Learning to play a musical instrument is usually a time-consuming and sometimes painful process.
Whatever the instrument, there is always a learning curve, and personal motivation is anyone’s best ally.
Those who lack the motivation to continue can easily encounter roadblocks.
There’s also the fact that some instruments are more complicated to learn than others.
The ukulele is one of the most recommended if you’re looking for an ideal starter instrument.
Is it hard to learn ukulele even if you don’t have any musical background?
To answer this question and more, we’ll discuss the different aspects of this string instrument.
Benefits of Learning Ukulele
Before we get to whether learning the ukulele is difficult, let’s first determine why it is advantageous to acquire the skill.
Here are a couple of benefits for you to consider playing this instrument:
1. Alternative Hobby
Nowadays, most people are all about the digital age where all aspects of our lives, including hobbies and interests, are tied to a smart device.
Learning a musical skill has become less and less popular in recent years, especially for younger people.
If you’re looking for something traditional yet relaxing, why not try playing the ukulele?
It is an adorable pastime and reduces your urge to waste your free time on social media or playing video games.
These technologies have definitively redefined our view on entertainment and recreation for better or worse.
Playing the ukulele can improve your confidence, especially if you can play many popular songs in front of your friends and family.
You may even widen your social circle by hanging around with other ukulele players.
2. Health Benefits
Since the ukulele is associated with relaxation and positive thoughts, playing it may contribute to reducing your stress from work or school.
To produce the best result, you have to play the instrument in a good posture.
This will help you reduce or remove the tendency to slouch, leading to fewer back pains and other health issues later in life.
In addition, learning the ukulele promotes mind and body coordination through focus and discipline.
3. Better Reflexes
Improved hand-eye coordination is also achievable if you’re playing the ukulele regularly.
Once you can read ukulele chords and play them simultaneously, you’re enhancing your fingers’ ability to react faster.
You may find learning other stringed instruments slightly easier if your reflexes are fine-tuned as a result of learning the ukulele.
Learning the Ukulele
In learning a new skill, it’s a given that people will have various difficulties during the process.
Is it hard to learn ukulele? The short answer is no.
One of the reasons why it’s regarded by many as the instrument of choice for beginners is the relatively easy learning process.
Some teachers are confident that almost everyone can get the hang of the basic chords and play after a short time.
These are a few reasons why they recommend this incredible instrument for those with little musical knowledge.
1. Size Advantage
Unlike the traditional acoustic guitar we are all accustomed to, the ukulele is regarded as more portable because of its size.
The average soprano ukulele can be less than 30 inches long, significantly shorter than other stringed instruments.
Its body size makes it possible for even a five-year-old child to start learning without too much difficulty handling it.
Transporting the instrument is also more convenient since it won’t take up too much space and wouldn’t require purchasing a separate case.
2. Basic Chords
Arguably the most notable advantage of learning it is you only have to be skilled in three different chords to play hundreds of ukulele songs.
The G, C, and D chord progression sequence that a beginner ukulele will learn is similar to the acoustic guitar’s E, A, and B structure.
That’s why theoretically, once you master the basic chords in the ukulele, you have the advantage once you transition to guitar or other similar instruments.
Shifting to the ukulele becomes a breeze if you have some experience with guitars.
3. Music Accessibility
Although the guitar is probably the king when it comes to how many songs you can play, the ukulele is not that far behind.
The wide range of ukulele tunes and songs available online for you to practice or play adds to the overall appeal of this instrument.
It’s one of the reasons why several experts label it as an accessible instrument.
Musicians like James Hill and Jake Shimabukuro have shown us that the ukulele has tremendous potential regarding what songs we can play.
Challenges
Assuming that you’ll master the basics after one practice session would be overly optimistic.
Listed below are some core aspects you must be aware of while learning this remarkable instrument.
1. Selecting Your Ukulele
As one of the most popular instruments, it’s a given that you’re going to get bombarded with lots of recommendations if you search online.
This complication amplifies if you have never played an instrument before.
The ukulele is primarily categorized by its various sizes, and familiarizing yourself with them is essential.
Also, you have to keep in mind that an expensive ukulele doesn’t mean it’s the best choice.
As such, you may have to do some research before buying if you don’t know anyone who can give you an educated recommendation.
2. Physical Strain
Before you gain sufficient muscle memory to play hundreds of songs with your ukulele, sore fingers will be a regular occurrence.
Unless you’re a musical prodigy, bad habits and beginner mistakes are bound to happen numerous times.
This will lead to physical discomfort, especially on your fingers and arms.
Calluses indicate that you have practiced or played for quite some time.
They protect your fingers from soreness, but they won’t develop immediately.
3. Playing the Ukulele While Singing
You might think that once you can play multiple songs with ease, singing at the same time would be second nature.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case with many ukulele players, even the experienced ones.
The challenge is focusing on your strumming and chord progression while singing a song’s lyrics.
You must practice seamless synchronization to make your music sound pleasing and praiseworthy.
Simultaneously doing multiple actions leaves you a lot of openings for mistakes.
Countless repetitions or practice can minimize or eliminate the challenges regarding singing and playing the ukulele at the same time.
Is It Hard to Learn Ukulele?
Learning the ukulele is a fun and worthwhile activity to dedicate your free time to.
Sure, it has some difficulties, but it also offers some advantages that can make things easier for you.
Keep a positive attitude and don’t rush because mastering this instrument is a marathon, not a sprint.
More often than not, dedication and motivation define the thin line between learning the ukulele and quitting the hobby.