Published:
2003-01-01
Updated:
2023-07-03

Learning Ukulele with Curt

Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics - Basic

This series of lessons develops your finger independence, strength and motor skills to a high level. You don't want to have technique as a limiting factor for play a song or performing anything on the ukulele.

Main Category: Technique Main Instrument: Ukulele

6 August 2026

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Lessons

Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics - Basic

This series of lessons develops your finger independence, strength and motor skills to a high level. You don't want to have technique as a limiting factor for play a song or performing anything on the ukulele.

1

Proper Fretting Hand Placement

Efficiency is the Key to Proper Technique.

2

One Finger-One Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This one finger-one note drill is designed to get your hands in shape. These exercises work no matter what style of ukulele you play or want to play.

Follow the series of finger drills in the lesson download.

3

Three Finger-Three Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This three finger-three note drill is designed to get your hands in shape. These exercises work no matter what style of ukulele you play or want to play.

Follow the series of finger drills in the lesson download.

4

Two Finger-Two Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This two finger-two note drill is designed to get your hands in shape. These exercises work no matter what style of ukulele you play or want to play.

5

Four Finger-Four Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This four finger-four note drill is designed to get your hands in shape. These exercises work no matter what style of ukulele you play or want to play.

6

Four Finger, Single Note, Single String Gymnastic Variations

All the basic single string one, two, three and four finger gymnastics can be revisited and variations created by moving a note to higher strings. Rhythmic variation are also possible.

Series Info

Technique

Ukulele

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Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics - Basic

Adjacent String Pairs Fingering Drills

Building on the one, two, three and four finger finger gymnastics, these adjacent strings drills add a change of direction to the exercises.

Chord Switching - Double Stops

Switching chords are all about finger independence and working together. This can be developed using the "double stop" fingering drills presented in this lesson. A "double stop" is a term borrowed from violin technique where you are stopping two strings or two notes - an interval.

Developing Your Finger One Barre

The ability to place a single finger across more than one string, a “barre” is an essential technique for chords as well single notes and double stops.

Four Finger Slide Fingering Drills for Ukulele

Slide, used when the passage cannot be played within a single 4 fret span or when more notes per string required to produce a particular effect. I's also used in situations where a gradually ascending or descending diagonal motion best solves the physical and musical demands of the passage.

Four Finger, Single Note, Single String Gymnastic Variations

All the basic single string one, two, three and four finger gymnastics can be revisited and variations created by moving a note to higher strings. Rhythmic variation are also possible.

Four Finger-Four Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This four finger-four note drill is designed to get your hands in shape. These exercises work no matter what style of ukulele you play or want to play.

One Finger-One Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This one finger-one note drill is designed to get your fretting hand in shape.

Open String Fingering Fingering Drills

Open string fingering gymnasics build on the basic one, two, three and four finger single note - single strings drills.

Open String, Two Finger Single Strings Fingering Drills

Using the original two finger-two notes single strings gymnastics, incorporate an open string. This develops the ability to get the finger on and off notes rapidly - getting out of the way when needed.

Open String, Two Finger Single Strings Fingering Drills

Using the original two finger-two notes single strings gymnastics, incorporate an open string. This develops the ability to get the finger on and off notes rapidly - getting out of the way when needed.

Three Finger Slide Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

Slide is used when the passage cannot be played within a single 4 fret span or when more notes per string required to produce a particular effect. I's also used in situations where a gradually ascending or descending diagonal motion best solves the physical and musical demands of the passage.

Three Finger-Three Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This three finger-three note drill is designed to get your fretting hand in shape.

Two Finger Pass Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

Pass maximizes the number of notes per string, making the timbre consistent. It's used to move up or down the neck to cope with a passage in which the range is unusually large. The pass provides an effective way to move straight up the first string. It's particularly useful in developing 3 octave fingerings and in playing melodies with an adjacent drone string.

Two Finger Slide Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

Slide is used when the passage cannot be played within a single 4 fret span or when more notes per string required to produce a particular effect. I's also used in situations where a gradually ascending or descending diagonal motion best solves the physical and musical demands of the passage.

Two Finger-Two Note Basic Single String Fingering Drills for `Ukulele

To play the ukulele effectively, your fingers need physical strength, agility, flexibility and coordination. This two finger-two note drill is designed to get your hands in shape. These exercises work no matter what style of ukulele you play or want to play.