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Published:
2005-01-02
Updated:
2017-12-03

Learning Ukulele with Curt

Selecting a `Ukulele

A `Ukulele is: Light Weight, Affordable and Portable | Four Strings and Four Fingers | Less Need for Strumming Accuracy | There is nott a lot expected from a ukulele player. The 'Ukulele (pronounced oo-koo-lele) comes in four standard sizes: Soprano (sometimes called Standard), Concert, Tenor and Baritone.

Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: UL128

Main Category: Basics Main Instrument: Ukulele

Subjects: Chords

2017-12-03

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Series Home
Introduction Soprano Concert Tenor Baritone Electric Banjo Resonator Guitar Bass Novelity Simulating Smaller Sizes

Selecting a `Ukulele

A `Ukulele is: Light Weight, Affordable and Portable | Four Strings and Four Fingers | Less Need for Strumming Accuracy | There is nott a lot expected from a ukulele player. The 'Ukulele (pronounced oo-koo-lele) comes in four standard sizes: Soprano (sometimes called Standard), Concert, Tenor and Baritone.

A `Ukulele is:

  • Light Weight and Portable
  • Easy on the Fingers with Four Strings and Four Fingers - a perfect match
  • Less Need for Strumming Accuracy
  • There isn't a lot expected from a ukulele player

The music you play can be as simple or complex as you want. The Ukulele is a powerful musical instrument for communication in its own right.

And, did I mention it’s a lot of fun to play and explore.

And a side note - the ukulele community is one the most welcoming and helpful communities among musicians. Open to helping and sharing with any level of player.

Step One - Get A Ukulele

Of the four standard sizes:

Based on sales the concert followed by the tenor seem to be the most popular.

I would actually recommend to NOT get your ukulele without trying it out. There is a lot a variety in the number of manufactures making instruments, types of wood, solid tops vs. laminated tops, different string material, high "G", low "G", which tuning to use, the various sizes and shapes, etc… You need to get your hands on one and - more importantly find a reputable shop that, just doesn't have a few ukuleles and actually has a wide selection of instruments and knows what they are talking about. A lot of "guitar" stores think they are little guitars - they're ukuleles not guitars - same string family but a different personality and their own why of doing thinks. Only the chord shapes look the same, albeit different names. More importantly I've found the ukulele community to be very generous, accepting and open to new players.

So that leaves out the Amazons, Walmarts, Guitar Centers, and Sam Ashes of the World. With more and more stores popping up that cater to the ukulele crowd and ukulele festivals with vendors as well as Meetup `Ukulele Groups ( here are the groups within 50 miles from Funky Frets in Boyertown, PA USA ) you can find a good source of ukuleles and somewhat knowledgeable people.

What to Learn

What you'll typically do the most as a beginner ukulele player is strummin and play chords. The below books and chord charts are a great place to start.

Here are a couple of Lesson Series for chords and getting started with strums: