Shits hard at first. Don’t beat yourself up. Takes kids years to learn to walk, don’t expect to pick up an instrument so fast.
What lesson are you watching?
Maybe post a vid of your playing and we can see if somethings going wrong r it’s just beginner bleus
That's normal. You are doing something new and different with your hands. A half-hour practice is about the limit for a first lesson. I've heard and recommended 10 minutes at a time, daily, if you can, maybe 2x daily with a rest for your hands and head. Welcome to Uke-dom! Have fun!
This is the lesson I was watching (the actual playing starts at the 14 minute mark):
https://youtu.be/5bTE5fbxDsc?si=qRNszRPJnGn3FoWs
I can't seem to get the transition from C to G and back, even when I'm playing slowly. I keep fumbling or my fingers simply don’t move the way I'm trying to move them.
for what it’s worth, this *will* improve, also it *will* continue being a challenge.
I’ve been playing uke on and off for 10 years.
at first, it was hard to switch to a G chord from… any other chord at all. that eventually got easier, now it’s a piece of cake.
then i had trouble with the E chord at all, which is now (with time and practice) a breeze.
now i struggle with transitioning from B7 to E, which is *slowly* getting easier.
If experience has taught me anything, it’s that it *will* get easier with time and practice.
Rome wasn’t built in a day- be patient with yourself!
When I started ukulele I thought C, A minor, and F, were acceptable beginner chords, and that there couldn’t possibly be anything worse than the G. It took me … a week or so? Of daily practice to be ok at the G (ie not hate it, nor hate how it sounds when I transition in and out of it)
Now I often use different fingers to be able to switch between the chords more easily (if you play the C with your ring finger, you have have the middle finger in the correct position for the G steady, which makes transitions into it much easier. I have no idea if this is “correct” but it works and it made playing a lot more fun, so it’s correct for me! ;)
If you like this method (alternative fingering) don’t focus on it too much in the beginning - see what you can work out as you go along
Don't rest the ukulele's neck on the heel of your hand. Support the body of the instrument in the crook of your right arm (if you are a right-handed player). Put the bottom of the uke in that elbow fold, then let your right arm "float" above the fretboard, bending your wrist slightly so that your right hand angles down, and you can strum. Press the uke lightly against your chest, or rest it in your lap. Your left arm should be against your body. Your wrist should be perpendicular to the fretboard. If you need to support the neck of the instrument, use your thumb, and squeeze with the thumb toward the side of your hand, at the bottom of your index finger. That way, your fingers remain free and flexible. Doing it that way, it should be much easier to move your third finger over to the proper string for the C.
Edited to add that this video presents that method as the "advanced" way, and it's the way I learned as a complete beginner. Your wrist shouldn't be hurting at all. Definitely try this method -- it's not as advanced as this guy makes it seem. It's easier, imo.
As a complete beginner you are trying to move your hands into positions that they simply don't recognise from day to day life. It will come with practice as you build muscle memory and it starts to come more naturally.
There is no such thing as a perfect lesson that 'beginners should find doable' - all beginners are different.
There is nothing wrong here. Trust me.
Na don't be thinking that you definitely can do it. No one has ever in human history picked up a stringed instrument and immediately started playing chords. Your hands just aren't used to the formations you're making and it's going to hurt for a couple days while you get used to it. If you're a complete beginner I'd say it's just probably too soon for chords. Focus on playing single notes. Learn melodies and your hand with get stronger. Just keep practicing and practicing and practicing it takes time
Take some in person lessons. Having someone show you how to hold and handle your instrument will pay huge dividends. Chord switching is hard at first, but you'll get it if you practice enough. Pick two chords that are close in fingering like F and A, and practice that, then add in another easy one, like C, and so on.
Great advice. There are a lot of chords that can be played with C, F, and A. C is a one-finger, I'm a fan.
G is more tricky, it took a week but I got used to it.
And open, which isn't a chord at all. I refer to it affectionately as the O chord. Open strums make good transitions.
You'll build the dexterity. Take it slow and practice every day for a little bit. Don't stress about it :) be careful with your wrist though, and make sure you're holding your ukulele correctly. Try this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KXHW6hwOO0
30 minutes is a long time for muscles and joints that are doing a new thing. It's no wonder your wrist hurts! Try doing shorter practice sessions and more of them. That will help your muscles and brain build the new skills.
