MODULE 2
STRUM PATTERN 1 & SOng 1 - "ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU"
🎸 Welcome to the Module: Your First Major Chords & Song!
In this module, you'll dive into some exciting firsts on your ukulele journey:
✅ Learn your first 2 major chords
✅ Practice a basic strumming pattern
✅ Play your first full song
✅ Try a fun finger gym exercise to build strength, flexibility, and coordination in your fretting hand
You’ll also start to understand which fingers to use for plucking each string, helping you build solid technique right from the start.
Let’s get those fingers moving and that music flowing! 🎶
In this module, you'll dive into some exciting firsts on your ukulele journey:
✅ Learn your first 2 major chords
✅ Practice a basic strumming pattern
✅ Play your first full song
✅ Try a fun finger gym exercise to build strength, flexibility, and coordination in your fretting hand
You’ll also start to understand which fingers to use for plucking each string, helping you build solid technique right from the start.
Let’s get those fingers moving and that music flowing! 🎶
16 FRET STRETCH
STRENGTHENING & CONTROL: This Finger Gym exercise, the 16-FRET STRETCH, is designed to strengthen your fingers, improve dexterity, and enhance your control over finger placement and plucking technique. It may feel a bit challenging at first, so be patient with yourself as you get accustomed to the movements.
For best results, aim to practice this exercise 1–3 times per day for at least four consecutive days before attempting to play along with the audio track below. This will give you time to develop muscle memory and precision in both fretting and plucking. Always warm up before playing your ukulele and stretch your fingers, hands and arms out to avoid aches, pulls and pains.
TASK: Watch the tutorial and download the PDF guide for detailed instructions. Take it step by step, and enjoy the process!
For best results, aim to practice this exercise 1–3 times per day for at least four consecutive days before attempting to play along with the audio track below. This will give you time to develop muscle memory and precision in both fretting and plucking. Always warm up before playing your ukulele and stretch your fingers, hands and arms out to avoid aches, pulls and pains.
TASK: Watch the tutorial and download the PDF guide for detailed instructions. Take it step by step, and enjoy the process!
CHORD SHAPES C & G
Here are the first two chords you will explore and apply in your first song: They are called G Major and C Major, also known as G & C. In musical notation, these chords are commonly represented by their capital letter names (G and C), a fundamental convention in chord charts and sheet music:
|
|
MUSIC THEORY: Understanding Major Chords
Major chords are built using three notes: the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the MAJOR SCALE.
Major chords are built using three notes: the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the MAJOR SCALE.
- C Major = C + E + G
- G Major = G + B + D
STRUMMING PATTERN 1
The first strumming pattern that you will explore is a basic Down, Down, Up, Down, Down up motion and is illustrated like this:
Each number above the arrows represents a beat. In this case, there are 4 beats to each bar. A bar is a divisional measure of music that breaks down each section of a song. All of the down strums fall on each of the beats, whilst the up strums fall in between the beats.
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to practice fretting positions for each chord along with the strumming pattern. Take your time and remember, you are training your fingers to do things they have never done before, so have a little patience and you will get there. Also don't worry about moving on if you haven't quite grasped it as it is all about muscle memory and takes a bit of practice to familiarise your self with each of the chord positions.
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to practice fretting positions for each chord along with the strumming pattern. Take your time and remember, you are training your fingers to do things they have never done before, so have a little patience and you will get there. Also don't worry about moving on if you haven't quite grasped it as it is all about muscle memory and takes a bit of practice to familiarise your self with each of the chord positions.
CHORD SHAPES - G & C Major
EXERCISE: Now try practicing the chord changes at varying speeds starting at 80BPM and gradually getting up to the full speed of 115BPM, at which speed the song is played. The first two tracks have spoken instruction included to help you with those chord changes, after that, you're on your own.
BPM = Beats Per Minute.
Most popular music is generally played between 60BPM (E.G: My Girl by Otis Redding) to around 180BPM (EG: I Would Die 4 U by Prince). Many pop songs average between 100 - 150BPM and for your peace of mind, 150BPM is the fastest speed you will hit during this course. Also note that different styles of strumming or 'rhythm' will make playing at speed a little easier, which you will find out in a later module.
Most popular music is generally played between 60BPM (E.G: My Girl by Otis Redding) to around 180BPM (EG: I Would Die 4 U by Prince). Many pop songs average between 100 - 150BPM and for your peace of mind, 150BPM is the fastest speed you will hit during this course. Also note that different styles of strumming or 'rhythm' will make playing at speed a little easier, which you will find out in a later module.
SONG 1 - ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU
The first song you will work on is called 'Anyone Else But You', written by the Moldy Peaches and starring in the film, Juno. We have, however reduced the number of verses as to not overwhelm you.
Don't worry too much about singing along with your strumming just yet, that will come later, however if you want to give it a go, then go for it!
Each section of this song contains 8 bars. Practice along with the audio tracks
Don't worry too much about singing along with your strumming just yet, that will come later, however if you want to give it a go, then go for it!
Each section of this song contains 8 bars. Practice along with the audio tracks
ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU: With click track - Uke & Vocals only
ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU: Full Arrangement - No click
Click the button below to download the track to your device so that you can practice along offline.
Once you feel confident to give it a go (even if for one finger at a time), click the audio below to practice along at 60BPM:
You can watch one of our full Zoom video sessions for extra support here: https://youtu.be/titJ-WrQWss
Otherwise if you are happy to move on to the next module, click the button below.
Otherwise if you are happy to move on to the next module, click the button below.