ST.

MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL MUHAISNAH

Term 3 – Weeks 5-7

Year 8 – ABC
Subject: Music
Name of Teacher: Ms. Losaida C. Gonzales
Topic: Basic Ukulele Lesson
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to
understand basics ukulele instrument and playing.

Success Criteria:
q recognise ukulele origin
q identify the parts, holding positions and playing it
q play selected traditional songs in ukulele instrument
 The Ukulele
The ukulele is a stringed musical instrument.

It comes from Hawaii.

There are four different sizes of ukulele.

Most people learn to play the soprano ukulele, which is the smallest.
 Getting to Know Your Ukulele
Here is a diagram showing you the different parts of your ukulele.

strings neck
body
tuning pegs

frets

bridge sound hole

 How to Hold Your Ukulele

You can play the ukulele standing

up or sitting down.

When you are first learning, it is

easier to play sitting down.

The body of the ukulele sits in the

crook of your right arm and your
left hand holds onto the neck.

Try to rest your left thumb on the

back of the neck so your fingers are
free to press the strings.
 Tuning C
G

A E
The four strings of your ukulele all
play different pitches (notes).
G tuning peg
Sometimes, the strings of your C
E
ukulele may go out of tune and play A

the wrong pitch (note).

To change the strings back to the

Lower Pitch Higher
correct pitch, you will need to turn
Pitch
the tuning pegs.
string G clockwise anticlockwise
It’s best to ask an adult for help if
string C clockwise anticlockwise
your ukulele needs tuning!
string E anticlockwise clockwise
string A anticlockwise clockwise
 Strumming
Your right hand strums down over the strings.

Practise strumming the strings by using your

right thumb to stroke down the strings.

Make sure you strum down all four strings.

To get the best sound from your

ukulele, strum the strings over the
sound hole.
 The Fretboard

You will have noticed that on the neck of your ukulele, behind the
strings, there are thin strips of metal.

These are called frets.

They help you to know where to press down on the strings to change the
pitch (note).
 Chords

Now you are ready to strum

your first chord.
The string is being pressed
A chord is a combination of down just behind fret 3.
notes which sound pleasant
when played together. G
C 4 3 2 1
The first chord you are going
E
to learn is the chord of C.
A
To create the correct notes
for this chord, your left
String A is 3
pressed down.
hand, third finger will need
to press down just behind 1
the third fret on string A. Third finger is
pressing down.
2
 The Chord of C
That is a lot of information to remember, so ukulele players use a chord diagram to
remember how to play it!

The number in the circle tells you

which finger to press with.

G C E A
Fret 1 The string is being pressed
down just behind fret 3.
Fret 2
C Fret 3 3
Fret 4 G
C
The position of the circle tells you E
which string to press down and which A
fret to press just behind.
String A is
pressed down.
Practise strumming all the strings
with your left hand in this position.
You are playing the chord of C! Third finger is
pressing down.
 The Chord of G
There aren’t many songs that only use one chord, so let’s learn another one.
This is the chord of G.

The numbers in the circles tell you

which finger to press with.
Finger 1 is pressing down on the C
G C E A string just behind fret 2.
Fret 1
Fret 2 1 2
G Fret 3 3 G
Fret 4 C
The position of the circles tell you E
which strings to press down and A
which frets to press on. Finger 3 is
pressing down on
Practise strumming the strings with the E string just
your left hand in this position. behind fret 3.
Finger 2 is pressing down on
You are playing the chord of G!
the A string just behind fret 2.
 Changing Chords 1
Now you know how to strum two different chords!

Next, you need to rehearse strumming and changing chord.

This can take a bit of time to master.

Try strumming four times with your left hand pressing down on a C chord, then
strumming four times with your left hand pressing down on a G chord.

C G
1 2
3 3

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
 Traditional Songs 1
Congratulations! Now you are ready to play along to songs which use the
chords of C and G.

On the following slides, you will see the words to some traditional songs.

The chord patterns above a word tell you when to change your left-hand
fingering positions.

First, try singing the song and strumming once every time you come to a
chord pattern.

When you feel confident with this, try adding in more strums on
every beat.
 Row, Row, Row Your Boat
C C

3 3

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream

,

C G C
1 2
3 3 3

merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

Alternative Verses:

Row, row, row your boat, gently to the shore, if you see a lion there, don’t forget to roar.

Row, row, row your boat, gently to the creek, if you see a mouse there, don’t forget to squeak.

Row, row, row your boat, gently to the river, if you see a polar bear, don’t forget to shiver.
 London Bridge Is Falling Down
C G C
1 2
3 3 3

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down,

C G C
1 2
3 3 3

London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.

 Hot Cross Buns
C C

3 3

Hot cross buns, hot cross buns,

C G C
1 2
3 3 3

one a penny, two a penny hot cross buns.

 Mary Had a Little Lamb
C G C
1 2
3 3 3

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb,

C G C
1 2
3 3 3

Mary had a little lamb, his fleece as white as snow.

 The Wheels on the Bus
C C

3 3

The wheels on the bus go round and round

G G
1 2 1 2
3 3

round and round, round and round, the

C C

3 3

wheels on the bus go round and round,

G C
1 2
3 3

all through the town.

 The Chord of F
Now it’s time to learn a third chord.

The numbers in the circles tell you

which finger to press with.

F Finger 2 is pressing down on

the G string just behind fret 2.
1
2
G
C
E
The position of the circles tell you
A
which strings to press down and
which frets to press on.

Practise strumming the strings with

your left hand in this position.
Finger 1 is pressing down
You are playing the chord of F!
on the E string just behind fret 1.
 Changing Chords 2
Now you know how to strum the three different chords of C, G and F!

Practise strumming four beats changing chords.

C F
1
2
3

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

G C
1 2
3 3

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
 Traditional Songs 2
The next songs still only use the chords of C, G and F, but the chords
change more often - sometimes on every beat!

Sing the songs slowly to practise changing your left-hand finger position
more often.
 Baa Baa Black Sheep
C F C F C G C
1 1
2 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3

Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full,

C F C G C F G C
1 1
2 1 2 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3 3

one for the master, and one for the dame, and one for the little boy, who lives down the lane.
 Twinkle, Twinkle
C F C F C G C
1 1
2 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3

Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.

C F C G C F C G
1 1
2 1 2 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3 3

Up a- bove the sky so bright like a diamond in the night,

C F C F C G C
1 1
2 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3

Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.

 Three Blind Mice
C G C C G C
1 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3 3

Three blind mice, Three blind mice,

C G C C G C
1 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3 3

see how they run, see how they run, they

F G C F G C
1 1
2 1 2 2 1 2
3 3 3 3

all ran after farmer’s wife, cut tails carving knife,

who off their with a did you

C G C C G C
1 2 1 2
3 3 3 3 3 3

ever see such a thing life, as three blind mice

in your
 Try the Popular Songs

Play A, F#m, D, E7
Stand by Me (Chords)

Play C, Em, F, G, Am
Somewhere Over the Rainbow