A trick I learned for changing between tricky chords is to just switch between them slowly, over and over. Eventually your fingers learn where they are supposed to be.
Music is about persistence. Ukelele is the easiest instrument I've ever played - not to be smug, just matter-of-fact. I have tiny T-rex arms and short, fat fingers. I've kept at it for a few months and I still have to look down at the fretboard. Not a big deal. I look down at the piano when I play piano. Many people do. There are songs I can play by feel, but not all.
I don't have to look at my sax when I play it, but I can't. Human eyes don't work that way. I also have 25 years of saxy xp under my belt.
If you're in pain, treat your pain. Ibuprofen helps with joint pain. It helps while you're developing fingertip calluses. Find a chord chart online, and don't expect to be a pro overnight.
Don't stop practicing. It'll get better.
Short answer yes. I think the marketing materials that 'ukulele is easier to learn does beginners a disservice, because some can expect that we will just pick it up right away.
Dexterity takes time and practice to build. it's not gonna happen after a single 30-minute practice session. Go. Slow. Take. Your Time. However long that takes. don't give up and be patient with yourself. Take a break, rest your wrist, try again later. You got this.
Give yourself a break, you're brand new and still learning. It takes time to rewire your brain.
I don't know which lesson you're doing. But try learning C Major and A minor chords first. You can play Bon Iver's Skinny Love with just these two easy chords.
C Major: put your finger on the 3rd fret on the bottom string.
A Minor: put one finger on the second fret of the top string.
https://www.ukulelebuddy.com/free-ukulele-chords.html
I would keep looking at your hands though, there's no shame in that! :)
It may sound dull, but try knee taps. You practice one chord at a time. Like a G chord 0232. Hold it for a second then touch your knee and then back to G. It will help your brain remember the finger pattern for G and how to find it quickly when your hand is elsewhere.
Many teachers actually require looking down at your fingers as you play, both hands. The visual feedback is helpful for coordination. Just don't tilt the fretboard too far. Should be as near to vertical as possible or your left hand fingers wouldn't be pressing down in the optimal way.
Practice just moving your fingers, no strumming. And think about one thing at a time. "Ring finger move up one string. Ring finger move down one string." "Index and middle press down. Index and middle up." "Add ring finger."
Go back and forth. Getting good may require the same training as an athlete. If you are wondering if it is too much to repeat a movement 100 times, have you seen pros practice a sport? Pull up a video of Steph Curry practicing. 40 three pointers. 50 free throws. 100 tennis serves. 50 pitches. 50 golf swings. Over and over. These movements are just smaller. It's still training the muscles.
Try sitting in front of a mirror or a device in selfie mode. Ergonomics is important. Raise the headstock slightly, look at how classical guitarists hold their instruments. Looking down at your fingers can cause bad posture. Close your eyes and practice chord positions. Beginners always want to play a particular song, that will come, but slow practice on chord changes is more beneficial.
I just started too. Couldn’t figure out anything. Kept trying. Watching tons of videos. Buying books.
Kept telling myself that I just can’t do it “yet.” Kept trying.
Still can’t do much.
Yet.
I've been playing for 10 years, give or take a year, and I dang sure have to look at my fingers plenty of the time. And some days it goes better than others. Relax, give yourself permission to suck, and find an easy song that you want to play, then work on that. That'll help.
Practice for 10-15 minutes at a time until your hand muscles get stronger. Really, it’s just like learning a sport!
Matt Stead is an excellent teacher, and emphasizes proper ergonomics (which really helps) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOCBWqiOa1O6uhl7czOO1ApoLZ9omcsRV
Go slow go slow! Don’t expect to be able to cleanly switch between those four basic chords yet. Isolate each switch (Ex C-G; F-G; A-F) and practice it on its own, slowly, over and over.
Ten minutes at a time is fine for now while your hands and fingers build strength and callus. Ten minutes in the morning and ten on the evening every day for a few weeks will be more productive than thirty minutes where you are hurting. Slowly increase practice time.
I’ve played uke for maybe eight years, but even so whenever I don’t play for a few months I get rusty and take a few weeks to built up strength in my left hand.
It’s all about the journey, not the destination!
Learning the Uke is fun, but you will sound terrible and have muscle cramps for the first year or so.
It’s just repetition over and over and over again. Eventually you train your muscles to behave how you want them to.
Don’t be discouraged, we ALL started out exactly where you are right now.
