Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn to play barre chords and combine them with easier chords in a popular song. Integrate Solfeg.io in teaching the basics of ukulele playing.
💻 Materials:
🎲 Activities included:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
What instruments do you hear?
Is there a ukulele played in this song?
Which chords are featured in this song?
What is the tempo, mood and genre of the song?
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
A chord which is played by pressing multiple strings across one fret with one finger, most commonly - index finger.
For the best sound, experiment with the placement of the index finger, moving it slightly upwards or downwards to find the place where all strings ring out. You might opt for a full barre (pressing all four strings instead of only two or three).
The left thumb should be pressed firmly into the ukulele more or less at the same place as the index finger on the other side of the neck - as if you're pinching the neck of the ukulele with your left thumb and index finger 🤌
Place your index finger as close as possible to the fret.
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Song:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Was it challenging to play the barre chord?
What strumming pattern would be the most suitable for this song?
What was the most fun/challenging part of the lesson?
What other 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 to play barre chords and combine them with easier chords in a popular song.
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 and add additional activities (see 'Activities' section). 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: 45 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson, students will be able to...
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Introduce the song
If you chose “Supermassive Black Hole”, listen to the chorus instead - verses contain no barre chords.
What instruments do you hear?
Is there a ukulele played in this song?
Which chords are featured in this song?
What is the tempo, mood and genre of the song?
🕐 5 min - Introduction to barre chords
A chord which is played by pressing multiple strings across one fret with one finger, most commonly - index finger.
Empire State of Mind: Bb
The Scientist: Bb
Supermassive Black Hole: B
Best Part: Bb
Dance Monkey: Bm
For the best sound, experiment with the placement of the index finger, moving it slightly upwards or downwards to find the place where all strings ring out. You might opt for a full barre (pressing all four strings instead of only two or three).
The left thumb should be pressed firmly into the ukulele more or less at the same place as the index finger on the other side of the neck - as if you're pinching the neck of the ukulele with your left thumb and index finger 🤌
Place your index finger as close as possible to the fret.
🕐 5 min - Exercise 1 - Play a barre chord in a song
🕐 10 min - Exercise 2 - Add one more chord
Empire State of Mind: F
The Scientist: Dm / F
Supermassive Black Hole: G / Am Em
Best Part: G / D Am
Dance Monkey: D / Em C
Empire State of Mind: F & Bb
The Scientist: Dm & Bb
Supermassive Black Hole: G & B
Best Part: G & Bb
Dance Monkey: D & Bm
🕐 10 min - Exercise 3 - All the rest!
Empire State of Mind: congrats, you already know all the chords in the verse! You can skip to Exercise 4!
The Scientist: F
Supermassive Black Hole: Am & Em
Best Part: D & Am
Dance Monkey: Em & C
The Scientist: Dm, Bb & F
Supermassive Black Hole: Am, G, B & Em
Best Part: D, Am, G & Bb
Dance Monkey: Em, C, D & Bm
🕐 5 min - Exercise 4 - Into the spotlight!
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…
In this class, students can practice the song they just learnt or choose another one, and play it from the beginning till the end.