Today I’ve been putting up posts aimed at giving people (non-uke players and new ukers in particular) a brief overview of the ukulele world.
I’ll probably be adding to these in future so if you’ve got any suggestions for categories (and what should be in them) let me know in the comments.
Ukulele Players
Soloists
Ukulele Ladies
Indie Ukulele
Ukulele [...]

If you’re looking for an extensive and accurate guide, take a look at John King’s Nalu Music.
The story of the ukulele starts in Europe. By the 18th Century stringed, fretted instruments had a long history. Larger instruments such as guitars and lutes had developed smaller cousins of particular benefit for sea-faring musicians. In Portugal the [...]

Stephin Merritt – Magnetic Fields

Who? Dark humorist and dour songwriter with Magnetic Fields, Gothic Archies and other projects.
What’s so special? The first alternative act I heard use the ukulele (in 1999’s 69 Love Songs). Put to rest the idea that everything sounds happy on the ukulele. Introduced the ukulele to a generation of youngsters who [...]

Queen Lili’uokalani
Who? Hawaiian Queen 1891 – 1894.
What’s so special? The ukulele really took hold in Hawaii thanks to its extensive use by the Royal Family. Queen Lili’uokalani and her brother King David Kalakaua were massive supporters of the early ukulele makers and players. She is said to have written the ultimate ukulele tune ‘Aloha Oe’ [...]

The ukulele is best known as an accompanying instrument but many players have stretched what it is possible to do with a uke and used it as a solo instrument. Here are some of the most important.
Ernest Ka’ai
Who? Hawaiian ukulelist who set the groundwork for all ukulele soloists to come.
What’s so special? Earnest Kaai was [...]

You may have noticed this is my seventh post in the space of six hours. It’s all part of the overhaul of the site that will be taking place soon.
With over 1,000 blog posts on Uke Hunt and a bunch more in the other sections, it’s getting impossible for people to find what they’re looking [...]

A few posts to help you get going with one of the most popular non-traditional ways to play the ukulele.
For this section you’ll need a good understand of ukulele tab.
Step 1: Basics
Blues Scales:
- Minor pentatonic scale
- Blues scale
Five steps to blues mastery
How to Play Blues Ukulele – ebook covering blues licks, riffs and soloing.
Step 2: [...]

Fingerpicking Basics
Coming soon.
Easy Fingerpicking
Playing one note at a time.
Stephin Merritt – Smile
Earlyguard – Busy Bee
Silent Night
Oh Christmas Tree
Moderate Fingerpicking
Introducing chords and melody notes.
Hawaii Five-O
Indiana Jones
Super Mario Theme
Godfather Theme
Tricky Fingerpicking
John King – Larry O’Gaff
Baby Elephant Walk
Davy Graham – Angi
Upstairs, Downstairs Theme
Avett Brothers – Murder in the City
Coming Soon
Introduction to campanella.
Playing melody and chords together.

Once you’ve got to grips with the tabs in the intermediate section, it’s time to move up to playing some full tunes.
Step 1: New Tabs and Techniques
Fingering and repeats
Advanced strums and rhythms
Hammer-ons and pull-offs
Slides
Advanced repeats, accents and trills
Vibrato, grace notes and bends
Extra Credit: Harmonics on a ukulele
Step 2: Full Tune Tabs
Theme tunes to films, games [...]

The improver section will have set you up with some serious chops. Now it’s time to start digging into tab and really showing off.
Step 1: Learn to Read Tab
- Frets and Strings
- Rhythm
- First ukulele tabs. A few short and simple but highly effective bits of tab:
WIUO – It’s A Heartache Introduction
Postcards from Italy Introduction
Kings [...]