Learning to play ʻukulele is the obvious goal of this course, but we are also here to better understand the process and language of music. Music is among the most ancient, universal and persistent aspects of human civilization, often integral to ceremonies and linked to the divine. On the other hand, musicians often view music as part of a higher calling. Beethoven expressed this sentiment eloquently:
“I must despise a world which does not know that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.”
Indeed, music reigns supreme above all human wisdom and philosophy. We will be doing important work in this class!
Kala Elite Doghair Tenor | No bite but a mighty bark!
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This text uses an approach combining strumming and fingerstyle techniques, music fundamentals, and classical, popular and folk repertoire. In other words, you'll get a solid grounding in the basics of both music and ʻukulele playing!
The design of this course assumes no prior musical background. Thus, we begin with basic technique and musicianship. When you complete this course, you’ll be able to play melodies and chords, and be conversant with tablature, staff notation, and chord symbols. These skills will give you a foundation for the development of a variety of ʻukulele styles.
Success in This Course
Your skill and enjoyment will grow steadily if you follow these suggestions:
Practice ʻukulele at least 1/2 hour per day.
Follow instructions and concentrate while practicing.
Learn concepts and pieces thoroughly before moving on to new material.
Review previous material regularly.
Finally, if you have problems you can't solve within the practice room, ask for help in class. Taking an online class? Email and we'll set up an office or Zoom appointment with you.
Which ʻUkulele?
You need an ʻukulele for this course. The ʻukulele is sold in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone, the soprano being the smallest at about 21 inches in length (53 cm), and the baritone the largest at around 30 inches (75 cm).
The names of the four ʻukulele appear to suggest a difference in pitch range but it's mostly about size. The soprano, concert and tenor ʻukulele are tuned the same and mainly differ in size and resonance. Listen to Carlos Gallardo-Candia play Hello Dolly on the soprano, concert and tenor ʻukuleles: same note pitches but slightly different tonal coloration between sizes.
Córdoba 21 Series ʻUkulele Comparison | Comparison of the sound and appearance of the soprano, concert and tenor ʻukuleles (2:43)
Pick an ʻUkulele that Fits You
Like buying clothing, choose an ʻukulele that fits your body. For example, if you're petite, a smaller ʻukulele like the concert size may suit you best. If you've got relatively large hands, stay away from the soprano and concert. Instead, spring for a tenor sized ʻukulele or even super tenor. With that said, the average player is comfortable with the tenor size and it's a good place to start if you're not sure what to buy.
The largest ʻukulele, the baritone, is unsuitable for this course. Why? It is designed to be tuned at guitar pitch—D G B E—and, thus, has different note locations and chord names than its smaller siblings. The soprano, concert and tenor ʻukulele are tuned G C E A, a fourth higher than the baritone. Yes, a baritone can be tuned up to tenor pitch but requires special low tension strings. Normal baritone strings are too tight and will likely break.
This Web Textbook
This text is optimized for asynchronous distance education supplemented with one-on-one video conferencing. It will also work well in a face-to-face course if the music sheets are printed out. While not designed for self-teaching, a determined student could certainly learn to play with this text, albeit without the benefit of feedback from instructors or classmates.
An advantage of this format over paper textbooks is the integration of text, music notation, video, audio and images for a streamlined learning experience. Also, a web textbook gives the authors full control of course materials: we choose the topics and materials and can revise at a moment's notice.
Sheet Music
Although many of you will choose to practice the pieces by reading directly from a computer screen, consider printing the PDF sheet music. Why? A paper score allows you to escape the tyranny of the small screen: stop squinting, use a music stand and sit comfortably with good posture.
A link for the PDF sheet music is found below each music assignment.
Video
Embedded videos demonstrating a piece or technique are used throughout this textbook.
Audio Tracks
Embedded audio tracks of assigned pieces are used throughout this textbook.
“You can learn by reading, but you don't begin to know until you begin to try to do.”
–Lou Churchill
All the reading, listening and video watching in the world will not make you a musician. After studying a new technique or musical concept, you must take the next step and do what you just learned. Learn a new chord, note or rhythm? Pick up the ʻukulele and play it over and over until you know it by heart. Then, and only then, does that new knowledge or skill become yours.
Musings
This web text was produced pro bono in my spare time and on a shoestring budget. It's still a work in progress. There was no support team so, out of necessity, I wore the hats of author, editor, music scribe, designer, photographer, videographer, webmaster and performer!
However, I was not a lone wolf and acknowledge the considerable help my wife, Grace Seil Frary, donated to this project. I couldn't have created this web text without her. You'll find her beautiful photographs and videos in abundance in this textbook. And, if she wasn't playing guitar in a demonstration video, Grace was the one operating the camera and wrangling light-stands and microphones!
Click the forward arrow to learn about the history of the ʻukulele.
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About This Course
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Success in This Course
Which ʻUkulele?
Pick an ʻUkulele that Fits You
