Try practicing twice a day, at least 15 minutes each session. Establishing a regular routine of practice and daily handling of the instrument will reap quick success and enjoyment. Make it a part of your lifestyle!

Towards this end, we recommend that you don't leave your instrument in its case, under the bed, or in a closet; instead, have it sitting out and ready to play at a moment's notice.

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
2. AMAZING GRACE
3. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
4. ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY
5. I WALK THE LINE
6. KUMBAYA
7. CLEMENTINE
8. HOKEY POKEY
9. HOME ON THE RANGE
10. LAVA
11. BURY ME NOT ON THE LONE PRAIRIE
12. SCARBOROUGH FAIRE

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?
ATLANTIS
BABY BLUE
BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY
BANG ON THE DRUM ALL DAY
BLACK & WHITE
BUS STOP
CANTINA BAND (STAR WARS)
CLIMB EV’RY MOUNTAIN
CORNER GAS TV SHOW THEME
CREEP
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
GO WHERE YOU WANNA GO
HAWAIIAN ROLLER COASTER RIDE
I’D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME
INDIANA JONES THEME
IRON MAN MOVIE THEME
KING OF THE ROAD
LET THE SUNSHINE IN
LETTING SOMEONE GO
MACK THE KNIFE
MY LITTLE BUTTERCUP (THREE AMIGOS!)
NOW AND THEN
ROCKY THEME (GONNA FLY NOW)
SHOW ME THE WAY
SITTIN’ ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY
TROY MOVIE THEME
WITH A GIRL LIKE YOU

Many of these songs have a larger number of chords than you may be accustomed to, such as "The Rainbow Connection." A good strategy for learning such a song is to work on one line at a time, and then one section at a time. This is a very good practice habit that you should try to develop.

Often, learning the more familiar and catchy Chorus section first is a good way to start. By learning these more complex songs one fragment and section at a time you will be able to memorize them more quickly, and practicing and performing them will be much more enjoyable.

ANOTHER THOUGHT:

Many uke players slow down or stop learning after they've mastered perhaps a dozen chords. Either they hit a "wall" and get lazy or they are a casual player who is simply content to strum away at the basic chords they are cozy and comfy with.

But consider this: If you learned one new chord every week, in a year you would know over 50 chords!

Try to keep the spirit of discovery alive!

LOTS OF NEW SONGS THIS YEAR!

1. AWAY IN A MANGER
2. JINGLE BELLS
3. SILENT NIGHT
4. ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
5. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
6. CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE
7. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
8. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
9. JOY TO THE WORLD
10. HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
11. FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
12. SILVER BELLS
13. DONA NOBIS PACEM
14. WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
15. WHITE CHRISTMAS

SO MANY RECENT UPLOADS! OH, WHAT FUN . . .:

1. OH HOLY NIGHT
2. HERE WE COME A-WASSAILING
3. YOU’RE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
4. GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN, REJOICE
5. THE FRIENDLY BEASTS
6. MY FAVORITE THINGS
7. CAROL OF THE BELLS
8. THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
9. WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
10. SKATING (Peanuts)
11. A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS
12. GOOD KING WENCESLAS
13. SUZY SNOWFLAKE
14. THE CHRISTMAS SONG (CHESTNUTS ROASTING OVER AN OPEN FIRE)
15. (THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE) HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
16. FELIZ NAVIDAD!
17. LINUS AND LUCY
18. THERE’S ALWAYS TOMORROW
19. OH COME, LITTLE CHILDREN

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY STUDENTS AND CLUB MEMBERS WHO HAVE PLAYTESTED THESE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ME:

Suzanne Kasten
Brady Calaway
Isabelle Gannon
Owen Fergus
Sophia Fergus
Mollie Shaver
Brian Keller
Robert Hoganson
Joey Eggert
Clayton Monfils
Cody Monfils

THANKS GUYS AND GALS, I COULDN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU . . . YOU’RE THE BEST!

AND ALSO LET’S NOT FORGET OUR PARENTS AND SPOUSES WHO SUPPORT AND INDULGE US! THANKS FOR YOU PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING!

DOWNLOADS
VIDEOS
How Much Should I Practice?
Gotta Sing!
Gotta Dance!
Cody Demos "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"
Great Performance Tip: Contrast!
That Pesky D Chord
What's a G5 Chord?
What's an F5 Chord?
What Are Slash Chords?
"Primary" Chords
"Less Is More"
Those Lovely "Diminished" Chords
The Difference between Musicians and Everyone Else
How to Turn Your Guitar into an Instant Ukulele
Righty or Lefty?
That gBEA Tuning -- Why Even Bother?
Knowledge, Intelligence, Smarts, and Wisdom
Get Yourself a Bass Uke
How to Play a Melody an Octave Higher
How to Harmonize a Melody
"Unpracticing"

Our players use different tools and methods depending on the parts they have to play. For instance, you may notice that the uke players and guitarists typically use picks to play the melodies, countermelodies, and bass parts. This produces more volume and definition. Chord strummers can use either picks or a finger or thumb, or also any combination of finger and thumb in their strumming.

The bottom line is that we have to be mindful that the strums don’t overpower the melodies and bass. This is especially important when we host an open event where often the strummers outnumber the pickers. For large ensembles it is desirable to reinforce the melody by having multiple players play it. For extra emphasis and interest, another uke could match the melody one octave higher, and/or a guitar can match the melody one octave lower.

If all else fails, then the last option, of course, is to amplify the melody using an electric uke or microphone.