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Guitar or ukulele: which should you learn first? A beginner’s comparison
Torn between guitar and ukulele? We compare size, strings, chords, difficulty and musical styles, then help you pick the right first instrument—and explain why skills from one carry over to the other.
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The pentatonic scale: the first scale to learn for guitar and ukulele solos
Meet the pentatonic scale: five notes that fit almost every style. Learn the A minor shape on guitar and ukulele, how major and minor pentatonic connect, and simple ways to start improvising your first solo.
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How to care for your guitar and ukulele in hot, humid weather
Heat and humidity can rust your strings, swell the wood and bend the neck. Here\'s a simple routine for cleaning, storing and controlling humidity so your guitar and ukulele keep sounding great for years.
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How to practice with a metronome: steady rhythm for guitar and ukulele beginners
Speeding up without noticing, or strumming that wobbles? Learn how to practice with a metronome step by step: choosing a BPM, the slow-to-fast method, and simple drills for guitar and ukulele.
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How to change guitar and ukulele strings at home: a simple step-by-step guide
Dull tone and tuning that will not hold? Learn how to change strings on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and ukulele yourself, step by step, plus how to stretch new strings so they settle fast and the signs that it is time for a fresh set.
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Fingerpicking for beginners: 4 easy patterns for guitar and ukulele
Want your slow songs to sound softer and more personal? Swap the strum for fingerpicking. Learn hand position, which finger plays which string, and four beginner patterns that work on both guitar and ukulele.
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Barre chords made easy: how to play a clean F chord on guitar and ukulele
Buzzing strings and sore fingers on the F chord? Learn how barre chords work, the technique that makes them ring clean on guitar and ukulele, and a simple 10-minute daily practice plan.
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What is the I–V–vi–IV chord progression? Hundreds of hits with four chords
Why do so many hit songs sound familiar? They share the I–V–vi–IV progression. Learn what it is, how to play it in common keys, and how to practise it on guitar and ukulele.
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How to switch chords smoothly on guitar and ukulele: beginner practice tips
Do your songs fall apart between chords? These small practice habits help your fretting hand move faster and cleaner on guitar and ukulele, so you can keep the rhythm going without gaps.
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How to read chord diagrams for guitar and ukulele: a 5-minute beginner guide
Vertical lines, horizontal lines, dots, X and O: here is what every symbol on a chord diagram means, so you can read any guitar or ukulele chord chart in five minutes and start playing your favourite songs.