The ”jumping flea” is making a comeback in schools, at social events, and even a hall of a concert ukulele. Find out why everybody wants to learn how to play the ukulele. The ukulele is a Hawaiian instrument with a carefree, jaunty sound. Its small size offers an ease of portability and gives players of all ages the chance to master it.
In 2017, over 1.75 million ukuleles were sold in the US.
Less than 10 years prior to that, in 2009, only a half a million ukuleles were sold. The number of best ukuleles sold it’s each has been growing at a steady rate, and it’s no wonder why.
Ukuleles are an awesome instrument to learn for ukulele players. Your first Ukulele Baritone Ukulele, Soprano Ukulele, or Tenor Ukulele.
But, just what exactly is so great about the ukulele? Why do people love playing it so much?
If you’re interested in learning how to play the ukulele, this article is for you. Read on to learn the top 10 reasons you should learn to play the ukulele and its ukulele buying guide.
1. It’s Easy to Learn to Play
The number one reason people gravitate towards the ukulele is because of how easy it is to learn to play.
If it is your first time learning to play an instrument, or you just want to learn an instrument that won’t take years to master, then the ukulele is for you.
What makes the ukulele such an easy instrument to learn?
First of all, it only has four chords. Secondly, the ukulele strings are nylon which makes it incredibly easy to hold it down compared to basses and guitars.
It can take beginner guitar players weeks before they learn proper fingerpicking arrangements and how to create chord shapes.
In comparison, it can take someone as little as 30 minutes to learn how to play chords on a ukulele.
Both hands have much work to do! One is the chording hand, holding down strings, while the other hand is the strumming pattern or “speaking” hand. But the best way is to use the ukulele is strumming with your right hand and the ukulele chords as the left hand. Kids begin with a box and a stick until the teacher knows they are ready for the real thing.
Uke is much more forgiving, but it’s important to strive for a good ukulele technique right from the start. If you are facing the uke with a string composed of (G-C-E-A) chord diagrams associated with ukulele tuning, the top left tuner is ‘C string,’ the bottom left tuner is ‘G string,’ the top right tuner is ‘E string’ and the bottom right tuner controls ‘A string’. Adjusting these will change the corresponding string’s sound.
2. It’s the Perfect Travel Companion
Ukuleles are such small and lightweight instruments, that you can take them practically anywhere.
Whether you’re doing a remote hike in the woods, going on a vacation, or just walking over to a friend’s house for a jam session, the ukulele is the perfect travel companion.
This means you will have ample opportunities to practice the ukulele, as it is the perfect instrument to play when you have some downtime.
Plus, ukuleles are extremely durable compared to other instruments. As long as you pack it in its own case, you won’t have to worry about it breaking in a larger suitcase or in anything else.
3. Get to Play Your Favorite Songs
One thing people love about learning to play an instrument is the ability to play some of their favorite pop songs.
However, with some instruments, it can take months, even years of practice before you can play pop songs that you enjoy.
This is not the case with the ukulele.
You’ll find that most pop songs are incredibly easy to play on the ukulele.
And, if you’re someone who likes to sing, the ukulele can be the perfect accompaniment.
Even popular songs with the most complicated chords can be broken down into simpler versions on the ukulele.
Once you’ve got the basics down, you’ll have endless hours of fun learning to play your favorite ukulele songs.
4. Inexpensive
Another great thing about a ukulele is the price.
Other instruments, like the piano, can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars, and that’s not including the price to transport it to your home.
A high-quality ukulele, on the other hand, will cost anywhere from $75 to $300.
But, if you’re just playing for fun and aren’t super concerned about quality, you can easily find ukuleles for $10 to $50.
However, we will say that spending under $50 on a ukulele is usually not a good idea. If it’s that cheap, it’s usually made of low-quality materials, and it’ll have trouble tuning properly.
5. A Great Starting Point for Learning Other Stringed Instruments
Are you also interested in learning to play other stringed instruments? How about the bass or guitar? What about the cello or violin?
If the answer is yes, then starting with the ukulele is a great option.
Playing the ukulele can be a great way to:
1. Prep yourself for more difficult stringed instruments
2. Decide if you even like playing stringed instruments, without spending a fortune.
However, this is not to say that the ukulele is a lower-quality instrument than other stringed instruments. In fact, the ukulele is one of the most versatile instruments out there. And, it sounds wonderful when you play it on its own.
6. Play All Kinds of Genres
Speaking of versatility… The ukulele is the perfect instrument for anyone who is interested in playing a bunch of different chords/genres.
Whether it’s jazz, pop, classical, or metal, the ukulele can be incorporated into any type of genre and sound amazing.
7. It’s Therapeutic
One of the best reasons to learn to play the ukulele is because it’s extremely therapeutic.
If you’ve been feeling down lately, playing the ukulele can be the perfect antidote to your sadness.
The soothing sounds of the ukulele can transport you to another side of the world, allowing you to escape from your troubles for a bit.
Plus, scientific evidence shows that learning to play an instrument can help reduce anxiety and depression.
What better reason to learn to play than that?
8. Great for Budding Songwriters
Are you interested in trying to write some of your own easy songs?
If so, the ukulele is the perfect accompaniment for budding songwriters out there.
This is because the ukulele allows you to check rhythms and tunes at the same time.
With the ukulele, it’s super easy to check the composition of a song.
9. Sharpen Your Mind
Are you looking to improve your memory, concentration, and overall brain function?
If so, then the ukulele is for you.
According to multiple studies, learning to play an instrument is extremely beneficial for your mind.
No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, playing an instrument requires your brain to be engaged the entire time.
We could all exercise our brain muscles a little more, and the ukulele is the perfect way to do it.
10. It’s Just Plain Fun
Last but not least, playing the ukulele is just plain fun.
Whether you’re jamming with friends or just chilling by yourself at the beach, the ukulele can provide endless hours of free entertainment.
After just a short period of time, you’ll be learning to play your favorite songs. And, you’ll be able to share this joy with others.
Conclusion: Learning How to Play the Ukulele is a Great Decision
As you can see, there are so many benefits of learning how to play the ukulele.
Now, all you have to is go out there and purchase one, and then you can start experiencing the joy of playing the ukulele.
You may also watch video lessons or ukulele lessons or you may drop us a comment below if you have any questions, or let us know why you love playing the ukulele!
