The correct way to play a ukulele is by finger picking.
The ukulele is a stringed instrument with historical ties to both Portugal and Hawaii. The instrument's legend tells that a Portuguese immigrant arrived in Hawaii and was so happy to be there that he took out a ukulele and began to play. The native Hawaiians were enthralled with the instrument and tweaked its style to incorporate it into their traditional music. A ukulele can be played with a pick but to play it traditionally, you'll have to use finger picking.
Instructions
1. Hold the ukulele in your hands. If you're right handed, you'll use your right hand to do the picking and your left hand will hold the long, thin part of the ukulele called the neck or fingerboard.
2. Familiarize yourself with the ukulele and how it works. Starting from the top of the instrument, its top piece is called the headstock and features four tuners, which are turned to tighten or loosen the strings. The fingerboard is divided into several sections, called frets. The body of the ukulele is the curved, wooden area and it includes a hole in which the sound from a plucked string enters and reverberates.
3. Hold you right hand with its palm facing the body of the ukulele. Rest your thumb along the top, or "G" string. While the ukulele has four strings, you'll likely feel most comfortable using only three fingers to pick the strings.
4. Stretch and curve your index and middle fingers so that they lightly brush the strings. Rest your middle finger on the bottom, or "A" string and your index finger on the second-from-the-bottom, or "E" string.
5. Pick your thumb against the "G" string and notice the pitch. Get comfortable picking the "G" string with your thumb. You'll get your own style, but instead of using the tip of your thumb, use the area along the side of your first knuckle.
6. Pick the "G" string with your thumb then the "A" string (the string furthest from your thumb) with your middle finger, in quick succession. Your thumb will pick downward and your middle finger will pluck upward. Get comfortable with this two-note pattern.
7. Pick the "G" string then the "A" string again, then follow up by picking the "G" string and then the "E" string, all with the assigned fingers. Repeat this pattern until you are comfortable and can pick each string cleanly.
8. Slide the thumb from the "G" string to the next string, or "C" string. Pluck the first note, then drop your thumb to the next string and pick it. Incorporate all four strings into simple, homemade melodies.
9. Create different notes by placing the fingers of your left hand on different frets. Hold the fingerboard of the ukulele in your palm and curl your fingers up so that the tips are pointing toward you. Once you feel comfortable with easy picking and left-hand positions, search online for sheet music with basic ukulele melodies.
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