Fingerstyle Ukulele Part 1: Simple Ideas To Help Build A Solid Foundation

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Learning how to be a musician at 65 years old has led me to many instructional videos for the piano and Uke. You are on my pedestal for most enjoyable and instructive.

[@neakhaven2013]

Thank you

[@wtrydberg4889]

At last--a person who can not only play but can explain clearly! Have been looking for such a site for years. You are a rare gift. Thank you!

[@kathywilkes9222]

I've never used this word as a complement before. but Phil is delightfully.. . Professorial.

[@PhilDoleman]

I'll take it!

[@pedrosanchezpalma4443]

Awesome video. The one every beginner needs to watch. Thanks a ton!

[@garydionne-music8252]

Thank you.

[@gardengablakecounty2513]

Thank you for sharing your gift, Phil! - Just discovered you by accident through the magic of youtube algorithms: what an excellent teacher you are! There are many awesome players out there, but few can transmit their knowledge in a way that is easy to pick up. I'm no spring chicken, so I don't have decades to cultivate my skill before I start having fun with it, haha. So far, Cynthis Lin was my favorite, but you are just as much of a gem and I'm glad I stumbled on it.

[@rebeccamyers7483]

Great explanation of how the simplicity can seem so complicated.

[@pennyyoung2291]

What a very clear and well structured lesson, Phil. Thank you!

[@SistahRev]

I keep coming back to this, and other of your videos. You’re an outstanding teacher with a winsomely warm and cheerful personality… uke instruction doesn’t get any better than this!! Thanks so much for sharing!!🌹🌹🌹

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks!

[@sarinasalim2494]

Thanks Phil. You are a great teacher and a generous man!

[@lisacompton3661]

A thousand thanks Phil. Just beginning fingerpicking journey and this is so helpful. All best.

[@50mantravelling52]

Thanks Phil, started playing a couple of years ago as an OAP . Just found this video and will be watching it many times until I master it (eventually 😂). Very clear, easy to follow and well explained. 👍👋

[@mymgb238]

This is wonderful and so we’ll presented. Thank you.I appreciate your including the tabs,too.

[@tamaralunt3103]

Thanks for a succinct description

[@deefuller9478]

It is so little but so much! Thank you!

[@uyuybike4119]

Thanks You Master

[@eileenlander1380]

This is ace. Thank you so much. Some more coffees coming your way shortly.

[@2011hib]

You actually teach. I'm grateful for your work. Thanks!

[@Loire88]

Great lesson!

[@cornett0]

Nicely explained that Phil. Thanks

[@cgaddy00]

Excellent introduction to the whole concept of fingerpicking! Thanks!

[@ukesong]

Very useful tutorial Phil, thank you! 👍

[@mikenco]

I've been strumming since christmas. This video has opened my eyes to something I NEED to learn, thank you!

[@claralindner4243]

Aha! Light bulb moment! Your lessons make playing so much fun! Thank you!

[@PhilPage227]

This is just what I was looking for, thank you Phil.

[@rowenamurphy6961]

This is an outstanding lesson! Thank you so much!

[@PhilDoleman]

@@rowenamurphy6961 Thanks!

[@faizeljacobs455]

Just ❤ your method of teaching. You are an inspiration. Thanks

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you!

[@iggytube2023]

Amazing.

[@LilaMadrigali]

THIS CHANNEL!!! 🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍 Thanks so much for sharing! Plus, your voice is very catchy. Let's uke the world!

[@robincunningham7710]

Thanks This is fantastic

[@sheilalucas9154]

Thank you Phil, this is an amazing lesson. I'm off to try what I've just learned right now.

[@TaeLynn]

Absolutely stellar lesson. Thanks

[@neverstoplearning2]

This is amazing! You are a marvelous teacher, thank you!

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

I watched this last night, got the PDF, and returned to it (video and PDF) today with ukulele in hand. During the past two weeks I've been working on learning where what notes are on the two "outside" strings (thank you) but think I'm ready for this now. I got to about "bar 13" on the PDF/ and lesson before things became too complicated for my current skill level (which is fine, I'm sure slow steady work will soon pay off - I am not discouraged!). By the way, the pinky hold seems to be hindered by the lumps and bumps of my body, so I'm having to adjust positioning my uke. Good lesson!

[@PhilDoleman]

Sounds like you're doing great!

[@dirkiedenh]

Great. Thanxxxx

[@maryklassen1691]

Very helpful and easy to follow

[@-16_]

So thankful Phil those are beautiful picking patterns and just lovely to hear, it gives you a good ear to learn 🎶🎵🎶 plus enjoyed your video 👏👏

[@robertbussard6155]

This is an excellent introduction! Thank you!