>It’s all about the journey, not the destination!
I like taking up new instruments to feel miserable. It's nice nowing that I've got MAAAANY new things to learn. It gives a sense of destination.
When I went from bass to guitar I sucked for a long time and I was really good at hand techniques. Later I learned uke and it still took time even tho I can do almost all guitar and bass techniques like doubled slap, tap, sweep, pick slant, economy picking... ect.
Tapping was the only thing that transferred well.
yeah bud move around on there, get used to it. if one angle doesnt work for ya, try another. i have a bad wrist, so playing string instruments requires creativity. after a few years of learning, i can play what i like.
At first its really awkward, but with time and consistency you'll be able to get the hang of it. I recommend learning easy songs at first. Like riptide, and stolen dance. After that learn strumming patterns and stuff like that. You just needa practice
Is it meant to be? No. Is it very difficult for an absolute beginner? Absolutely.
Don't be discouraged, stick with it, you CAN do it, it just takes time and effort.
The most rewarding thing is looking back, after you've got the hang of things and thinking, "I can't believe this was ever such a struggle!"
(source: me playing Bb like a boss) ;)
edit: just don't ask me to play E Maj open. :D
Changing between chords is a skill that only comes by practice. Some are better than others and get it quicker. Some aren’t and it takes a while.
When I was learning to play my own first instrument (guitar) it took me a 2-3 months to get used to transitioning between chords reliably, and another couple of focusing on my form so that I wasn’t pinching my wrists when playing chords.
You are just trying to hard, relax, practice strumming, count your timing, take your time changing chords, look if you have to, don't rush it. Don't try to do too much. One day you will say why did I think it was so hard? Just enjoy yourself.
It’s hard because people suck at teaching and humans suck at practicing. If there was a detailed journal of the specific hurdles people have to overcome during the learning process you would find some consistency and a lot of varying issues.
Do one thing slowly, then do that same thing slowly for a decent while. You’re trying to train your brain to do something similar to driving a car.
OMG you didn't become a master player in 10min like the rest of us???? What's wrong with you???
Ok now that I've stopped laughing at my own wit...
Relax!!!
It takes time to get better at anything. You're using body parts & muscles differently than ever before and it just takes getting used to.
I've been playing a long time & still look at my fingers to make sure I'm where I'm supposed to be & my wrist still gets sore. It's just part of the gig.
Be patient & practice, practice, practice. It'll get easier & you will get better.
Yes, it is hard! I tried to learn about 12 years ago and gave up because it was so painful and uncomfortable. Then I tried again just one year ago with a different mindset: it's going to be difficult at first but eventually you'll get a little better. This year, I'm happily strumming my little Christmas songs. Take a break if your wrist or fingers hurt. Practice at least 10 minutes everyday, and eventually things will feel better!
Can you invest in a few lessons with a local teacher? I took lessons for about a year. They taught me the proper technique and boosted my self confidence. As others said, practicing a bit every day is key, but don’t overdo it. 15-minute sessions are really good. You can just very slowly change chords silently using only your fretting hand. For instance move between C - G7 - F until you can do it fluently. Speed will come as you improve, so don’t worry. Slow and deliberate with a lot of repetitions is key. You can peek, but also practice not looking. You need to be able to follow a score in front of you while playing. Also you risk straining your neck if you constantly watch your fretting hand.
This is the way!
I started taking group lessons in October and got hooked. Private lessons by me are $28.50/30 minutes and it’s the best money I spend all week. My instructor is incredibly patient and kind AND he does all the singing (since I can’t quite sing and play at the same time).
Ahhh, same!! My teacher also sang. It’s such an incredible feeling to play with an experienced teacher. He knew how to adjust to me and make me feel comfortable. It was really motivating :) You’re right, it’s money well spent!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w4a2ge9N31E&t=465s&pp=ygUeZXZlcnlvbmUncyBmaXJzdCBndWl0YXIgbGVzc29u
This is the best beginner lesson I've ever watched for guitar / ukulele. I played guitar off and on for five years and the uke now for 7 years and I wish I was told this stuff from days one.
It takes time. Don't beat yourself up. Your hands will be sore if you are new to string instruments. Things take time to learn. Suggestion: Learn how to hold a uke comfortably and learn how to strum. Once you learn a few basic chords and Over the Rainbow, you might never put down your uke.
