On the 2nd day of the second month, I will give two free workshops to celebrate World Ukulele Day. This annual tradition first started as National Ukulele Day in the USA and went around the world, gathering steam. If you own a ukulele, it’s time to whip it out and play. Join other ukulele players in my free workshops on Sunday 2/2/2025 at 2 PM EST and/or 2 PM HST.
Celebrate with a workshop or two
To celebrate this special day, I am offering two free workshops in Zoom for anyone anywhere in the world on Sunday 2/2/2025. Because it’s World Ukulele Day, I’m offering it at different times for different time zones.
As usual, I aim to cater for all skill levels in one workshop. For instance, beginners may strum while more advanced players may fingerpick.
All you have to do is register to get the Zoom meeting details and link. Both sessions of the World Ukulele Day Workshops will be recorded for review purposes. You can switch off your video camera if you don’t want to be seen.
The one-hour workshops will introduce warm-up exercises and accompaniment patterns to selected songs. The content will differ in each workshop. You are welcome to attend one or both workshops on 2nd February 2025.
I will be using material from my new ukulele exercise books. Those that have ordered and received the inaugural editions can request free copies of the updated (respective) electronic copies (PDFs) when the hard copies are available on Amazon by completing a feedback form for these “grandfathered in” requests.
Prepare for the free workshops in Zoom
Whether you’re using a low G or high G, soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele, make sure it is tuned BEFORE the World Ukulele Day Workshops begin.
Have a piece of paper and pencil nearby to take notes.
You can choose to switch off your Zoom camera or leave it on (so that I and others can see you). If you choose the latter, please make sure the light shines on your face rather than on your computing device.
Pre-requisites for the Zoom sessions
You are able to tune your ukulele to GCEA or have a tuned ukulele (someone else can do it for you). (If you plan to use a baritone ukulele, you will know the equivalent chords as the baritone chord diagrams will not be displayed.)
You can do a down stroke, also known as a down strum, with your right thumb (flesh) and right index finger (if you are right handed). Which fingers and parts of the finger(s) do you use for an upstroke?
You can look at a chord diagram and mirror it on the ukulele. See the exercise below.
Different Strokes for Different Folks – which skill level?
Because I am catering for all skill levels, please determine which level you are at, as it will be one of the questions you’ll answer when registering.
Beginners
Can you finger the following chords on the ukulele and make four steady downstrokes on each chord? Can you do this without looking at your hands and fingers? Start with the top left corner, proceed to the right, then next row to end at the bottom right hand corner.
Advanced beginners
Go backwards, starting on G and ending on C7.
More advanced players
Proceed in columns rather than in rows, fingerpick the chords without looking at your fretting hand (fretboard).
The numbers in the black dots correspond to the fingers of your fretting hand, usually the left hand for most ukulele players. In other words, the number 1 refers to your index finger. 2 is the middle finger. 3 is ring finger.
Register for the free workshops in Zoom
To avoid any hiccups, be sure to use the same e-mail address in your registration to log into Zoom for the meeting.
Click HERE for Sunday 2/2/2025 at 2 PM EST
(11:00 PST, 09:00 HST, 19:00 GMT)
Click HERE for Sunday 2/2/2025 at 2 PM HST
(7 PM EST, 4 PM PST, 8 AM SGT +1)
Next free workshop (in person)
Playing in Zoom is very different from playing together in person, in real life, off camera, in a physical space. If you’re so lucky to be physically available to attend an in-person workshop or jam session, I highly encourage that you do so. Playing music is more than hearing yourself play. It’s important to hear others too.
In that vein, I will be giving a two-hour in-person workshop in the lovely coastal town of Cohasset, Massachusetts the following Sunday. Also free. Details here.
Before World Ukulele Day
To get more practice beforehand, consider joining us for the inaugural session of 3 Chord Thursday in 2025 on Thursday 30th January 2025. Register to get on the mailing list for the Zoom link. It’s free to participate but you do need the right Zoom link!