[@pennyyoung2291]

Brilliant! Thank you again, Phil🌷

[@rowenamurphy6961]

Thanks

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you!

[@ShellingAdventures]

This was a great video, and fun too! Thanks so much!

[@acterene1]

Thanks!

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you!

[@denisenadeau5243]

thanks phil

[@hilarywilliams880]

Brilliant Phil, thank you so much🎶

[@Didgeman80]

Wow! Great video. Thank you!

[@robjohnson7806]

I am going to have a go at this tomorrow. I have been learning chords and songs but for the life of me cannot get the rhythm of the up strum, so this might give me a little more confidence. Thanks for sharing.

[@andrewstrong8499]

Cheers MrD! This and Part 2 give a solid and clear start to beginning picking. They’re not bad for those of us who’ve been around a bit and want to tidy up some sloppy habits too…😉

[@PhilDoleman]

Cheers Andrew! Hope you're doing well.

[@petemesley8989]

I love your tutorials Phil. Your voice is so easy to listen to, and the lessons are very well constructed. 😊👍

[@David1131955]

Wonderful lesson. Thank you.

[@imagesfromoz9036]

Wow. Thank you so much. I needed these lessons.

[@Scorlistica]

Learning is more fun with your teaching. Glad to have stumbled upon this vid! Massive thanks, Phil!

[@lindenrosam4781]

That’s a super lesson thank you

[@fzelders]

Wow! Thank you Phil!

[@graemethorne4540]

Wow great thanks for sharing your talent great presentation to.

[@sharonlabrecque6084]

I love your teaching style. You explain everything so well.

[@Aquarosegarden]

This is so helpful ❤ exactly what I needed to learn for my next step . Thank you❤

[@heidiredington7115]

Great lesson! I have been looking for something new to try and this is it! Thanks!

[@paulbrunton877]

Fabulous instruction Phil, thank you so much, your video lessons are great as I am a beginner. 🌝

[@LevMichael]

Excellent video!! Thanks!!

[@ronnipaints6128]

You're a wonderful teacher thank you For sharing so much.

[@asnormal1362]

Thank you Phil & I was happy to donate a few dollars for a nice hot cuppa for you

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@georgewoodruff8415]

Excellent teaching,Phil. Really appreciate your approach.

[@ElenaChuckYT]

Awesome. Practicing!

[@tazmac4559]

This is a truely helpful picking video. I am still a very new player and have just now been checking out picking paterns. Thank you so much

[@BirgitSchultz]

You make this so easy, Phil! Thank you very much!

[@suchearthlydelights]

Wonderful!

[@HansiSchneider]

thank you!!

[@derekbudd2394]

Fabulous illustration once more Phil. As soon as it sunk in that plucking any string within the chord structure allowed for enhancing the many layers the arrangements, it encouraged a relaxed improvisation. Or is it “Noodling”? Well done.

[@southerngirlsociety]

I would give the world to learn how to play my ukulele like I sit down and play the piano - or similar to how people would play a classical guitar. Soooo many youtube channels on here that are great for chording and singing along, but I'd sure love to learn a finger picking style to simply sit down and enjoy just playing pretty songs on my ukulele. Do you offer that? (I'm looking for actual videos that teach how to play popular songs with finger picking...)

[@PhilDoleman]

Hi, There are lots of instrumental tuition videos around, especially if you look for 'chord melody' or 'fingerstyle arrangement'. I have one or two for jazzier tunes, such as Moonglow (kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2rHaKSnfZiah5Y). I don't personally do any tuition for more modern songs because, 1. I like the old tunes! and 2. copyright can be an issue. Check out TenThumbs Productions on KZbin, there are lots of more modern popular songs taught with the melody being played.

[@keithgardner5818]

Thank you for this well-made and informative video, but I’m confused by the use of the thumb for both the third and fourth strings. Since the uke has only four strings, it seems very convenient to assign each string to a finger (i.e., thumb plus first three fingers), and stick with it, as other methods teach. If you’ll be showing us when to use one technique and when to use the other, that would be great. But since learning the ukulele seems a lot about shapes and muscle memory, I’m confused by this choice. Can you elucidate?