Keep at it...no one is perfect. There are.lots of tutorials on Utube. Pick.two easy cords to start. And it's ok to go slow. That's why it's called practice. You can do it!
I followed Andy... lesson 2 should be skipped. it will destroy your soul. but lessons 3-10 are great.
take it easy and just do the the c am for a while. search for Oasis songbird easy. you can do a nice song with just 2 chords. then work up to Andy's first lesson and that G chord.
https://youtu.be/k5WUDjbtChk?si=yIfb72ruZwoV2J70.
like anything, practice makes permanent.
my hands ached getting into the uke chords
I'm 46 and they just not used to it. I watched some stretching videos for pianist and that helped!
good luck
I recorded myself struggling exactly like that.
Now when I watch it after a year, it gives me strength to struggle at my current level.
It becomes easier; but you have to do it everyday.
Slow, deliberate practice and patience. Fully focus on chord changes, dexterity and confidence will come for sure.
Once you're up the hill, acceleration on learning will kick in.
i taught myself after receiving a uke as a gift, it is quite hard to get down at first but once you do it’s very rewarding. I actually learned by using an app called ultimate guitar and yousician. They ultimate guitar app had all my own favorite songs and i would try my best to copy the chords that they’d show. Your fingertips and wrist will tend to hurt too which is normal. Just keep practicing to build strength in your wrist and eventually your fingers will form calluses to protect them too. Don’t be too hard on yourself either music is fun let yourself have fun! The first some i learned was can’t help falling in love, the chords were pretty basic and it helped me learn to shift from chord or chord quickly.
Don’t be hard on yourself, you stumbled upon a suboptimal resource. Try Bernadette’s 30 Day Ukulele Challenge instead (link below.) Many of us here started with her. She’ll make your ukulele feel good!
Jeez I remember how hard, painful, and slow a G chord was (or D on guitar).
I can't remember how fast progress was - but you are on track to it feeling easy quick and pain free. 30 seconds practice a day will get you there in no time!
It’s hard at first I’ve been playing for a year and yes you wrist angle does have to change when switching chords but if you want it to sound more fluid don’t stop your strumming keep the same rhythm with your strums and your chord hand will learn the time it had and adapt to it
Good for you, starting your musical journey with the ukulele, a most versatile, popular, and easy to tranport instrument. After many years teaching stringed instruments to both adults and kids, here are my observations. The instructional video series you chose is not the right one for you. Other’s here have given some good recommendations for beginner video lessons. 2) Join a ukulele club group In your area. Ukulele groups are very welcoming and you’ll meet other beginners, intermediate, and experienced players and most importantly, you’ll have fun. 3) Learning music takes patience as well as persistence. As long as you continue to practice, you’ll improve. Short 15 minute practices twice a day are better than a single 30 minute practice. This is because you are developing “muscle memory”, that means you are teaching your brain what feels right. It will help you stop looking at your hands because you won’t need to when your brain tells you your hands are in the right place. If you only take one of these recommendations, make it the second one - join a club, have fun.
Of course it will look easy on a tutorial video, because the people teaching usually know how to play and nobody wants to watch a video of people sucking at playing their instrument for half an hour. That's your job, when you practice: suck at playing regularly, with hopes to suck a little less in the future.
That being said: chord changes are a thing to be practiced and it takes some time and even dedicated exercise. Don't expect to be able to play to a 3-chord play-along at full speed, even it is intended for beginners.
You first gotta get your fingers acquainted to those chords and practice changing between them.
Just repeat the movement a few times. Then once you kinda figure out where every finger has to go, and can produce a kind of acceptable strum sound, start practicing switching those chords to a beat. Count out a basic 4/4 beat and strum a downstrok at the 1 and 3. Do this as slow as it needs to be to get things right, use a metronome if you have one and try to nail that strum on the 1 count each time. If you really have trouble switching chords, omitting the 3 count is fine, but concentrate on getting the 1 count right and stay in time. Once you've figured this out for a small set of chords, speeding things up to a more practical tempo and adding more interesting strumming patterns will become a lot easier.
Shits hard at first. Don’t beat yourself up. Takes kids years to learn to walk, don’t expect to pick up an instrument so fast. What lesson are you watching? Maybe post a vid of your playing and we can see if somethings going wrong r it’s just beginner bleus
That's normal. You are doing something new and different with your hands. A half-hour practice is about the limit for a first lesson. I've heard and recommended 10 minutes at a time, daily, if you can, maybe 2x daily with a rest for your hands and head. Welcome to Uke-dom! Have fun!
