Learn to Play the Ukulele and Bring In the Feel-Good Vibes of Hawaii

Compared to the guitar, the ukulele is an easier instrument to play if you're just pressing down on chords.
If you're already somewhat familiar with playing guitar chords, you can start playing chords on the ukulele right away.

However, just doing that won’t even let you experience a tenth of the charm of the ukulele.
Though it's a small instrument that might look like a toy, simply changing the way you use your right hand can allow you to play with an impact that rivals the guitar.

In this article, I’ve put together some ukulele playing techniques, from beginner to more advanced players looking to level up their skills.

■ Basic Techniques to Learn First

Let's start by learning the easy techniques.
These won’t take much time to master, and if you have experience playing guitar (especially fingerpicking on an acoustic guitar), you’ll be able to play these right away.

Even with simple techniques, just remembering a few key points can instantly increase the "ukulele feel."

○ Basic Downstroke and Upstroke

A downstroke refers to strumming the strings from top to bottom (from the 4th string to the 1st string) with your right hand.
Typically, you use your index finger and gently brush the strings with your nail.
The key is to ensure that you hit all the strings clearly, making sure the sound rings out until the last string.

An upstroke is the opposite movement of a downstroke, where you strum from bottom to top (from the 1st string to the 4th string).
For an upstroke, rather than using your nail, you want to feel your index finger’s pad making contact with the strings.
The trick when strumming is to relax your wrist and let it move freely with a loose motion.

If you can repeat these strokes in time, you'll be able to easily play simple accompaniments.

○ Roll Stroke

A roll stroke involves curling your right hand fingers and strumming the strings in sequence from bottom to top, creating a continuous "jallalalaan" sound.

Some people start with the pinky, while in this video, starting with the ring finger is explained as a way to quickly move to the next action.

For example, when using it during a chord change, it adds a light, breezy feel that is characteristic of the ukulele.

○ Tremolo Stroke

This tremolo stroke is often used at the ending of a performance.
You move your index finger quickly and repeatedly to produce a trembling sound.
At first, it may sound a little rough, and that's okay.

By gradually increasing the volume, you can create a dramatic effect, and when played with a large group, it can create excitement and unity. It’s definitely a technique worth learning.

■ Techniques Recommended for Intermediate Players

Once you’ve mastered the basic strokes, try challenging yourself with slightly more difficult techniques.
You can use your right hand and fingers in a more delicate way to add expression to your performance.

At this point, even those familiar with string instruments like guitar or bass may need to practice.

○ Arpeggios

Once you've learned strumming, the next step is to master arpeggios, where you play the notes one by one on each string.

An arpeggio, also known as broken chords, is a technique where you play the notes of a chord separately, as the name suggests.
It might feel difficult at first since you need to move each finger individually, but it will expand your playing range significantly.

Electric guitar players may feel the urge to use a pick, but try challenging yourself to use your fingers instead.

○ Harmonics

Harmonics are a technique where you touch certain points on the string, known as harmonic points, while playing to produce a high, clear sound.

“Ah, I know! I always pick the harmonics on guitar!”

For guitarists, ukulele offers a unique way to use harmonics, which you may not usually do on guitar, so watch the video from around 1:40.
While it's not something that is never done on guitar, it's a technique that is less commonly used, so it might feel challenging at first.

On the ukulele, this method of playing is often used as an accent during performances.
It may take some time to get the feel of it, but by trying repeatedly, you’ll start to produce nice sounds.

○ Galloping Technique

This technique is commonly used in genres like country and rockabilly. It allows you to play bass lines on the low strings, and chords or melodies on the high strings, so you can create a layered sound, similar to that of a band, by yourself.

It’s an advanced form of arpeggio, and rhythm is crucial in this technique.

For smoother playing, use your middle finger on the 1st string, your index finger on the 2nd string, and your thumb on the 3rd and 4th strings. By focusing on a faster tempo, you can create a more rhythmic accompaniment.

○ Cutting Technique

This technique is familiar to guitar players, but playing it with fingers adds a different level of difficulty.

You stop the string sound cleanly while strumming, muting it and adding accents like a chopping sound.

Since it’s called "cutting," the key is to imagine "cutting" the string sound.
This technique allows you to produce both chord sounds and rhythmic, percussive beats at the same time, making it perfect for more upbeat songs.

If you're a beginner or haven't tried cutting on guitar before, this might be a bit challenging.
However, mastering this technique is essential because it will eventually lead to the slam technique that we’ll cover later, so stick with it!

■ Advanced Techniques You Want to Try Someday

From here, the difficulty level increases, but once mastered, these techniques will make you feel very Hawaiian.

○ Slam (Strum) Technique

A representative technique that most people aspire to try once they improve is the slam technique.

The slam technique is a way of playing that allows you to do both ukulele and percussion parts by yourself.

When you hit the body of the ukulele, it produces a hollow sound like a cajón. By doing this at the same time as a strum, you can create a combination of accompaniment and percussion in your performance.

By the way, this technique combines elements of the upstroke, roll stroke, and cutting that I’ve introduced along with percussion-like elements, so far.
Therefore, while it's a cool technique, it’s not something you can just jump into immediately. Be sure to approach it step by step!

■ Conclusion

It's often said that there are no easy instruments, and that’s definitely true.
While the ukulele may seem easy, there are countless more advanced techniques beyond those I’ve introduced here.

However, when it comes to simply being able to play songs by strumming chords, the ukulele is indeed a relatively simple instrument.
It's a type of instrument that is less likely to make you give up right away, so even if you're a beginner with no experience in instruments or string instruments, it’s a great one to start with.

With Sound House's PLAYTECH series, you can find affordable and reliable ukuleles, so it's easy to get started without worrying about your budget.

⇒ [PLAYTECH Ukulele Collection]

The “sound & person” column is made up of contributions from you.
For details about contributing, click here.