3 Ways to Get Faster at Changing Chords on Ukulele!

[@RockClass101]

🔥 WANT TO DIVE DEEPER? 🔥 Check out our Beginner's Course: rockclass101.com/definitive-beginners-guide-ukulele/ Our beginner's course takes you right from the start then guides you through the key aspects of playing. You'll learn about the ukulele itself, strumming, fingerpicking, chords, reading tab, and putting it all together to play your first songs!

[@HANSFORDCHOCK]

A BIG MAHALO (Thank you) for your VERY Thorough and easy to follow lessons...they contain a LOT of wonderful instructions that I have not seen with other tutorials! Have an AWESOME day!!

[@brycematrisciano2858]

As someone who played viola for 6 years of their life, I genuinely thought that I would pick up on the ukulele so fast. I went into learning this instrument with such a cocky mindset and then the second I tried transitioning from the G chord to the E minor chord... I have never been more humbled in my life by an instrument. After watching this video you've made me realize that it doesn't have to be perfect from the beginning and that making mistakes is so much better than getting frustrated from all the pausing that happens and just giving up on it. It's just going to take time, practice and some patience.

[@mowgli7_]

G to Em is a nightmare

[@fmphotooffice5513]

4:50 One traditional way to learn any instrument is to play the whole thing at **half speed** but steady. Slowly increase the beats per minute until you reach the optimum in that music. It takes some discipline to play that slowly but it's more effective than accepting slop until the slop goes away. That's where the metronome becomes really useful, especially in difficult melodic sections.

[@forgenit]

I think you are the first instructor I've come across that preaches the importance of "predictive movement". I've watched countless vid's on both Guitar and Uke, so much is assumed and talked upon memorization of their fretboards. Enter in the fact that when we enjoy watching our favored Greats, we again go on believing these people are just gifted with the talent and ability to smoke across all the frets, and we know that can only come from untold years of playing. I believe YOU have hit the bull's eye in preaching this technique because it is paramount in getting better, Thank you for the great work!

[@mohammad-joudsharafeddine4366]

Somehow those ukelele lessons translate into life lessons as well

[@michellezalph2281]

I love your style of teaching and the tips you give are so useful! So many pointers that most teachers don't bother to explain! Really good playing, too! Thank you! Bravo!

[@lauriep2018]

Wow! This video deserves thousands of more views! Best ukulele tutorial I’ve ever watched! I never realized how much of a perfectionist (or fear of failure) until I started playing ukulele 😂 and I definitely am I player that will stop playing mid song if I fat finger a chord or played the wrong one

[@kensharpe5545]

A really great chat session. I really appreciate all the tips, especially the very first one. Many beginners have problems shifting from one cord to the other in time because they allow the fretboard hand to dominate rhythm instead of the strum (drum hand).

[@dogwink]

These are the fantastic tips: 1) Chord to the strum, not strum to the chord; prioritize uninterrupted rhythm; slow it down, but don't break rhythm 2) Look ahead and line up your next chord as soon as you hit current chord 3) Build chords differently to facilitate optimal flow to next chord, eg, instead of ring, middle, index sequence, try middle, ring, index, or index, ring, middle, etc

[@callMeHasoomy]

just realized i do the "unintuitive way" of playing chords, ON MOST OF THE CHORDS Yk that G chord u talked about at 14:25 ? yeah thats me

[@aaron010586]

Thank you so much for the wonderful tips! Your first tip was spot on. Before, I had been leading with my fret hand and when I would anticipate the chord change I would hold my breath unconsciously. So every time I would change between more challenging chords it would naturally cause some anxiety. When I let the strumming hand take the lead, it was definitely more enjoyable and I feel like it's kinder to my body as well. I'm so blown away how such a small tip could make such a big difference. So grateful.

[@67angie]

Thank you so much! The first advice is what I needed most. To see the right hand as the boss, the drummer. I'm one of those dreadful examples to stop strumming while I find the right finger position for the chords, so they sound right. I will practice this for sure! And your other advices, too, of course. You have a new subscriber 😉 I practice sometimes without strumming, just changing chords to get faster. (The progress is frustrating though, for someone as impatient as me.) Placing the fingers, lift them up to hover, then put them back aiming for placing them at the same time. Or even take the whole hand completely away and then back. I've only started playing half a year ago. There are chords that are impossible for me. Maybe you can make a tutorial for these nasty chords?: Bb, Bm, Emaj, C#m, G#m. Seems they are impossible for the human anatomy 😅

[@RockClass101]

Glad you enjoyed the lesson and thank you for the kind words, Angie! Check out this lesson, it'll help you develop proper left hand form to play those chords: rockclass101.com/proper-left-hand-ukulele-form/

[@67angie]

@@RockClass101 thank you so much!❤️ I will dive deeper into that. Bookmarked the link for now. 👍 You're a great teacher! I still have a problem making the right hand the "boss". Whenever I need more time to place my fingers for the chord, I pause. It's terrible to listen to THAT 😂 I keep working on it!

