Learn to play ukulele
45 posts
Rhythm and Strumming 2 — Muting the Strings
Tamás GállYou can never practice rhythm enough, and almost every day the internet offers new rhythmic patterns and techniques connected with the subject. If you would like to see the Rhythm and Strumming 1 blog post and video, click here . Most videos about rhythm focus primarily on the movement of the strumm…
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Singing and Playing the Ukulele
Tamás GállThe title could just as well be "Singing and Playing an Instrument", because it makes almost no difference which instrument we pick up: we can run into the same difficulty when we try to sing and play at the same time (wind instruments excepted ). This is no magic trick either, and of course it can…
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Strumming Techniques for Beginners
Tamás GállI have received several messages asking, "Okay, I can hold the chord, but what rhythm should I strum?" If I wanted to give the simple but not very helpful answer, I would say: strum in whatever way the particular song or musical style requires. That is actually true. The more music we listen to - es…
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The Metronome
Tamás GállI know, the title is not exactly exciting — no “naked woman” or six-pack gentleman anywhere — but despite that we really do need to talk about the metronome because it is extremely important. I remember that during piano lessons as a child this square-based pyramid with a little metal rod would ofte…
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The tenor ukulele, baritone ukulele and guitar
Tamás GállThe relationship between the ukulele and the guitar is a frequently recurring question, and the baritone ukulele naturally has a special role as a kind of “bridge” between them. I decided to make a video featuring all three instruments and, while only brushing the outermost layer of music theory , t…
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Transposing — for Beginners Too!
Tamás GállWith another music-theory post that is also highly practical, we would like to help you find your way around keys a little more confidently. You may already have heard the word “transposition” — perhaps in music class or elsewhere, maybe even as a swear word — and found it more frightening than usef…
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Why use a capo?
Tamás GállThe main purpose of a capo is to change the ukulele's effective tuning in a single movement. Clip it onto the neck and every string immediately sounds higher. This is useful because if we have learned a particular chord progression or song accompaniment – perhaps one involving complicated finger mov…
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With a pick or without?
Tamás GállOne of the eternal—almost religious—questions among ukulele players is whether you are “allowed” to use a pick. In the video below I explore the subject a little, but if you do not want to watch it, I will give away the answer: yes, you are. Who could forbid it ? Of course, it is another matter what…
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Working out songs on your own
Tamás GállAfter the instrument reviews, let us move on to an interesting and exciting blog post. I was certainly excited about making it, because I had only one chance to record the video with the particular song involved. From time to time I see questions on forums and Facebook – and I receive emails asking…
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