Ukulele Guides
I've written 43 free, in-depth ukulele guides, every one by me and not by AI. They run from picking your first uke and tuning up, to chords, strumming, fingerpicking, theory and instrument care. Whatever your level, there's a guide written for you. Search them below or pick a topic to dive in.
Getting started
Your ukulele just arrived. Get oriented, in tune and ready to play.
Top 10 beginner tips
The things every new player should know on day one.
Parts of the ukulele
Nut, saddle, frets, bridge: what each piece does.
How to hold a ukulele
Posture and grip basics for relaxed, fatigue-free playing.
Tune your ukulele
Get in tune in under a minute, every time.
Warm-up exercises
Five easy stretches to loosen stiff fingers before you play.
Sore fingers & calluses
Why fingertips hurt at first and how long it lasts.
Play your first song
Go from a few chords to a whole song, start to finish.
Chords
Read, build and switch the chord shapes behind every song.
Read chord diagrams
Five minutes and you'll never wonder which dot means what again.
Basic chords to know
The handful of shapes that cover most pop, folk and indie songs.
Simplify hard chords
5 tricks to skip the tough shapes and still sound right.
Faster chord changes
Five techniques to switch chords smoothly and in time.
Play bar chords
Technique and exercises for clean, ringing bar shapes.
How to play the E chord
The chord that scares everyone, broken down.
Seventh chords
The three 7th families, with the easy shapes that pay off fast.
Playing the ukulele
Strumming, picking and the skills that turn chords into songs.
Ultimate strumming guide
Patterns, technique and sound examples for every level.
5 essential strumming patterns
The handful of patterns that cover most pop and folk songs you'll want to play.
Ultimate fingerpicking guide
Patterns, technique and practice tips for clean, expressive fingerpicked playing.
Read ukulele tablature
Unlock thousands of melody arrangements that chord sheets cannot capture.
Ukulele capo guide
When, why and how to use a capo to unlock new keys.
Practice with a metronome
Build steady time without making practice boring.
Ukulele harmonics
Bell-like tones produced with a feather-light touch.
Theory
Keys, scales and tunings: understand what you are playing and why.
Songwriting with keys
Pick chords that fit a key and write your own songs from scratch.
Unlock scales for soloing
Scales, melody and your first steps into improvising on the fretboard.
Different tunings
Low-G, baritone, slack: what each one does and when to use them.
Low-G vs high-G
What changes, how each one sounds and which tuning to pick.
Strings & care
Keep your ukulele sounding and feeling its best.
Take care of your ukulele
Cleaning, humidity and storage habits that add years of life.
Fix buzz or rattle
Diagnose the buzz from nut, saddle, frets or fingering.
Why it won't stay in tune
Six reasons your uke drifts sharp or flat, and the fixes.
Best ukulele strings
Which strings to buy for soprano, concert, tenor and baritone.
Restringing your ukulele
Step-by-step from old strings off to new ones in tune.
Buying a ukulele
Picking the right uke for your budget, size and goals.
Ultimate buying guide
Sizes, woods, brands and prices: everything you need to know before you buy.
Before you buy
Things every new player should know before walking into a music shop.
Ukulele sizes compared
Soprano vs concert vs tenor vs baritone, side by side.
Best cheap ukulele
Solid budget options that punch above their price.
Why a baritone
Bigger body, guitar-like tuning, warmer tone. Is it for you?
Gear & accessories
Straps, pickups and getting around with your ukulele.
Strap, yes or no?
When a strap helps and how to attach one without drilling.
Travel with a ukulele
Airline tips, cases and what to expect at security.
Electrify your ukulele
Pickups, plugging in and going louder when you need to.
Good to know
Comparisons, background and the lighter side of uke life.
Ukulele vs guitar
How the two instruments differ in feel, tone and learning curve.
Ukulele or guitar?
Which is easier to start with and which suits your goals best.
Health benefits
How playing improves mood, memory and finger dexterity.
How to teach kids ukulele
A step-by-step method for parents and teachers introducing little hands to the uke.
Ukulele history
From Portuguese sailors to Hawaii to a global craze.
Can't find what you need?
I'm always happy to chat. Send me a message with a question or a topic suggestion.