Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn what the frets and strings are, and how to play the two easiest chords on the ukulele (C and Am). Integrate Solfeg.io in teaching the basics of ukulele playing.
🎲 What’s included in the activities:
💻 Materials:
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
What string instruments do you hear? (Ukulele, depending on the part of the song, there might be also a bass guitar)
What other instruments can you hear? (Depending on the part of the song, percussions, piano or synthesizer)
How would you describe the sound of the ukulele? (Choose suitable adjectives: mellow, sweet, mild, bright, soft, smooth, friendly, happy, etc.)
Do you know how the ukulele is played? (Ask a student to try to hold and play a ukulele.)
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
How many strings are there? (Four)
Which string sounds the highest? (The bottom one when the ukulele is held in the playing position)
Which string sounds the lowest? (The second from the top when the ukulele is held in the playing position)
Strings are numbered from 1 to 4, the 1st string being at the bottom when you hold the ukulele in the playing position.
Strings are named after the notes on the open strings (G, C, E, A, from the 4th string to the 1st). Use a fun mnemonic to help remember the letters: for example, 'Go Crazy Every Afternoon' or 'Giant Cats Eat Apples'.
Ask students to try to make up their own phrase using these four letters!
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Ask students to count the frets on their ukuleles!
Students could try pressing the same string in different frets and notice how the sound becomes higher or lower!
Try sliding the finger on one of the strings and notice how the sound changes!
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
What was fun in this lesson?
What was challenging in this lesson?
What songs would you like to learn to play on the ukulele?
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…
In this lesson, students will learn what the frets and strings are and how they are organized on a ukulele. They will learn to understand what a chord is and find the easiest chords on a ukulele - C and Am. They will immediately practice playing these chords in popular songs.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons. If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 50 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson, students will be able to...
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
💻 Materials:
🕐 7 min - Listen to ukulele
What string instruments do you hear? (Ukulele, bass guitar)
What other instruments can you hear? (Percussions, piano or synthesizer)
How would you describe the sound of the ukulele? (Choose suitable adjectives: mellow, sweet, mild, bright, soft, smooth, friendly, happy, etc.)
Do you know how the ukulele is played? (Ask a student to try to hold and play a ukulele.)
🕐 10 min - Strings
How many strings are there? (Four)
Which string sounds the highest? (The bottom one when the ukulele is held in the playing position)
Which string sounds the lowest? (The second from the top when the ukulele is held in the playing position)
Strings are numbered from 1 to 4, the 1st string being at the bottom when you hold the ukulele in the playing position.
Strings are named after the notes on the open strings (G, C, E, A, from the 4th string to the 1st). Use a fun mnemonic to help remember the letters: for example, 'Go Crazy Every Afternoon' or 'Giant Cats Eat Apples'.
Ask students to try to make up their own phrase using these four letters!
🕐 10 min - Frets
Ask students to count the frets on their ukuleles!
Students could try pressing the same string in different frets and notice how the sound becomes higher or lower!
Try sliding the finger on one of the strings and notice how the sound changes!
🕐 3 min - What is a chord?
🕐 10 min - Exercise 1 - Find frets!
Call out a fret number.
Students have to show the fret as fast as possible on their ukuleles.
Repeat this several times with different numbers.
You can increase the difficulty by asking to find a particular fret on a particular string, for example, the 3rd fret on the 1st string.
This time, when they find the spot, they should press down their index finger and play the note with their right thumb.
You can vary the game by asking the fastest student to call out the next fret and string number.
🕐 10 min - Exercise 2 - Find the C chord
🕐 10 min - Exercise 3 - Add the Am chord!
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…