5 Ukulele Exercises: How to Warm Up for Ukulele Practice

To prepare both hands for a practice session, try a few finger stretches before you begin.

1. 1. Extend your left arm. Straighten your elbow and keep your palm facing away from you. Your fingers should point straight toward the ceiling.
2. 2. Gently bend your index finger back. Use your right hand to gently pull the tip of your index finger back toward you for a good stretch. Hold the stretched position for 10 to 20 seconds.
3. 3. Repeat the stretch. Gently stretch your left middle finger, ring finger, pinkie, and thumb, then switch hands and stretch each finger on your right hand.

Before you pick up your ukulele for a practice session, take time to stretch and warm-up properly. Stretches and warm-ups can be the most important part of a ukulele player's routine, so prioritize them whenever you sit down with your instrument. Consistent warm-ups will make the art of ukulele playing easier and more enjoyable.

1. 1. Play chromatic lines. Start by playing the top string (the A string) as an open string. Then, use your index finger to press the string down on the first fret, and pluck the string again. Repeat, first with your middle finger on the second fret, next with your ring finger on the third fret, and finally with your ring finger and pinkie on the fourth fret. You've just played a chromatic line. Now, play the chromatic line in reverse. Practice this over and over with a metronome, gradually speeding up over time. Repeat the same pattern on the second string (E string), third string (C string), and fourth string (G string).
2. 2. Play major and minor scales. Using your metronome, practice going up and down major scales and minor scales. Instead of simply repeating the same scale, challenge yourself to play a scale with which you’re less familiar. Start with a C major scale, then try switching to something different, like E minor or A major.
3. 3. Play arpeggios. To play an arpeggio, pluck each note of a chord in sequence. You can do this by simply picking each individual note within a chord shape, or you can move your left hand on the fretboard as if you were playing a scale. Once again, use a metronome to keep yourself on a steady beat.
4. 4. Cycle through chord shapes. Select a chord progression, then set the metronome to 120 beats per minute and play one chord for every four metronome clicks. Cycle through the progression until it feels comfortable. Next, double your speed by changing chords after two clicks. If you really want to push your ukulele strumming skills, change chords on every single click.
5. 5. Review fingerpicking patterns. Like other fretted stringed instruments, the ukulele is useful for both strumming and fingerpicking. Most ukulele songs rely on fixed fingerpicking patterns that repeat as your left hand changes chords. Practice fingerpicking patterns with a metronome on, and once you feel comfortable, increase the tempo. Note that ukulele fingerpicking patterns naturally create arpeggios, since they break chords into individual notes.

Grab a MasterClass Annual Membership, stretch out those fingers, and get your strum on with a little help from the Jimi Hendrix of ‘ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro. With some pointers from this Billboard chart topper, you’ll be an expert on chords, tremolo, vibrato, and more in no time.