Hey UUers!

It’s a new month for uke playing & this month it’s a special episode of Uke Lessons just for you! For the first time on Uke Lessons, we’re breaking down a solo ukulele arrangement of a song – “My Heart Will Go On” (the Theme from Titanic). This one’s got a lot to learn and remember, but take it slow and you’ll have this one down in no time! Have fun with this solo piece, let us know what you think of it, and if you have any questions, we’re always here for you. Take care & keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Print out this whiteboard!

Hey UUers!

This one is a brand new segment for Ukulele Underground – “Whiteboard Requests” lets YOU request and vote up your favorite songs for Aldrine to teach on the Ukulele! Today’s request comes from MMA fighter (and Uke Player!) Jon Fitch who asked for his walk out song “Rusty Cage” as performed by Johnny Cash. Check out this quick tutorial and let us know what you think!

Leave a comment to request the next song and if you have any questions, we’re always here for you. Keep Strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

In this week’s episode of Uke Minutes, Aldrine shows you how to do the infamous “Chunk” technique on the ukulele. Chunking has been covered on Uke Minutes before (check out Uke Minutes 23 for a blast from the past!), but we continue to get questions on it, so here it is – a brand new, in-depth review on How to Chunk on the Ukulele!

Check it out and as always if you have any questions, let us know. Hope you have a wonderful day & keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Play along with the “Ice Cream” Play-Along!

Hey UUers!

As the year marches on, another month and another month’s episode of Uke Lessons have arrived! Recently, Aldrine’s song “Ice Cream” was featured on HiSessions and a bunch of you asked him to teach it (especially the picking parts), so here it is! For this lesson, Aldrine teaches “Ice Cream” in the original key of Bb, so there are a few tough chords to master. (Check out Uke Minutes 117 – Mastering Difficult Chords to help with this!). Take it slow, learn each part carefully, and you’ll have the song down in no time!

If you like what you hear, “Ice Cream” along with Aldrine’s entire second album, “I’m a Dreamer” is available for digital download at http://ukuleleunderground.com/dreamer/

And for more fun, be sure to play along with the “Ice Cream” Play-Along! Hope your weekend is off to a great start – keep playing that uke and make some musical magic!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Recently we’ve been having a blast (from the past!) reviewing some basic concepts for beginners. This time on Uke Minutes, Aldrine revisits the basic strum and how to get started strumming your ukulele. Remember to keep your strumming finger relaxed and really work on grazing your strings lightly to get an even tone. To check out the original “Basic Strum” episode of Uke Minutes (from waaay back in January of 2008), check out Uke Minutes 2!

And for more Strumming Tips, click over to Uke Minutes 151 to get your strum on. Have an amazing uke-tacular weekend, folks. Keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

How’s your Saturday going!? On this week’s episode of Uke Minutes, Aldrine shows you how to do a Roll on the Ukulele! This is a technique that we’ve covered before (if you’d like to take the amazing journey back in time to Uke Minutes 6 to see how UU rolled back in 2008, check it out HERE), but felt like it could use a shiny new update. Have fun with this one, and for more advanced rolls, click over to the 5 Finger Roll, the 8 Finger Roll, and the 10 Finger Roll as well!

Try it out and send us a video so we can see how you roll. Have an awesome weekend & be sure to let your uke sing wherever you go!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Are you ready to kick your weekend into gear with a little uke love!? This week on Uke Minutes, Aldrine takes it back to the beginning with a few simple tips on strumming for beginners! Especially when you’re starting out, it’s important to relax, find the proper position, and ease into a natural rhythm. Practice your strumming, don’t think too much, and you’ll find a strum that sounds good and is just right for you!

Hope you’re doing great, people of the Underground. There’s some exciting news coming soon for UU – so exciting that we’re just about to burst in announcement anticipation – but you’ll have to wait and see! Keep practicing, friends & rock on.

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

While we were busy at the 2012 NAMM Show last month, February snuck up on us with a quickness! But don’t fret, your February episode of Uke Lessons is right here – this month Aldrine shows you how to play “Under The Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the ukulele.

This one has a finger picking intro that might take awhile to master, but once you do, it’s incredibly fun to play! So take it slow, repeat it in sections to build up that muscle memory, and put it all together for some red, hot, chili-peppery ukulele goodness. Try it out and let us know what you think!

February is for lovers, so be sure to take the time this month and show that special uke of yours some love. Rock on & keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Note: In the fretboard diagram on the whiteboard behind Kalei, the last note under the E string (5th fret, E string) should be an A (not a G). Sorry about that, guys

Hey UUers!

Over the past few months we’ve been working really hard on some exciting new stuff here in the Underground – here’s a sneak peek of the “Master Class” series that is being developed to help you become a better ukulele player! In Master Class episodes, exclusive seminars are taught and broken down by working professional ukulele players just for your practicing pleasure.

Available to all UU+ members
Kalei Gamiao’s Master Class, Improving Your Ukulele Playing!

In Part 3 of this workshop, Kalei shows you two right hand techniques to help add some interesting strumming effects to your ukulele playing. These techniques require quite a bit of control with your right hand, so take it slow and practice them often to really get them down.

Have fun and keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Become a UU+ Member!

Note: In the fretboard diagram on the whiteboard behind Kalei, the last note under the E string (5th fret, E string) should be an A (not a G). Sorry about that, guys

Hey UUers!

Over the past few months we’ve been working really hard on some exciting new stuff here in the Underground – here’s a sneak peek of the “Master Class” series that is being developed to help you become a better ukulele player! In Master Class episodes, exclusive seminars are taught and broken down by working professional ukulele players just for your practicing pleasure.

Available to all UU+ members
Kalei Gamiao’s Master Class, Improving Your Ukulele Playing!

In Part 2 of this workshop, Kalei expands on some basic music theory to help you find different inversions for your chords. Download and print out the UU Fretboard Diagram to help you to find the notes you need and play around with different chord voicings to your hearts content. (Be sure to check Print Properties > “Scale to Fit” page when printing).

For more info on using music theory to improve your ukulele playing, check out Aldrine’s Ukulele Music Theory course in the UU+ section!

Have fun with this one and keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Become a UU+ Member!