Ukulele

Jolly Roger Ukulele

On this website, you will learn to play ukulele at a high level even if you're a total beginner to music or the instrument. You will play with a far more sophisticated musical toolbox than most people ever learn. You will also learn how to teach others (the right way) to play ukulele. You might want to peek at the Teacher's Resources page. You should take lessons with somebody who has completed this program if you can, but it is not required if you follow each step.

You're probably going to scan down this sheet looking for something "cool" to play. That is the wrong thing to do. You should start at the top and play everything in sequential order so you will build the proper toolbox of skills.

Sound Files: The MP3 files are to your right if you're on a computer or down below if you're on your phone. You can and should download them or listen to them one million times. You should always listen to the recording of a song prior to attempting it. You should also use a tempo slowing app and attempt to play along with the songs at a slow pace and then at increasing speeds until you can knock it out like a guru.

I have baritone ukulele versions of almost every topic on this page. For more information, see the Baritone page.

Print out the Assignment Sheet to track your progress. (I'm updating it as I add content ... there's lots to come.) Don't skip around. Do them all. As you print out the pages, put them into a three ring binder. Print everything double-sided to save paper. If you elect not to print, save PDFs into a file folder. They are numbered in a way to keep them in order by assignment.

I'm working on videos ... they'll be here eventually.

 

Book 1: Introduction to Instrumental Ukulele

Fingerpickin' Fingerstyle Fingerlickin' Fun
(Don't Lick Yer Fingers, It's Gross)
Play "Tuff" Ukulele the 17th Century Way

Before Your First Note

  1. Buying a ukulele and accessories PDF
  2. Tuning your ukulele three different ways PDF
  3. Proper posture when playing ukulele PDF
  4. Practice Log PDF

First Day in Ukulele

  1. Frère Jacques PDF ~ Lesson
  2. Strumming in the Key of A Major PDF ~ Lesson

Key of C

  1. Ukulele C Major Scale PDF
  2. My Spaghetti Monster PDF
  3. Three Blind Mice PDF ~ Lesson
  4. Strumming in the Key of C Major PDF ~ Lesson
  5. Brahm's Lullaby PDF ~ Lesson
  6. Yankee Doodle PDF
  7. Key of C Arpeggio PDF

Key of G

  1. Amazing Grace PDF
  2. Happy Birthday PDF
  3. All Through the Night PDF
  4. Home on the Range PDF
  5. La Cucaracha PDF
  6. Key of G Arpeggio PDF

Key of F

  1. Simple Gifts PDF
  2. Daisy Bell PDF
  3. Key of F Arpeggio PDF

Stretch Pieces

  1. Aloha 'Oe PDF
  2. Scarborough Fair PDF

***

Book 2: Introduction to Instrumental Ukulele

Fingerpickin' Fingerstyle Fingerlickin' Fun
(Don't Lick Yer Fingers, It's Gross)
Play "Tuff" Ukulele the 17th Century Way

Americana & Patriotic

  1. America PDF
  2. America the Beautiful PDF
  3. O Canada PDF
  4. Ash Grove PDF
  5. Buffalo Gals PDF
  6. After the Ball PDF Coming Soon
  7. America the Beautiful PDF Coming Soon

Music for Cows

  1. Clementine PDF
  2. Down in the Valley PDF
  3. Red River Valley PDF
  4. Streets of Laredo PDF
  5. Tom Dooley PDF
  6. You are My Sunshine PDF
  7. Colorado Trail PDF
  8. I've Been Working on the Railroad PDF Coming Soon

Ireland

  1. Danny Boy PDF Coming Soon
  2. Minstrel Boy PDF Coming Soon
  3. Last Rose of Summer PDF Coming Soon
  4. Molly Malone PDF Coming Soon
  5. Whiskey in the Jar PDF Coming Soon

Traditional Tunes of Mexico

  1. Las Mañanitas PDF Coming Soon
  2. Cielito Lindo PDF
  3. Las Chiapanecas PDF
  4. Jarabe Tapatio PDF

En Français

  1. Auprès de Ma Blonde PDF Coming Soon
  2. Au Claire de la Lune PDF Coming Soon
  3. Vive La Companie PDF Coming Soon
  4. Alouette PDF Coming Soon
  5. Ah Vous Dirai-Je Maman PDF

Tin Pan Alley

  1. Five Foot Two PDF
  2. Come Josephine in My Flying Machine PDF Coming Soon
  3. Twelfth Street Rag PDF Coming Soon
  4. I'll See You in My Dreams PDF

Celebrations

  1. For He's a Jolly Good Fellow PDF
  2. Happy Birthday Blinky Style PDF
  3. Drunken Sailor PDF

In the Classical Tradition

  1. Estudio by Tàrrega PDF
  2. Für Elise PDF Coming Soon
  3. Minuet in G PDF Coming Soon
  4. Skater's Waltz PDF Coming Soon
  5. Traumerei PDF Coming Soon

Stephen Foster

  1. Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair PDF Coming Soon
  2. Beautiful Dreamer PDF Coming Soon
  3. Take Me Out to the Ballgame PDF Coming Soon

Italian

  1. Santa Lucia PDF Coming Soon
  2. That's Amoré PDF Coming Soon

Spiritual

  1. Down by the Riverside PDF Coming Soon
  2. This Little Light of Mine PDF Coming Soon

***

Other Resources

Have you written a new song today? Use the songwriting widget to pick a random key and then use these resources to create a new composition. Stop playing other people's music and build your legacy.

 

A Li'l More Classical

If you're working at this level or above, it's probably time for you to get with me about online private lessons and you should probably already be a member of this website so you can play everything.

Bach, Ah, Bach

  • Menuett Suite in G major and minor (Petzold) PDF

Beethoven!

 

What Else in the Member's Area?

All I Ask of You, All of Me, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Are You Lonesome Tonight, A Whole New World, Be Our Guest, Blue Hawaii, Both Sides Now, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Can't Help Falling in Love, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, Danny Boy, Don't Fence Me In, Don't Worry Be Happy, Do Re Mi, Downtown, Edelweiss, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Medley, Feeling Groovy, Fly Me to the Moon, Ghost Riders in the Sky, Give My Regards to Broadway, Girl from Ipanema, Happy Trails to You, It's a Small World, Lara's Theme, Last Rose of Summer, Lavender's Blue, Love Me Tender, Minstrel Boy, Molly Malone, Moon River, My Favorite Things, Norwegian Wood, Peter Cottontail, Rainbow Connection, Smile, Strawberry Fields Forever, Summertime, That's Amoré, Three Little Birds, What a Wonderful World, When You Wish Upon a Star, Whiskey in the Jar, Yankee Doodle Boy ... and probably more I forgot to keep track of here.