Guitar Ukulele

I learned to play some basic chords on the ukulele in 10^th grade in Taos, New Mexico [1964].

I started learning to play the guitar in my Freshman year at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico [1967].

Now, [2020], I am still playing the guitar and the ukulele for my own enjoyment and at family and local celebrations.

YOUR FIRST GUITAR: Get a decent instrument with a case or gigbag to start learning.	FIRST POSITION: Learn the 14 basic beginning 1st position chords on the guitar.	PRACTICE ½ every day on your major instrument and gradually increase your practice time to one hour every day..	PLANT selected fingers when changing chords.
METHOD BOOK: Buy a guitar or ukulele book that reflects your interests, language and culture.	MEMORIZE each lesson in your method book before moving on to the next lesson.	TEACHER: Find a teacher or class to guide you, inspire you, and challenge you.	NOTES: Learn to play your guitar or ukulele by note.
Names of FINGERS of the left hand and right hand.	CHORDS: Learn 2 chords a month. This means you can play each chord quickly and every string sounds good.	CHORD PROGRESSIONS: Start with sets of 2, then sets of 3, then sets of 4 or more chords.	BARRED CHORDS: Learn how to bar E on the guitar and A on the ukulele.
MOST COMMON MEXICAN STRUMS: Bolero, corrido lento, polka, cumbia, chotis, vals and huapango. Listen to strums.	STRINGS: Change all your guitar or ukulele strings every 4-6 months.	CALLUSES: The first few weeks are the hardest until you develop your calluses.	PLAY BY EAR: Learn to play your guitar or ukulele by ear by listening carefully and imitating what you hear.
SONGS: Memorize each song you learn to increase your performing list.	FREE SHEET MUSIC & LESSONS: This is an excellent, free website to help you learn to play an instrument.	EXCERCISE YOUR FINGERS: Stretch and exercise the fingers of both hands on a daily basis to develop strength and control.	Learn short chord progressions and gradually move to longer chord progressions.
ARPEGGIOS: Learn to play arpeggios on the guitar or ukulele using four fingers on your right hand.	Schedule regular times to practice with other guitar and/or ukulele players.	GRUPOS LATINOS Y SUS INSTRUMENTOS: Dibujos de grupos y instrumentos.	Most of all; enjoy the music you are learning and mastering.
Learn your basic scales in the easiest keys: C, G, and F.	G MAJOR SCALE ON GUITAR: Learn how to play the scale in the first position and the second position.	LIRICA CON ACORDES: Lyrics and chords for songs in Spanish for beginning to advanced guitar players and singers.	C SCALE ON ALL STRINGS. Guitar and Ukulele
LIST OF VIDEOS: List of videos by Stanley A Lucero with name, key, and chords used.	STANLEY A LUCERO YOU TUBE ARTIST CHANNEL: Videos by Stanley A Lucero on a variety of instruments: guitar, ukulele, requinto, and jarana.	YouTube Video for Strums on the ukulele	Master the basic guitar strums: corrido lento, vals, simple bolero, etc.

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Motivation	Set your goals for each week and each month. Remind yourself why you decided to learn to play the guitar or the ukulele
Calluses	During the first few weeks you need to develop calluses on the fingers that press on the strings. It will be painful for a few weeks. Take a break when your fingers start hurting. Make sure you practice every day. When the fingers of your left hand get tired, practice your right hand [and visa versa].
Instrument	You need an instrument that is well made and in good condition. If the neck of your instrument is curved [bowed], you need to take it to a music store for service. In some cases,you will be better off getting a replacement instrument. Keep your instrument in the case when you are not playing it. Keep your instrument away from hot and cold temperatures
Strings	Change all of your strings every four months. New strings have a clear and fresh sound. Here are some tips regarding when to change your strings. Your strings look rusty or discolored. It's getting harder to tune your strings. Your iinstrument sounds lackluster [old, tired]
Practice Schedule	Practice a minimum of 30 minutes every day. Two 15 minute practices a day might work better for some of you. Gradually increase your practice time to one hour [or more] every day
Chord Goals	Learn the basic major chords: GUITAR: A; C; D; E; and G. UKULELE: :A; C; D; F;and G. Learn the basic minor chords: GUITAR: Am; Dm; and Em. UKULELE: Am; Dm; and Gm. Learn the basic seventh chords: GUITAR: A7; B7; C7; D7; E7; and G7. UKULELE: A7; C7; D7; E7; F7; and G7. Learn to play bar chords on the GUITAR with the five basic patterns: E; Em; A; Am;and C7 Learn to play bar chords with the UKULELE with the four basic patterns: A; Am; D; Dm and F7
Scale Goals	Learn to play the basic major chords using open strings and the first three frets and fingers 1; 2; and 3 Learn to play the basic major chords using any four consecutive frets and fingers 1; 2; 3; and 4
Song Goals	Learn to play the chords Learn to sing the song Learn to play the melody Learn to play the bass line MEMORIZE what you learn
Strumming Goals	Learn to play the slow 2/4 [corrido] rhythm Learn to play the fast 2/4 [polka] rhythm Learn to play the 3/4 [vals] rhythm Learn to play the 3/4 [huapango] rhythm Learn to play the 4/4 rhythm [bolero] Learn to play the 4/4/ rhythm [cumbia] Learn the "p-i-m-a" appegio pattern Learn the "p-i-m-i-a-i-m-i" appegio pattern

Chords in English	C	D	E	F	G	A	B
Acordes en espanol	Do	Re	Mi	Fa	Sol	La	Si

LEARN TO PLAY THE GUITAR AND THE UKULELE

Stanley A. Lucero

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