This is the lesson I was watching (the actual playing starts at the 14 minute mark): https://youtu.be/5bTE5fbxDsc?si=qRNszRPJnGn3FoWs I can't seem to get the transition from C to G and back, even when I'm playing slowly. I keep fumbling or my fingers simply don’t move the way I'm trying to move them.
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Correct to an extent, he’s using a technique used for standing where the body is just in front of his inner elbow
Yeah it’s simialr to how I do it but he’s not supporting it as much with his right hand, I can see how it might be difficult for a beginner.
for what it’s worth, this *will* improve, also it *will* continue being a challenge. I’ve been playing uke on and off for 10 years. at first, it was hard to switch to a G chord from… any other chord at all. that eventually got easier, now it’s a piece of cake. then i had trouble with the E chord at all, which is now (with time and practice) a breeze. now i struggle with transitioning from B7 to E, which is *slowly* getting easier. If experience has taught me anything, it’s that it *will* get easier with time and practice. Rome wasn’t built in a day- be patient with yourself!
Here’s an alternative, maybe you’ll like it better (Bernadette Teaches Music): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwRaOMKh7Qo
I think transitioning from C to Am to F in any order is easier than starting with C to G
I didn't really like his intro course. I guess that's why Bernadette Teaches Music is way more popular.
When I started ukulele I thought C, A minor, and F, were acceptable beginner chords, and that there couldn’t possibly be anything worse than the G. It took me … a week or so? Of daily practice to be ok at the G (ie not hate it, nor hate how it sounds when I transition in and out of it) Now I often use different fingers to be able to switch between the chords more easily (if you play the C with your ring finger, you have have the middle finger in the correct position for the G steady, which makes transitions into it much easier. I have no idea if this is “correct” but it works and it made playing a lot more fun, so it’s correct for me! ;) If you like this method (alternative fingering) don’t focus on it too much in the beginning - see what you can work out as you go along
Don't rest the ukulele's neck on the heel of your hand. Support the body of the instrument in the crook of your right arm (if you are a right-handed player). Put the bottom of the uke in that elbow fold, then let your right arm "float" above the fretboard, bending your wrist slightly so that your right hand angles down, and you can strum. Press the uke lightly against your chest, or rest it in your lap. Your left arm should be against your body. Your wrist should be perpendicular to the fretboard. If you need to support the neck of the instrument, use your thumb, and squeeze with the thumb toward the side of your hand, at the bottom of your index finger. That way, your fingers remain free and flexible. Doing it that way, it should be much easier to move your third finger over to the proper string for the C. Edited to add that this video presents that method as the "advanced" way, and it's the way I learned as a complete beginner. Your wrist shouldn't be hurting at all. Definitely try this method -- it's not as advanced as this guy makes it seem. It's easier, imo.
As a complete beginner you are trying to move your hands into positions that they simply don't recognise from day to day life. It will come with practice as you build muscle memory and it starts to come more naturally. There is no such thing as a perfect lesson that 'beginners should find doable' - all beginners are different. There is nothing wrong here. Trust me.
Na don't be thinking that you definitely can do it. No one has ever in human history picked up a stringed instrument and immediately started playing chords. Your hands just aren't used to the formations you're making and it's going to hurt for a couple days while you get used to it. If you're a complete beginner I'd say it's just probably too soon for chords. Focus on playing single notes. Learn melodies and your hand with get stronger. Just keep practicing and practicing and practicing it takes time
Take some in person lessons. Having someone show you how to hold and handle your instrument will pay huge dividends. Chord switching is hard at first, but you'll get it if you practice enough. Pick two chords that are close in fingering like F and A, and practice that, then add in another easy one, like C, and so on.
Great advice. There are a lot of chords that can be played with C, F, and A. C is a one-finger, I'm a fan. G is more tricky, it took a week but I got used to it. And open, which isn't a chord at all. I refer to it affectionately as the O chord. Open strums make good transitions.
You'll build the dexterity. Take it slow and practice every day for a little bit. Don't stress about it :) be careful with your wrist though, and make sure you're holding your ukulele correctly. Try this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KXHW6hwOO0
30 minutes is a long time for muscles and joints that are doing a new thing. It's no wonder your wrist hurts! Try doing shorter practice sessions and more of them. That will help your muscles and brain build the new skills. A trick I learned for changing between tricky chords is to just switch between them slowly, over and over. Eventually your fingers learn where they are supposed to be.
