New players often ask, “How can they become better at the ukulele?” The conventional answer is to practice. Then they again ask too, “How to practice Ukulele.”
Sure, practice, but there is something more than it. The reason is so many players pass into oblivion that they are not going to play the ukulele but to play music. Indeed in this article, we are about to explore the many qualities that aid you in becoming not only a better ukulele player but also a better musician.
How to Practice Ukulele: 4 Tips to Be Better
Undoubtedly, one of the most significant parts of improving yourself is to practice, but it might also become the scariest. Why you practice, what you practice, and how you practice – all are the better questions we are about to seek below.
- Warming-up
- Skill-raising
- Hearing training
- Repertoire
1. Warming-up
Starting the sessions with a few stretching or finger exercises is always better to warm up the hands. Playing an instrument might be one kind of physical activity, so preparing yourself before starting is always better. Imagine yourself as a runner, so stretch before commencing.
As part of the warm-up session, it may be a better idea to consider going through familiar scales. You can pick two simple major and minor transposable scales, and from the first to seventh fret, play them. Indeed, it doesn’t require much time and offers a chance to strengthen your fingers.
You sing along scales as you pass through them. Doing it is an excellent vocal warm-up for those who are also singers. In reality, you are exercising two abilities for the price of one!
2. Skill-raising
The goal of practice is skill enhancement. In this section, we are about to tackle something that we think is quite tough. Challenging yourself is the idea here, and it’s the only way to develop yourself as a musician. Therefore, below are some ideas to practice.
a) Working on difficult transitions
Suppose you are doing the job on a layout, and it is such that you can’t play in time. Unlearn the rest of the song for now and continue on those troublesome arrangements for a few minutes.
While doing something hard, you will wonder how long those few minutes feel. Keep practicing this focus for several days before attempting to put the rest of the song together.
When you assemble the pieces, you can start increasing your song tempo. But don’t forget to accelerate the speed too quickly. You intend to be capable of practicing the song as fast as possible to make tough transitions.
What goes into this category is to play other positions on the instrument. How can you master your fretboard if you don’t work on it?
Going through the different positions of your C major chord, for instance, means time well spent practicing. Even if you expend two solid minutes each day passing through the four prime positions, you will find that two minutes each day become extremely helpful.
b) Working on arranging
You have found this fantastic song you intend to work on as a chord melody. Now it is time for you to sit down and work. You can accomplish the job in just one verse or shine through the whole song. Anyway, arranging music on your instrument becomes a lovely practice, approaching many skills.
The arrangement does not need to be just a chord melody. It can also create an introduction or ending to a song you play. It is counted as a practice to take time to work on a piece of music.
Pass some time hearing a few recordings of your favorite tunes if you have never attempted arranging music before. Observe if there’re intros and outros that you relish and recreate them. The time you pass hearing and troubleshooting with the instrument will be just as helpful as accomplishing a complete system.
c) Transposing song
Do you wish to become capable of playing multiple keys? The first move is to force yourself to do it. Choose songs you like and know and place them in keys you’ve never attempted, such as Eb or A. We frequently stick to playing tunes in known keys as these are known, and we don’t want to be pushed.
You may understand that a song creates a better sound in another key or is simple to perform in the Key. Indeed, transposing lets you become a more well-rounded musician and also provides tools to jump into jams a little easier.
We prefer to pick a tune that we know well and is transposable to at least three keys. You can begin with a popular chord progression, such as I–V–vi–IV.
People learn it as the first progressions on the ukulele. It is C–G–Am–F in the key of C. Take the progression. Then, transpose it to the G, A, or Eb keys. You will stay out of the “C comfort zone” by accomplishing it.
d) Working on some new techniques
If you want to make yourself a more versatile musician, it is significant to take time out of your practice sessions to expand your playing techniques.
We don’t say that you need to master all the techniques. But you take time to glean how you wish to sound and what strategy will carry you there.
Consistency is the key to mastering a new technique. It is far more beneficial to work five minutes a day for one skill compared to cramming all that practice into a one-day session.
Although every one of these examples can be a way you work the skill-building portion of your session, you might not accomplish all of them in one session.
If you are not working on an arrangement, for instance, it can receive all the time you have set aside. Or, it could be that you work for most of your time, making difficult transitions and then moving on to a new strategy. Utilize this time however you can. But the big way is to push yourself to utilize this time.
3. Hearing training
Hearing your favorite songs and trying to play along is one straightforward way to practice ear training. While doing it, attempt to take out the key by checking some chords to understand whether you can pursue along. If it appears you haven’t set the key, then try again!
If you’ve picked the key, attempt imitating a solo section or playing along with the recording, concentrating on hearing and improving the song. You won’t wish to overpower the recording because that’s your “jamming” band.
It’s valuable to practice with backing tracks. It is much more fulfilling to work with pre-recorded tracks compared to working with a metronome. Not only will it assist you with your time, but you can also function on mastering the melody, attempting out specific solo techniques, or just noodling!
You can discover a lot of free backing tracks on YouTube in different keys, meaning you won’t find any excuse to attempt it. You will marvel at how much fun you will enjoy while practicing.
4. Repertoire
You can finish your practice session by using repertoire. Two things happen to it: it’ll help you practice what you have already mastered – to make sure you don’t forget it — and it will be fun.
It’s crucial to end your session with something fun. It’ll aid you in remembering your practice session better and inspire you to practice. The biggest reason why we play music is because it’s fun, so you never intend to forget it.
Final Note: How to practice Ukulele
Discovering ways to leverage how to practice ukulele to become as skillful as possible will make you different from others. Respecting specific strategies and goals is crucial to practice well.
To help to reach your goals, write them on an index card and study them for yourself every night (or before practice). Doing it’ll always remind you why you are practicing.
Finally, when you reach the goal of the card, it’ll give you a sense of accomplishment, and you will create a new index card. It’s not easy to learn, but you can enjoy how to practice ukulele.