Got questions? Discuss this lesson HERE.
Play along with the full song (w/lyrics & chords) HERE.

Hey hey, UUers! The Holidays are upon us! December is only a couple of days away, and instead of waiting for the 1st of the month to release the newest episode of Uke Lessons, we were so excited about this wintertime song that we decided to release December’s lesson – today!

So without further ado … Uke Lesson 12 – “Let It Snow”!

Lately the forum has been buzzing with questions, chords & tabs, videos, and original compositions about the holiday season, so we’re more than happy to add to the flurry. We’ve put together a special play-along version of “Let It Snow” where you can jam the entire song right along with Aldrine! Check out the video here.

*Also* Just in time for the season, our shipment of Hooded sweaters has arrived along with the brand NEW Ukulele Underground UUth T-Shirt! Get some of your uke-related holiday shopping done today, so you can have more time to work on all your favorite winter tunes.

(designed by our very own UU member, ukeninam! Props.)

And as always, if you’ve got any questions, suggestions, tips, ideas, etc., you know where to find us: http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/

Happy Holidays!
-UU Staff

It is Thursday and that means its UGM day! In this episode, Aldrine tackles questions about Sunday Morning and Hats.

Also, we just launched our new online store. No more filling out shipping info twice or double-charged shipping rates! The only thing missing from the store is Aldrine’s new Christmas EP, ‘The Four Strings of Christmas’, available on the right hand side of your screen as a digital download.

To all our American friends, Happy Thanksgiving! For everyone else, Happy Thursday!

Tune in at 2:00 pm HST for another live lesson session with Aldrine.

>>——-Live Lessons with Aldrine Guerrero——-<<

Got questions about this episode? Post them HERE.
Click here for Scale Exercise I!

How ya doin’ UUers?

Just returning from a tough day at the office? Or maybe settling in for a laid-back weekend? Sorry to burst your bubble – but you’ve got more work to do!! Dust off your ukulele because it’s time for UKE MINUTES!

In this week’s episode, Aldrine introduces another way to hone those scale-playing skills of yours with another warm-up exercise: Scale Exercise II! Remember, knowing your scales frontwards and backwards is an essential tool for quicker picking and improvisation when you are wailing hardcore on your fretboard.

So for this exercise, here’s what you do:

Step 1: Using the pointer finger of your right hand, pluck out the notes of your favorite major scale in ascending order.
Step 2: Now play the notes again, but in between each note, pick the G (top) string of your ukulele using the thumb of your right hand.
Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2, but in descending order.

That’s it! Start off slow, then increase your speed. If the major scale that you have chosen doesn’t include the G note, you can substitute other open strings (such as the C or E string) for the open G string that is being plucked using your thumb. Try it out and let us know what you think! See, who said work couldn’t be fun??

*ALSO* There’s only one week left to nominate your favorite ukulele videos for the 2008 Ukulele Underground Awards (“The Undies!”). So login to the Forum and post your favorite. Voting starts in December, so get your nominations in now, before it’s too late!

Thanks everyone for being so awesome and spreading the gospel of the ukulele all over the freaking world! You are the coolest viewers a site could ever have.

Aloha,
-UU Staff

After a week off, Aldrine is back for another live episode. Tune in at 2pm HST with you ukulele in hand.

>>——— Live Ukulele Lessons with Aldrine Guerrero ———-<

To jump in on the discussion about this lesson, click HERE.

Hey all you awesome uke players from across the land! It’s time for another episode of UKE MINUTES!

Have you ever wondered, “What is a good way for me to practice my scales AND warm up my ukulele-playing fingers at the same time?” If so (or even if not) – we’ve got you covered! In this episode of Uke Minutes, Aldrine breaks down his prescribed “Scales Exercise I” – so you can warm up those fingers in style.

This warm-up is based on Major Scale theory, so if you need a quick refresher on Major Scales (or are excited to learn them for the first time) check out Uke Minutes 8 – Major Scales.

For Scale Exercise I, here is what you do:
Step 1: Take any major scale and number the notes from 1-8.
Step 2: Play the notes in this order – 1,3, 2,4, 3,5, 4,6, 5,7, 6,8
Step 3: Play the notes in this order – 8,6, 7,5, 6,4, 5,3, 4,2, 3,1
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3, starting slowly and eventually gaining speed.

Try it out and, as always, tell us what you think in the Forum!

And remember to nominate your favorite Uke-playing people and ukulele videos for the 2008 Ukulele Underground Awards (which is steadily approaching)! Check out the categories and start nominating HERE.

Mahalo & Aloha,
-UU Staff

In this episode of Uke Got Mail, terarc asks Aldrine the universal question, “I Can Haz Cheeseburger?” Aldrine takes an excursion.

*ALSO* The 2008 Ukulele Underground Awards (“The UNDIES!”) are coming around, so if you would like to nominate your favorite ukulele videos, please post your nominations in the Forum board: 2008 Undie Awards. Nominations can be for any ukulele video (not just those made by UU members), as long as the person who made it accepts the nomination and knows he or she is in the running.

So go to it, UUers!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Bad news everyone. Aldrine has come down with a cold and won’t be able to teach the live lesson today. He’ll be back next week. In the meantime, we are currently conducting a survey to get a better grasp of who is watching our videos and coming to our website. If you could complete this quick 10 question survey, it would help us out tremendously. It’s completely anonymous so no worries.

Take the Ukulele Underground Viewer Survey

Thank you everybody! Aldrine will be back before you know it.

*edit* -  if you weren’t allowed to fill out the survey please try it again. Thanks.

To join the discussion about this lesson, click HERE.
For more Chord Shapes and how to use them click:
Uke Minutes 17 – Movable Chord Shapes (Major and Minor)
Uke Minutes 25 – 7th Chord Shapes

Hey there, UUer!! Are you looking for the next episode of Uke Minutes?? We’ll today is your lucky day! In this episode, Aldrine adds to your arsenal of ukulele chord shapes with Major 7ths!

One of the main questions that comes up when Major 7th chords are introduced is: “What is the difference between Major 7ths and regular 7ths?” From a musical standpoint the answer is this – regular 7th chords usually cannot stand alone (whereas Major 7ths can).

For example, if you start strumming a C7 chord (0001), you wouldn’t be able to end on that chord because it ‘feels like’ it needs to be followed up with another chord (usually a major chord), like F (2010).

Try it and see.
1. Play your C7 for four beats then stop. How do you feel? Could you end a song on that chord?
2. Now play your C7 for four beats, then follow it up with an F. How do you feel now? Better, right!?
3. In comparison, strum a Cmaj7 (0002) for four beats. Could you end a song on that chord? Yes, you definitely could (even without following it up with another chord)! Do you see the difference?

Any of the Major 7th shapes shown in this lesson will provide you with a Major 7th chord, no matter where you hold it on on the fretboard, so try them all out and see! And if you have any questions, you know where to find us! www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum or ask Aldrine at askaldrine(at)gmail.com !

Now go ahead, do your own thing!

Aloha,
-UU Staff.

It’s time for another episode of ‘Uke Got Mail’! This week Aldrine Guerrero answers a common question asked by many considering purchasing their first ukulele. Guest starring Cecilia Guerrero (Aldrine’s Grandma).