[@67angie]

Still pausing, I just can't help it 😕

[@gkyong3556]

Building chords differently + Mindset shifts - incredibly helpful! Applies to real life too I would think. ie What’s awkward but you keep practising.

[@nordhessen-vibes7320]

I always struggled with the E-Minor Chord. Now I've reversed the finger placement and it's so much better. Thank you so much!

[@lindasmith6668]

You explained it in a way I never understood.Thanks so much.

[@thefunnyone6205]

Are you saying it’s good or bad cause you said he explained it in a way I never understood

[@irenetham1654]

Good clear explanation. 3 good tips

[@Edvenchers]

I’m gonna start looking at where my fingers need to be for the next chord. Thank you Matt for the advice.

[@thistree9028]

Thanks !.

[@thelmajorge4109]

Thank you your explainatin was great

[@lluis9377]

Great video!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@thelmajorge4109]

Thank you so much Im now looking ahead I was really slow changing to the next chord im during it now much better.

[@esthert6416]

Good analogy.

[@Amir__MB]

Your Em chord advice is genius!!! Thanks

[@deniseforbes2332]

Thanks great lesson! Loved the finger placement piece. It’s already helped. I have such challenges with the E minor chord.

[@MK1-SK2]

Really enjoying your teaching. I’m very new to playing the ukulele. Thanks for your tips. ❤

[@joanolisa1]

Thank you!!! This helps a lot!!

[@tomv2697]

Matt, Thank you! I really enjoy your videos. - Tom 🤙

[@50jimmmy]

Thank you so much for this ukulele master class😊

[@ka1dza]

Thanks!

[@RockClass101]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your support!

[@janegibson8377]

Thank you for these tips, great training.

[@dc3399]

Thank you. I learned things that are really not intuitive. Great teaching. Thank you.

[@stefaniecolapinto]

Hahaha the first one, I felt so called out 😂 but I just started two weeks ago so it’s okay, I can go practice

[@morganhughes6035]

Yay! This is good teaching❤building chords - it’s all good

[@mbeckerle1891]

THANKS sooooooo much🙋‍♀️🎸❗

[@RockClass101]

Thank you! I appreciate your support! 😊

[@believeindog]

great tip re chord building. thanks!

[@majayoung3488]

You are wonderful. I've learned so much. I'm kinda new. Thanks

[@milliechalk8398]

Brilliant! Can’t wait to get to my Uke this morning ❤️

[@olearntz]

At least the first two things are, exactly, what I've been telling my students for years. Funny to see that you came up with the same idea. 😁

[@melindalowe1241]

Not a “idea” just teaching methodology

[@lindasmith6668]

Your instruction really helped 😊

[@allenmay8850]

Awesome advice! Thanks for giving us amazing tips that work.

[@cedricorcellet5211]

Great advices, merci 🙏 ❤

[@thelmajorge4109]

Thank you

[@Mostafa20268]

Very useful tips !

[@mihovil5806]

Great instructions man 👍

[@e.castlerock8454]

You have a lot of tips I haven't seen elsewhere. I'm really SO happy to know about stretching the finger reach with regular practice! I can't reach more than three frets. I'll try turning my index to the side as you suggest and keep trying daily. Do you have any tips on reaching the pinky up to the G string? Impossible for me. I do drop my wrist down so my fingers can curl up over the strings. Also, why is it so hard to keep the first knuckle bent so the fingertip stays perpendicular to the string? Amazing how well Bernadette and Cynthia Lin can do it. With all my difficulties, it's weird that I keep trying to learn this instrument. Thanks for posting this great video!