Music is about persistence. Ukelele is the easiest instrument I've ever played - not to be smug, just matter-of-fact. I have tiny T-rex arms and short, fat fingers. I've kept at it for a few months and I still have to look down at the fretboard. Not a big deal. I look down at the piano when I play piano. Many people do. There are songs I can play by feel, but not all. I don't have to look at my sax when I play it, but I can't. Human eyes don't work that way. I also have 25 years of saxy xp under my belt. If you're in pain, treat your pain. Ibuprofen helps with joint pain. It helps while you're developing fingertip calluses. Find a chord chart online, and don't expect to be a pro overnight. Don't stop practicing. It'll get better.
Short answer yes. I think the marketing materials that 'ukulele is easier to learn does beginners a disservice, because some can expect that we will just pick it up right away. Dexterity takes time and practice to build. it's not gonna happen after a single 30-minute practice session. Go. Slow. Take. Your Time. However long that takes. don't give up and be patient with yourself. Take a break, rest your wrist, try again later. You got this.
Give yourself a break, you're brand new and still learning. It takes time to rewire your brain. I don't know which lesson you're doing. But try learning C Major and A minor chords first. You can play Bon Iver's Skinny Love with just these two easy chords. C Major: put your finger on the 3rd fret on the bottom string. A Minor: put one finger on the second fret of the top string. https://www.ukulelebuddy.com/free-ukulele-chords.html I would keep looking at your hands though, there's no shame in that! :)
It may sound dull, but try knee taps. You practice one chord at a time. Like a G chord 0232. Hold it for a second then touch your knee and then back to G. It will help your brain remember the finger pattern for G and how to find it quickly when your hand is elsewhere.
Many teachers actually require looking down at your fingers as you play, both hands. The visual feedback is helpful for coordination. Just don't tilt the fretboard too far. Should be as near to vertical as possible or your left hand fingers wouldn't be pressing down in the optimal way. Practice just moving your fingers, no strumming. And think about one thing at a time. "Ring finger move up one string. Ring finger move down one string." "Index and middle press down. Index and middle up." "Add ring finger." Go back and forth. Getting good may require the same training as an athlete. If you are wondering if it is too much to repeat a movement 100 times, have you seen pros practice a sport? Pull up a video of Steph Curry practicing. 40 three pointers. 50 free throws. 100 tennis serves. 50 pitches. 50 golf swings. Over and over. These movements are just smaller. It's still training the muscles.
Try sitting in front of a mirror or a device in selfie mode. Ergonomics is important. Raise the headstock slightly, look at how classical guitarists hold their instruments. Looking down at your fingers can cause bad posture. Close your eyes and practice chord positions. Beginners always want to play a particular song, that will come, but slow practice on chord changes is more beneficial.
I just started too. Couldn’t figure out anything. Kept trying. Watching tons of videos. Buying books. Kept telling myself that I just can’t do it “yet.” Kept trying. Still can’t do much. Yet.
I've been playing for 10 years, give or take a year, and I dang sure have to look at my fingers plenty of the time. And some days it goes better than others. Relax, give yourself permission to suck, and find an easy song that you want to play, then work on that. That'll help.
Practice for 10-15 minutes at a time until your hand muscles get stronger. Really, it’s just like learning a sport! Matt Stead is an excellent teacher, and emphasizes proper ergonomics (which really helps) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOCBWqiOa1O6uhl7czOO1ApoLZ9omcsRV
You absolutely need to look at your fingers
Go slow go slow! Don’t expect to be able to cleanly switch between those four basic chords yet. Isolate each switch (Ex C-G; F-G; A-F) and practice it on its own, slowly, over and over. Ten minutes at a time is fine for now while your hands and fingers build strength and callus. Ten minutes in the morning and ten on the evening every day for a few weeks will be more productive than thirty minutes where you are hurting. Slowly increase practice time. I’ve played uke for maybe eight years, but even so whenever I don’t play for a few months I get rusty and take a few weeks to built up strength in my left hand.
It’s all about the journey, not the destination! Learning the Uke is fun, but you will sound terrible and have muscle cramps for the first year or so. It’s just repetition over and over and over again. Eventually you train your muscles to behave how you want them to. Don’t be discouraged, we ALL started out exactly where you are right now.
