Ukulele Course Checklist

Created by Cheli

Step‑by‑step guide to learning ukulele from setup to playing songs and advancing skills.

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Published May 15, 2026

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Checklist Items (22)

Preparation

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Choose the right ukulele size

Select soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone based on hand size and desired tone.

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Tune your instrument

Use a tuner app or clip‑on tuner to set G‑C‑E‑A standard tuning.

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Adopt proper playing posture

Sit upright, hold the ukulele against your chest, and keep your fretting hand relaxed.

Basic Chords

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C major chord

Place ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string; strum all four strings.

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G major chord

Index on 2nd fret of C, ring on 3rd fret of E, middle on 2nd fret of A.

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F major chord

Index on 1st fret of E, middle on 2nd fret of G.

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A minor chord

Middle finger on 2nd fret of G string.

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D minor chord

Index on 1st fret of E, middle on 2nd fret of G, ring on 2nd fret of C.

Strumming Techniques

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Downstroke practice

Strum downward with the nail or pad of your index finger, keeping wrist loose.

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Upstroke practice

Brush upward with the nail of your index finger; aim for even volume.

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Basic down‑up pattern

Play D‑D‑U‑U‑D‑U (down, down, up, up, down, up) in 4/4 time.

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Swing feel strum

Emphasize the off‑beats: play long‑short pattern for a jazzy groove.

Fingerpicking

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Thumb‑bass pattern

Use thumb to pluck the G string on beats 1 and 3 while fingers play higher strings.

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Alternating bass

Alternate thumb between G and C strings to create a moving bass line.

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Simple arpeggio exercise

Pluck strings in order G‑C‑E‑A repeatedly, focusing on even tone.

Song Practice

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Learn "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" intro

Practice the C‑Em‑F‑G progression slowly, then add the melody.

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Play "Riptide" verse

Use Am‑G‑C progression with a steady down‑up strum.

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Try "Hey Soul Sister" chorus

C‑G‑Am‑F loop; focus on chord changes timing.

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Work on smooth transitions

Switch between chords using a metronome at 60 bpm, increasing speed gradually.

Next Steps

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Set a regular practice schedule

Aim for 15‑30 minutes daily, logging what you worked on.

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Join an online ukulele community

Participate in forums like Ukulele Underground or Reddit r/ukulele for feedback.

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Explore advanced techniques

Learn chord melody, hammer‑ons, pull‑offs, and slide playing.

Public Checklist: Ukulele Course Checklist