmas and I can't possibly accept it if I'm still a novice. I know all my chords (I still have a ridiculous amount of trouble with bar chords though), I don't have a capo and I can pick my way through certain intros (Disenchanted - My Chemical Romance, Special Death - Mirah, Mona Lisa - All American Rejects, I Dare You To Break My Heart - Reel Big Fish, and Take On Me - A-Ha) but it's not enough and I'm really tired of this whole learning plateau I've hit. It might sound really silly to experts but please don't laugh at me, I know I'm a novice, but we all have to start somewhere.