The common ukulele chord mistakes are pressing the strings too hard, which makes the notes sharp, letting fingers touch neighbouring strings and mute them, strumming too hard, which makes the sound harsh, and rushing the chord change, so the fingers are not in place when the strum comes.
What are the common ukulele chord mistakes?
The common ukulele chord mistakes are pressing the strings too hard, which makes the notes sharp, letting fingers touch neighbouring strings and mute them, strumming too hard, which makes the sound harsh, and rushing the chord change, so the fingers are not in place when the strum comes. Each mistake is easy to make, and each one is easy to fix, once you know what to look for, and the chord will ring cleanly when the mistakes are avoided, and the song will sound clear, instead of muddy, and the ukulele will sound bright and happy, as it should. The mistakes are made by beginners, and by experienced players, because the fingers are fast, and the attention is on the song, not on the fingers, and the fingers slip, and the chord is not clean, and the player does not notice, because the strum hides the mistake. The fix is to slow down, and to check each string, one at a time, and to listen for the buzz and the mute, and to fix the finger, and the chord will be clean, and the song will sound better. The C major ukulele chord and the G major ukulele chord are the chords most players first make mistakes on, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How ukulele chord mistakes happen
The mistakes happen because the fingers press too hard, or they touch the wrong strings, or the strum is too hard, or the change is rushed, and the strings do not ring cleanly. Pressing too hard stretches the nylon strings, and the notes go sharp, because the strings are stretched, and the pitch rises, and the chord is out of tune, even though the fingers are in the right place. A finger that lies flat will touch the neighbouring string, and mute it, because the finger is not curved, and the fingertip is not pressing the string, and the neighbouring string is dampened, and the chord is missing a note. A strum that is too hard will make the ukulele sound harsh, because the strings are hit too hard, and the sound is loud and brash, not bright and happy. The chord change mistake happens because the fingers are slow, and the strum is fast, and the fingers are not in place when the strum comes, and the chord is incomplete, because the fingers are still moving, and the strum plays the strings before the fingers are ready. The fix is to start the change early, on the last strum of the bar, so the fingers are in place for the first strum of the next bar, and the strumming hand never stops, and the rhythm stays steady. The D major ukulele chord and the A major ukulele chord are the chords the mistakes are built on.
Worked example — fixing a sharp C major chord. Play a C major chord, and strum it: the chord sounds sharp, out of tune. Play each string one at a time, and listen: the G, C, and E strings are in tune, but the A string, fretted at the 3rd fret, is sharp, because the ring finger is pressing too hard, and stretching the string, and the pitch rises. Press the string lightly, just enough to hold it down, and play the A string again: it rings as C, in tune, and the chord is now clean, and the fix was to press lightly, not hard, because the nylon strings need only a light touch, and the chord is C major, clean, because the fingers are in the right place, and the pressure is right. The key of C major lists the chords the mistake is built on.
How to practise avoiding ukulele chord mistakes
Practise avoiding chord mistakes by playing each string one at a time, so you can hear which string is sharp, buzzing, or muted, and fix it, instead of strumming the whole chord and guessing.
- Play a C major chord, and play each string one at a time, listening for a clean note on every string, and fixing the finger that is sharp, buzzing, or muted.
- Practise pressing the strings lightly, just enough to hold them down, so the notes are in tune, and the chord is clean.
- Practise curving your fingers, so they do not touch neighbouring strings, and the neighbouring strings ring freely, and the chord is clean.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major on ukulele, and check each chord, string by string, listening for a clean note on every string.
- Practise the chord change, starting the fretting hand moving early, on the last strum of the bar, so the fingers are in place for the first strum of the next bar.
Common mistakes
- Pressing the strings too hard — The nylon strings need only a light touch, and pressing too hard will stretch them, and the notes will go sharp, and the chord will be out of tune. Press the strings lightly, just enough to hold them down, and the notes will be in tune.
- Letting fingers touch neighbouring strings — A finger that lies flat will touch the neighbouring string, and mute it, and the chord will be missing a note. Curve your fingers, so the fingertip presses the string, and the neighbouring strings ring freely.
- Rushing the chord change — A chord change that is rushed will be incomplete, because the fingers are not in place when the strum comes, and the chord will be missing notes. Start the change early, and keep the strumming hand moving, so the change is ready when the beat comes.
Quick reference
This table lists the four common ukulele chord mistakes, with the symptom each one causes and the fix for it, so you can diagnose a chord that is not clean in seconds. The first three mistakes are about the fingers, and the fourth is about the change, and the fix for each is different, and the table shows them all at a glance.
| Mistake | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pressing too hard | Notes go sharp | Press lightly, just enough to hold down |
| Finger touching a neighbouring string | Muted string | Curve the finger, press with the fingertip |
| Strumming too hard | Harsh sound | Strum gently, with the index finger |
| Rushing the chord change | Incomplete chord | Start the change early, keep strumming |
Use the table as a checklist when a chord is not clean: find the symptom, find the mistake, and apply the fix, in order, pressure, finger curve, strum, and then the change. When you can diagnose a chord in seconds, you will never be stuck with a chord that is not clean.
Frequently asked questions
What are the common ukulele chord mistakes?
Pressing the strings too hard, which makes the notes sharp, letting fingers touch neighbouring strings and mute them, strumming too hard, which makes the sound harsh, and rushing the chord change, so the fingers are not in place when the strum comes.
Why does my ukulele chord sound sharp?
Because the fingers are pressing too hard, and stretching the nylon strings, and the pitch rises, and the chord is out of tune, even though the fingers are in the right place. Press the strings lightly, just enough to hold them down.
Why do my ukulele chords sound muted?
Because a finger is touching a string it should not touch, and muting it, or because a finger is not pressing its string down firmly enough, and the string is not ringing. Curve your fingers, and press each string down, lightly but firmly, and the chord will ring.
How do I fix a ukulele chord that is not clean?
Play each string one at a time, find the string that is sharp, buzzing, or muted, and fix the finger that is causing it, by pressing lightly, or curving it, or moving it, and the chord will be clean.
Are ukulele chord mistakes normal for beginners?
Yes. Every beginner makes chord mistakes, because the fingers are learning, and the shapes are new, and the mistakes are the learning, because the ear hears them, and the hand fixes them, and the fix is the skill.