Ukulele Lesson: The Ultimate Fingerstyle Exercise for Beginner.

Hey Patrick. I hear you. It can be frustrating to deal with stretchy chords. The secret is to develop your finger stretch. Of course, this is something that will improve with time. If you struggle with chords, practice the shapes with just two fingers focusing on the stretchy part. Then, add the other strings. I will try to record a video showing different exercises.

I am really enjoying your lesions. I have a question about technique. I notice most teachers seem to have long fingers. I struggle with reaching some chords and buzzing strings. Do you have any tips for those of us short fingers? Or is it just poor technique?

Patrick Whitaker

Absolutely, Anne. Practice the exercises at your own pace. Keep me posted on your progress :)_

Thank you so much! I really enjoyed it. Although I will need a lot of time on this exercise :-) as a totally beginner I am very happy about this because I think it will help me for then just fingerpicking. Thank you!

ENjoy :)

Enjoy.

Hi Mike. Yes, I will try to record a similar video. Makai Ukuleles are awesome.

Thanks a lot, Deborah. Enjoy the lesson :)

Hi Lynn, thanks a lot for sharing this. I am sure it will be helpful for the community. I am also super happy you enjoy the lessons! Yes, I am sure there will be a follow up with more scales and similar exercises so that you guys can improve your fingerstyle technique ;) Enjoy the lesson :)

Thank you, Marco, for this excellent lesson. Some of the things I really appreciate about it are: + Use of just 5 notes and/or scale fragments + Phrases on different strings + Different scales from the list of scales I am already practicing + Showing the phrase you are playing in an inset window + Clear progression of difficulty + Consistent use of the right hand alternating fingers + Additional tips and guidelines for practice + Easy to understand information on note values + The lesson smoothly synchronizes a variety of skills acquisition + I appreciate the use of the metronome in exercises like these since I want to internalize a very solid sense of timing. It prepares me for the more appealing use of a back track. Awhile ago I chose to purchase a WITTNER taktell super-mini metronome because I like to reduce interruptions and distractions during music practice. + This lesson really supports my practice style of aiming for and being able to measure continuous incremental improvement. I would definitely look forward to a followup lesson that perhaps uses other scales . Thanks for asking, Marco. Your lessons, enthusiasm, delight with the ukulele and your approach to teaching enhance my learning process and make practice satisfying and enjoyable. It makes me so happy!

Great lesson. Thank you. Super useful. You have a great way of giving the big picture and dialing in the steps that lead up the staircase to the goal.

Deborah Tolar

Marco, this is a wonderful and foundational lesson! Can you please do a corresponding lesson for the right hand technique? Grazie mille! By the way, I've always enjoyed your guitar lessons, and it is your expansion into ukulele that caused me to buy a Makai LT80 and become your newest Patreon member.

Nice warm-up exercise, thanks Marco.

Great lesson, fun practice , thanks

I know hehe. The metronome is evil!

Yes. This technique is called Alternate Fingering. In this example, I am using index-middle for all the notes, no matter which string and number of notes, I always alternate between index and middle. It's like walking. Left foot-right foot always, regardless of if you run, walk, or take stairs. I hope this helps.

Awesooooome. I am glad you are getting better! :)

Hi Kit. The metronome on my phone is called "MetroTimer." Enjoy the lesson.

Enjoy the lesson, Daniel.

Funny and so true that the metronome is here to remind us how much we suck. ;-)

Mad4Uke Paris

Yes. Super lesson. Marco, you even make music theory and scales fun. I am trying to look at the righthand fingers you use- I know you use index and middle but could you please tell us how exactly? Do you switch from index to middle after each note even if its on the same string? And were you resting the thumb on the string above ? Thanks. You're the best.

Mad4Uke Paris

Thanks, Marco. My finger picking is starting to come along since following you on Patreon.

bad monk

Thank you Marco... you really put a lot of work into this. I appreciate your teaching skills also! Could you tell the name of your phone metronome app?

Thank you. This ws just what I needed at the moment. 🙂🎻

Daniel Greene