The ukulele is known as a sing-along instrument. But nobody has to sing to play the ukulele. Some don’t like their voice, others are shy, and some simply find the instrument more exciting. Here are ideas for making the ukulele sound good all on its own.
Playing melodies
Instead of singing the melody, you play it note by note. For songs with a melody the app shows a tab: string and fret appear under every syllable. Try Alle meine Entchen or Ode an die Freude. How tab works is explained in Reading tab.
Picking instead of strumming
Picked chords sound like a little harp and don’t need a voice on top. Even a simple pattern over C, Am, F and G sounds like a complete piece. You’ll find instructions in Ukulele fingerpicking.
Chord melody: both at once
In a chord melody the melody note sits on top, usually on the A string, and the chord rings underneath. You strum chords, but in a way that lets the melody stand out. Start with a slow song you know well and find the melody notes on the A string. For each note, pick a chord that contains it.
Blues: playing freely
In the blues tool a little band plays and you make up your own notes on top. The notes that fit light up on the neck – you really can’t go astray. How the blues is built is explained in Learning the 12-bar blues.
Play the bluesOthers sing, you play
In the family, with friends or in class there’s almost always someone who loves to sing. Then you’re the band. Accompanying is an art of its own: steady rhythm, changes on time and the right volume so the singers can be heard.