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks. Yes, it would seem logical to use a finger per string, however, this would mean using maybe your weaker finger to play melody motes on the A string. The main reason though is that the thumb provides the rhythmic 'bass' (not really bass on the uke, but you know what I mean!) , alternating between the lower strings. If this were done with the thumb and index, it'll really be tricky to keep it solid AND add extra notes with the 2nd and 3rd finger. I also provides some separation between bass and treble, almost like left hand/ right hand on the piano (thumb doing the left hand part, fingers doing the right hand. This technique is based on the playing (on guitar) of people like Chet Atkins and Merle Travis. Merle, in fact, only used the thumb and one finger (which I also often do). It's be worth looking at the playing of people like Del Rey and Adam Franklin who also play this way (Del was a big influence on me). As to when to use this or other techniques, I personally only play this way. I often use thumb/ fingerpicks, and only ever wear two fingerpicks, so I'm only ever using a maximum of 3 digits. More classical style players may well use more fingers, but probably wouldn't be doing the rhythmic alternating bass. Hope this helps!

[@keithgardner5818]

@@PhilDoleman That helps a helluva lot actually, thank you for that! I remember, now that you mention it, that Merle Haggard played that way. And what you’re saying about trying to carry the upper notes with potentially the weaker finger (using the third finger)… well, that’s already proven to be pretty challenging for me! I think it’s my clarinet upbringing that wants to have a place for every finger, and a finger for every place. But I’m gonna try using the thumb for the G and C strings for a while and see how it goes. I’m also already seeing why everybody who gets into the ukulele seems to have more than one! It’s kinda hard to treat the G as a bass string if it’s not a low G. This could be my self-justification for getting a second instrument. :)

[@johnnacke4134]

Phil, please help, starting to lose interest/ burnout, What should I do?Can you recommend a song book that has tabs…. Maybe something different might help. thanks, John

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks John, I replied on the comment on my other video, but I thought I'd copy it here in case anyone reading finds it useful! There are quite a few books out there with nice arrangements. I have a blues fingerstyle book, and a ragtime one (both available as eBooks via my website), and there are great ones from Colin Tribe published by Schott, with English, Scottish, Irish folk tunes (Colin has written so many books)! Matt Stead at the Uke Room put out a book of fingerstyle jazz last year which is challenging, but has really arrangements. You might enjoy the books from Jumpin' Jim (James Hill's Duets for One, John King's Classical Ukulele and the Lyle Ritz jazz books). Oh, and check out Samantha Muir's classical books, too.

[@robineiz]

What does 8 string uke do?

[@PhilDoleman]

You can do exactly the same thing on an 8 string, as you play each pair of string together as if they were one string. 8 string ukes just have a bigger, fuller sound as each pair of strings is tuned to the same note (either unison or an octane apart). People will tell you you can't fingerpick an 8 string- they're wrong!

[@robineiz]

@@PhilDoleman Thanks Phil! your lessons are amazing! Best explanations anywhere!

[@pawe8169]

Thank You :)... is it concert ukulele?

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks, no this is my signature model soprano.

[@karasu6182]

Sopraninho

[@denisenadeau5243]

thanks Phil. What type of strings do you use?

[@PhilDoleman]

In the video those are Fremont Blackline, as that's what came on the uke. I've since put some of Christopher Davis Shannon's clear fluorocarbon strings which i really like. Other ukes have Aquilas or Worth brown strings on them... I'm always trying new ones 🙂

[@angelahales1201]

Thank you for your fantastic tutorials...... How much practice does it take to get proficient please.... Same pattern hundreds of times? I'm useless!

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks. It varies from person to person, but the real trick is to practise little and often. Every day for 20 minutes is better than all day once a week!

[@angelahales1201]

@@PhilDoleman, thank you... The same finger pattern?

[@PhilDoleman]

@@angelahales1201 Whatever it is you want to learn, but yes it pays to keep at it until you get one solidly under your fingers. Once you have one, others will come much more easily.

[@angelahales1201]

@@PhilDoleman, thank you so much... Your lessons are very much appreciated

[@wendym2544]

I wish someone would figure out a great finger picking for the song "I Love You" by Billie Eilish. Such a pretty little easy song to play, but need a good finger picking pattern.

[@jaguarazul]

🥰🥰👌👏

[@unplannedsyntax]

Ukuleles were made for fingerpicking!!!!

[@ignitore]

Really? I thought the opposite

[@richardsonribeiro770]

Really? Nobody cares 😂😂😂​@@ignitore

[@ignitore]

@@richardsonribeiro770 as I usually answer: people like you are a shame for the culture, you prefer to insult instead of sharing knowledge. So go on you path, I'll take the opposite.

[@robertjohnson1246]

Not to be a jerk. But your middle finger is your third finger not your second. Your Thumb is 1, your index is 2 and so on :)

[@PhilDoleman]

Not typically in guitar/ banjo notation. The thumb is usually referred to as T and the fingers 1 to 3 (the little finger is rarely used). Sometimes they are labelled P I M A. P = pulgar (thumb), indice (index), medio (middle) and anular (ring).

[@br549fried4]

Great lesson!