5 Unexpected tips to help you become a better ukulele player

If you'd like to read about the tips in this video, here we go:
Today I am sharing 5 tips/hacks to help you improve your ukulele playing and explore a few new possibilities. Let's countdown through the tips

Tip 5: If you'd like to get a raspy/percussive sound when you play, try putting a dollar bill, a piece of paper, or a card in between your strings, close to the saddle. You may need to cut the paper to make it thin enough to work. Pass the paper over and under the strings to make it work. Experiment with different paper widths until you get a sound that you like.

Tip 4: If you have sweaty hands or fingertips and this makes the strings stick to your fretboard hand, try using deodorant on your fingertips! I recommend using one that does not have harsh chemicals. You could also try using baby powder for this

Tip 3: As you hold a tricky chord position, look down the fretboard to check your form and adjust your fingertips. This will help you see what you're doing wrong and find better ways to wiggle your fingertips into the right chord position.

Tip 2: Fretboard fingernails should be very short. Don't cut them to the point where you hurt yourself, but definitely keep these short. Keeping the fretboard fingernails short will help you build calluses and hold chord positions with proper form.

Tip 1: Stop practicing your mistakes! You are teaching yourself to play with mistakes anytime you play something incorrectly then stop playing and then go to the beginning of the song. This is NOT the right way to practice. INSTEAD: practice difficult excerpts slowly. Only practice the challenging sections. Once you have mastered the challenging excerpt, practice the section just before the excerpt + the challenging part + the part immediately after.

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UKULELE USED:
Bernadette Bougainvillea Ukulele
from Enya Music

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UKULELE CHALLENGES - I would complete these challenges in this order:
1. 30 Day Uke Challenge (for absolute beginners)

2. 15 Uke Songs Challenge

3. Love Songs Challenge

4. Ukulele Christmas

5. Uke Beatle Mania

6. 30 Day Uke Course (Advanced)

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Here are some useful links:

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VENMO: @bernadetteteachesmusic

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GEAR I USE

ORANGE 12 AMPLIFIER

CABLE FOR AMPLIFIER (GOLD)

LOW G UKULELE STRINGS

UKULELE CAPO

UKULELE HUMIDIFIER

UKULELES ON MY WALL

[WillisZzz]

"Keep going beyond the mistake" - solid life advice right there

[christophercarroll]

Started watching your channel to teach my daughter how to play, now I'm learning.

[lesayoung]

I’m 54, just got my first Ukelele and have started learning with you. Thank you!!!

[nehashetty]

Ms.B, tip 1 is really helpful. Upon a mistake, I find myself always going back to the beginning of the song, and never actually finding a way out to correct the mistake. This tip will definitely help me with that! Thank you ❤️❤️

[doodica]

I got your new ukulele for Christmas!!! It is a beautiful piece - I love the color, but more importantly, it has an awesome sound!

[carmenjeeves]

Your last tip about how to practice a difficult part in a song was the best for me. Thank you!

[sufyanbakir]

Tip 1 is the best, why because I am actually learning/practicing like this.

[savannahwray]

I bought a ukulele last year because I love to sing. I started watching your videos and they have helped me so much! You are my favorite teacher!! I love the way you break down every song and make them easy for me to understand. Thank you.

[fivetimesyo]

Ok, I'm a guitar player but I saw the thumbnail and I just had to say that you are gorgeous!

[ElenaAngelMessenger]

Tip 1 & 3 are what I do often. Tip 4 is so cool! Ty for sharing!

[bellaboo]

I got one for Christmases so I'm learning how because of u

[andfarr]

Thank you Bernadette ! Great tips .
Also, congratulations on the birth of your daughter !

[tracyw]

Bernadette so glad I found your channel! You do such a good job explaining and teaching. Thank you so much. Love your channel.

[Lala-heks]

I learned so much from the final tip!!! Happy to see you're back making videos! Much love to you and Baby D!

[brennanpaige]

My favorite tip was the trick of putting an item between your strings! I used a folded up tissue, and oh. my. word. it sounded so cool!

[glockwood]

I just got my uke to day so this will help

[waldoiswhereEFC]

That Uke looks 🔥 I found you during lock down back in March and decided to try ukulele to pass the time I can say I have no regrets so now I play guitar and ukulele 😃

[ralph]

You so rock as a teacher, A total blessing, my granddaughter loves you. And I have been working with her and your videos to help her on her musical journey .Thank you 😊

[timothycliffe]

As usual. Another great tutorial!! Last tip is so well explained and useful to remember for all sorts of endeavors. Thank you. Keep up the wonderful videos. Am so enjoying my uke.

[robertgates]

The last tip was really helpful, Ive been doing that stopping at the mistake thing too much. Im really having that stopping problem with Havana where the strum pattern starts over from D7 to Gm.