The Uke Primer

Getting Started

Everything you need in your first week, with no music background assumed. We start at the very beginning: what a ukulele is, the four common sizes (soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone) and how they sound and feel different, and how to hold the instrument so your strumming hand and fretting hand can both move freely. From there it is getting into standard gCEA tuning with a clip-on tuner and building a little comfort each day, so the uke starts to feel familiar rather than fiddly. No reading music required, just a few minutes at a time.

Getting Started

5 guides

Getting Started

What Are the Ukulele String Names? Standard gCEA Tuning

Learn the four ukulele string names in standard gCEA tuning, what order they run in, and why the top string is tuned higher than you expect.

August 18, 2026

Getting Started

The Parts of a Ukulele, Explained for Beginners

Learn the names and functions of every part of a ukulele, from headstock to saddle, so you can tune, play, and care for your instrument with confidence.

August 4, 2026

Getting Started

How to Hold a Ukulele Correctly (Sitting and Standing)

Learn proper ukulele holding position for sitting and standing. Get your posture right from day one so your fretting hand stays free and comfortable.

July 21, 2026

Getting Started

Ukulele Sizes Explained: Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone

Soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone? Learn how each ukulele size sounds, plays, and who it suits best before you buy.

July 7, 2026

Getting Started

How to Start Playing the Ukulele: A Beginner's Guide

Ready to learn ukulele from scratch? This beginner's guide covers picking your first uke, tuning, holding it right, and playing your first chords.

June 23, 2026

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