Fingerpicking Ukulele Hallelujah

If you're looking for a new way to make music on your ukulele, consider trying fingerpicking! A tablature consists of four lines, each representing a string, from bottom to top: G, C, E, and A. The musical notation or tablature for fingerpicking tells you which separate, specific notes to play and in what order.

In this article, we'll explore two different yet equally correct fingerpicking techniques. One method involves using the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers to pluck each string. In this technique, the thumb plucks the top string (G), the index finger plucks the second string (C), the middle finger plucks the third string (E), and the ring finger plucks the bottom string (A).

Another method involves using the thumb, index, and middle fingers. This technique allows you to play either of the top two strings (G and C) with your thumb, the third (or second to bottom) string (E) with your index finger, and the bottom string (A) with your middle finger.

While there's no rule against using just your thumb when fingerpicking, most teachers suggest using three to four different fingers when learning to fingerpick the ukulele. I have to admit that when I first started fingerpicking, I used only my thumb to pluck each string. However, this method creates a smooth, mellow sound.

To fingerpick, use your left hand (which holds the uke's neck) to press on a specific fret space of one string with your right hand, pick (or pluck) that same single string only. With fingerpicking, you can play one distinct note at a time, instead of a chord with multiple notes. This technique opens up a whole new world of playing and hearing songs on your ukulele.

Instead of strumming chords to perform songs, I could play and recognize the melody of each tune. Now that you've learned a few basic chords and beginner songs, try a delightful and different way to make music on your ukulele: fingerpicking! After learning to strum chords, I was pleasantly surprised when my music teacher introduced this new (to me) way of playing the uke.

So, what are you waiting for? Give fingerpicking a try and discover a whole new world of musical possibilities with your ukulele.

Fingerpicking ukulele hallelujah