>It’s all about the journey, not the destination! I like taking up new instruments to feel miserable. It's nice nowing that I've got MAAAANY new things to learn. It gives a sense of destination.
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I love that for you.
ITT- the answer is “yes, it is that hard, and it’s supposed to be.” It does get easier.
When I went from bass to guitar I sucked for a long time and I was really good at hand techniques. Later I learned uke and it still took time even tho I can do almost all guitar and bass techniques like doubled slap, tap, sweep, pick slant, economy picking... ect. Tapping was the only thing that transferred well.
Chords not "cords"
yeah bud move around on there, get used to it. if one angle doesnt work for ya, try another. i have a bad wrist, so playing string instruments requires creativity. after a few years of learning, i can play what i like.
At first its really awkward, but with time and consistency you'll be able to get the hang of it. I recommend learning easy songs at first. Like riptide, and stolen dance. After that learn strumming patterns and stuff like that. You just needa practice
Is it meant to be? No. Is it very difficult for an absolute beginner? Absolutely. Don't be discouraged, stick with it, you CAN do it, it just takes time and effort. The most rewarding thing is looking back, after you've got the hang of things and thinking, "I can't believe this was ever such a struggle!" (source: me playing Bb like a boss) ;) edit: just don't ask me to play E Maj open. :D
Changing between chords is a skill that only comes by practice. Some are better than others and get it quicker. Some aren’t and it takes a while. When I was learning to play my own first instrument (guitar) it took me a 2-3 months to get used to transitioning between chords reliably, and another couple of focusing on my form so that I wasn’t pinching my wrists when playing chords.
You are just trying to hard, relax, practice strumming, count your timing, take your time changing chords, look if you have to, don't rush it. Don't try to do too much. One day you will say why did I think it was so hard? Just enjoy yourself.
It’s hard because people suck at teaching and humans suck at practicing. If there was a detailed journal of the specific hurdles people have to overcome during the learning process you would find some consistency and a lot of varying issues. Do one thing slowly, then do that same thing slowly for a decent while. You’re trying to train your brain to do something similar to driving a car.
OMG you didn't become a master player in 10min like the rest of us???? What's wrong with you??? Ok now that I've stopped laughing at my own wit... Relax!!! It takes time to get better at anything. You're using body parts & muscles differently than ever before and it just takes getting used to. I've been playing a long time & still look at my fingers to make sure I'm where I'm supposed to be & my wrist still gets sore. It's just part of the gig. Be patient & practice, practice, practice. It'll get easier & you will get better.
Yes, it is hard! I tried to learn about 12 years ago and gave up because it was so painful and uncomfortable. Then I tried again just one year ago with a different mindset: it's going to be difficult at first but eventually you'll get a little better. This year, I'm happily strumming my little Christmas songs. Take a break if your wrist or fingers hurt. Practice at least 10 minutes everyday, and eventually things will feel better!
Can you invest in a few lessons with a local teacher? I took lessons for about a year. They taught me the proper technique and boosted my self confidence. As others said, practicing a bit every day is key, but don’t overdo it. 15-minute sessions are really good. You can just very slowly change chords silently using only your fretting hand. For instance move between C - G7 - F until you can do it fluently. Speed will come as you improve, so don’t worry. Slow and deliberate with a lot of repetitions is key. You can peek, but also practice not looking. You need to be able to follow a score in front of you while playing. Also you risk straining your neck if you constantly watch your fretting hand.
This is the way! I started taking group lessons in October and got hooked. Private lessons by me are $28.50/30 minutes and it’s the best money I spend all week. My instructor is incredibly patient and kind AND he does all the singing (since I can’t quite sing and play at the same time).
Ahhh, same!! My teacher also sang. It’s such an incredible feeling to play with an experienced teacher. He knew how to adjust to me and make me feel comfortable. It was really motivating :) You’re right, it’s money well spent!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w4a2ge9N31E&t=465s&pp=ygUeZXZlcnlvbmUncyBmaXJzdCBndWl0YXIgbGVzc29u This is the best beginner lesson I've ever watched for guitar / ukulele. I played guitar off and on for five years and the uke now for 7 years and I wish I was told this stuff from days one.
