Ukuleles can be played in two ways.
The ukulele is a small guitar seldom longer than 24 inches with four strings. It was introduced to Hawaii by the Portuguese in the 1870s and has been used in Jazz or as a solo instrument. The word "ukulele" means "jumping flea" in Hawaiian. The ukulele is tuned in the middle C octave to G -- C -- E -- A or D -- F# - A - B
Finger Picking
Finger picking means using the fingers instead of a plastic pic. The musician uses his thumb, index finger and middle finger to pluck the strings while the ring finger and little finger rest on the ukulele just below the strings acting as an anchor. The middle finger always plucks the first string. The index finger usually stays with the second string, and the thumb plays the third and fourth string but can move up to the second if necessary. Bluegrass banjo players use finger picking.
Strumming
Strumming a ukulele means running the fingernail on the index finger of the dominant hand down the strings and back up in a continual manner. The ukulele player should strum the instrument near the joining of the neck and the body of the ukulele. Strumming is used primarily for rhythm, not melody.
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