[@RockClass101]

Check out these 3 exercises for help with increasing left hand reach, specifically with the pinky: rockclass101.com/increasing-left-hand-reach-ukulele/ Try to include them as part of your warmup routine and please note that it takes awhile until you start to see a difference. "Also, why is it so hard to keep the first knuckle bent so the fingertip stays perpendicular to the string?" Sounds like you are talking about barring. If so, you might have gotten use to bending that knuckle. Try to make a conscious effort to correct it. This lesson covers proper left hand form for barring and fretting notes/chords: rockclass101.com/proper-left-hand-ukulele-form/

[@e.castlerock8454]

@@RockClass101 - Thank you for the stretch exercises. I definitely need to do these. Not good at reading tabs yet, but I can figure it out. (By the way, I meant to say I can't stretch more than four frets.) As for the knuckle, I guess I have my knuckle numbers mixed up. I meant the knuckle closest to the tip, but I need help with barring chords, too, so the link you provided will help me with that. I'll also share that with a friend who is unable to bar. Thank you for your help!

[@RockClass101]

My pleasure! This lesson will help with reading tabs: rockclass101.com/how-to-read-tabs-chord-graphs-and-chart-symbols/

[@e.castlerock8454]

@@RockClass101 - Excellent, thank you!

[@paulahaven4139]

Fantastic tips! Tremendously helpful. You mentioned a video on how to hold the ukulele. Where would I find it? Thank you.

[@RockClass101]

Hi Paula, here's a quick video on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpTdoJttj5iBsKM We also cover it in this lesson/article: rockclass101.com/proper-left-hand-ukulele-form/ And in our Beginner's Course: rockclass101.com/definitive-beginners-guide-ukulele/

[@paulahaven4139]

@@RockClass101 Thank you so much for taking time to reply! These practice tips have been life-changing. It gives me hope I can learn to change the chords fast enough. Now if I could only get totally comfortable holding it. 😀. I will be looking into these links. Thanks again.

[@DipenBhandari.]

Thanks for idea 🤩

[@pamyaccarino1566]

I love your rock class 101 I am have trouble learning the fingerboard do you have any suggestions. Pam

[@RockClass101]

Hi Pam, thank you for the kind words! I would suggest beginning by learning the notes on your fretboard. Start with the non-accidentals: A B C D E F G. Work on one string at a time and memorize which fret each of these notes falls on. To go further, I'd recommend checking out our music theory course: rockclass101.com/introduction-music-theory-jamming/ It will provide a fundamental understanding of the basics of music theory and a thorough introduction to harmony.

[@plambert4689]

Thank you for this very useful, great class.

[@TheDarklady28]

Great advice! Thank you..What type uke are you playing btw? TIA

[@RockClass101]

Thank you for the kind words! Matt's playing a custom-made Kanile'a Ukulele. You can learn more about the differences in standard models and custom builds here: rockclass101.com/why-kanilea-is-my-favorite-hawaiian-ukulele-brand/

[@NathanGohier-wm7ih]

Is there some other way of playing thee F cord? I have arthritis and I really love to learn and play. Please help?

[@RockClass101]

Do you mean the E chord? That's usually the one folks have trouble with. Here's our lesson to help with fretting it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anSTZKuViZ6eq7M

[@ArleneLevenson]

what is your name please?? great teacher!

[@RockClass101]

Thank you for the kind words, Arlene! Matt Dahlberg teaches our live lessons: rockclass101.com/livelessoncategories/

[@celestia_hikari]

This is a good video. Although I would not call the wrong way a “mistake”. When people just start they can’t avoid making pauses. It’s just a beginner’s style, not like it’s exactly “bad”

[@NathanGohier-wm7ih]

But mostly the G cord

[@adamlangley5552]

Id prefer if the student plays both hands correctly !

[@skylady64ish93]

Of course, that’s what we’d all prefer. 😅 And he’s teaching us how to get there.

[@cybergutz]

oopaville is that u?

[@RebeccaIannaccone]

play for 6 mouth still have problem, play with other player, jam .told lesson , did"t help.

[@RockClass101]

Check out our Beginner's Course: rockclass101.com/definitive-beginners-guide-ukulele/. It will give you a structured guide for learning ukulele 😊

[@lunasissons]

thank you ! i needed to hear this I'm so that person that stops strumming to change to the hardeder chords at times...lol

[@ka1dza]

Thanks!

[@RockClass101]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your support!

[@maxc4747]

Thank you for this ! Perfectly explained !!

[@mayra053]

Thanks!

[@RockClass101]

Thank you so much Mayra! I really appreciate it 😊