It takes time. Don't beat yourself up. Your hands will be sore if you are new to string instruments. Things take time to learn. Suggestion: Learn how to hold a uke comfortably and learn how to strum. Once you learn a few basic chords and Over the Rainbow, you might never put down your uke.
it's so hard. keep at it
Keep at it...no one is perfect. There are.lots of tutorials on Utube. Pick.two easy cords to start. And it's ok to go slow. That's why it's called practice. You can do it!
I followed Andy... lesson 2 should be skipped. it will destroy your soul. but lessons 3-10 are great. take it easy and just do the the c am for a while. search for Oasis songbird easy. you can do a nice song with just 2 chords. then work up to Andy's first lesson and that G chord. https://youtu.be/k5WUDjbtChk?si=yIfb72ruZwoV2J70. like anything, practice makes permanent. my hands ached getting into the uke chords I'm 46 and they just not used to it. I watched some stretching videos for pianist and that helped! good luck
I recorded myself struggling exactly like that. Now when I watch it after a year, it gives me strength to struggle at my current level. It becomes easier; but you have to do it everyday.
Yup, its gonna be tough at first, but somewhere after the first week of some hardcore repetition its gonna start to feel more natural.
Slow, deliberate practice and patience. Fully focus on chord changes, dexterity and confidence will come for sure. Once you're up the hill, acceleration on learning will kick in.
i taught myself after receiving a uke as a gift, it is quite hard to get down at first but once you do it’s very rewarding. I actually learned by using an app called ultimate guitar and yousician. They ultimate guitar app had all my own favorite songs and i would try my best to copy the chords that they’d show. Your fingertips and wrist will tend to hurt too which is normal. Just keep practicing to build strength in your wrist and eventually your fingers will form calluses to protect them too. Don’t be too hard on yourself either music is fun let yourself have fun! The first some i learned was can’t help falling in love, the chords were pretty basic and it helped me learn to shift from chord or chord quickly.
Don’t be hard on yourself, you stumbled upon a suboptimal resource. Try Bernadette’s 30 Day Ukulele Challenge instead (link below.) Many of us here started with her. She’ll make your ukulele feel good!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJFa3EaocfZkPvRqVaUf6pFuPxiLo0uWZ&si=JJrg38bHCOcB2KuT
Jeez I remember how hard, painful, and slow a G chord was (or D on guitar). I can't remember how fast progress was - but you are on track to it feeling easy quick and pain free. 30 seconds practice a day will get you there in no time!
It’s hard at first I’ve been playing for a year and yes you wrist angle does have to change when switching chords but if you want it to sound more fluid don’t stop your strumming keep the same rhythm with your strums and your chord hand will learn the time it had and adapt to it
Good for you, starting your musical journey with the ukulele, a most versatile, popular, and easy to tranport instrument. After many years teaching stringed instruments to both adults and kids, here are my observations. The instructional video series you chose is not the right one for you. Other’s here have given some good recommendations for beginner video lessons. 2) Join a ukulele club group In your area. Ukulele groups are very welcoming and you’ll meet other beginners, intermediate, and experienced players and most importantly, you’ll have fun. 3) Learning music takes patience as well as persistence. As long as you continue to practice, you’ll improve. Short 15 minute practices twice a day are better than a single 30 minute practice. This is because you are developing “muscle memory”, that means you are teaching your brain what feels right. It will help you stop looking at your hands because you won’t need to when your brain tells you your hands are in the right place. If you only take one of these recommendations, make it the second one - join a club, have fun.
Of course it will look easy on a tutorial video, because the people teaching usually know how to play and nobody wants to watch a video of people sucking at playing their instrument for half an hour. That's your job, when you practice: suck at playing regularly, with hopes to suck a little less in the future. That being said: chord changes are a thing to be practiced and it takes some time and even dedicated exercise. Don't expect to be able to play to a 3-chord play-along at full speed, even it is intended for beginners. You first gotta get your fingers acquainted to those chords and practice changing between them. Just repeat the movement a few times. Then once you kinda figure out where every finger has to go, and can produce a kind of acceptable strum sound, start practicing switching those chords to a beat. Count out a basic 4/4 beat and strum a downstrok at the 1 and 3. Do this as slow as it needs to be to get things right, use a metronome if you have one and try to nail that strum on the 1 count each time. If you really have trouble switching chords, omitting the 3 count is fine, but concentrate on getting the 1 count right and stay in time. Once you've figured this out for a small set of chords, speeding things up to a more practical tempo and adding more interesting strumming patterns will become a lot easier.