LEARNING PATH
Ukulele Learning Path
Created and maintained by Brent C. Robitaille (Kalymi Music) — author of 60+ instructional music books.
Overview: The Ukulele Learning Path brings together fingerstyle technique, warm-ups, repertoire, arrangements, and practical resources in one place.
This path is designed mainly for adult ukulele players who want to build fingerstyle technique, musical control, and usable repertoire in a structured way.
- Main focus: fingerstyle, technique, and repertoire
- What you learn: right-hand patterns, left-hand control, chord progressions, and musical application
- Who it’s for: adult learners who want a clear sequence instead of random tips
How to use this page
Start with the free primer and the two core books if you are new. If you already play, jump directly to the books, bundles, arrangements, lessons, or resources that match your needs.
If you are mainly working on technique, start with the core books. If you want to apply technique through real music, move into repertoire, arrangements, and the lesson sections.
Start Here | Books | Bundles | Featured Arrangement | Free Lessons | Resources | Audio | FAQ
Start Here
If you are new to fingerstyle ukulele, begin with the free Ukulele Fingerpicking Primer and the two core books below.
This gives you a clear technical foundation before moving further into repertoire, arrangements, and the wider resource section.
Core Books:
Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
A comprehensive fingerstyle book focused mainly on right-hand development, including six fingerstyle techniques, patterns, chord progressions, examples, and repertoire.Book Companion: If you own Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele, you can use the companion page for indexed audio tracks, videos, and reference materials.
Ultimate Ukulele Technique & Warm-Up Book
A technique book focused more on left-hand control, finger combinations, posture, tension awareness, chord workouts, and graded technical development.
Celtic World Collection – Ukulele
A repertoire collection for players who want to apply technique through real tunes and melodic material.
Blank Tablature Workbook & Reference for Ukulele
A practical support book for writing, organizing, and expanding your own studies and musical ideas.
The Ukulele Christmas Songbook
A seasonal repertoire title that sits outside the main learning-path bundles but remains part of the broader ukulele catalog.
Bundles:
1) Ukulele Fingerstyle & Technique Starter eBook Bundle
A focused digital starter bundle built around the two main technique and fingerstyle books. Ideal for players who want a clear foundation before moving into repertoire, arrangements, and the wider ukulele learning path.
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Ultimate Ukulele Technique & Warm-Up
- Ukulele Fingerstyle & Technique Practice Guide PDF
View Starter Bundle →
Best place to start for most adult learners.
2) Ukulele Fingerstyle Premium Bundle
A broader bundle for players who want technique, repertoire, and practical study tools in one package.
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Celtic World Collection – Ukulele
- Ultimate Ukulele Technique & Warm-Up Book
- Blank Tablature Workbook for Ukulele
- Ukulele Fingerstyle & Technique Practice Guide
- 8.5 × 11 reference digital chord poster
Featured Arrangement
Spanish Romance (Romanza) — Ukulele Ensemble
This arrangement adds a strong repertoire option to the ukulele learning path and works well for group playing, ensemble study, and musical application beyond technical exercises.
The arrangement includes full score and parts for soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone (opt.) ukulele.
Free Lessons
If you want to explore the learning path more gradually, start with a few of the free lessons below. These work well alongside the core books and help reinforce technique, fingerstyle control, and clean playing.
Clean Ukulele Chords
How to reduce buzzing and tension when forming common chord shapes.
Six Essential Fingerstyle Ukulele Techniques
Introduction to fingerpicking for players transitioning from strumming.
Ukulele Fingerpicking Lesson
A useful starting point for players moving from strumming into fingerstyle playing.
Get Free Lessons & Updates
If you would like occasional emails with new free lessons, book releases, and playing tips, you can join the list.
“I purchased this book on Amazon (Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele) and I’ve slowly been working through it. I’ve been finding it very helpful. Working through this book has improved my playing quite a bit. It is well laid out and there is a lot of different picking patterns to learn, and some very nice songs to learn.”
— Verified Customer Review
Resources
This section collects the main books, arrangements, free lessons, videos, and supporting materials used throughout the ukulele learning path.
Fingerstyle Patterns and Rhythm Training
- Bossa Nova Rhythm – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Bluegrass Banjo Roll #1 – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Bluegrass Banjo Roll #2 – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Bluegrass Banjo Roll #3 – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Bluegrass Banjo Roll #4 – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – Blues Rhythm Patterns 1-2-3
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – 50’s Rock Rhythm Patterns 1 & 2
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – 36 Ukulele Riffs – Key of C
- Country Ukulele Fingerpicking #1 – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Country Ukulele Fingerpicking #2 – Alternate Thumb
- Country Ukulele Fingerpicking #3 – Alternate Thumb
- Country Swing Ukulele Fingerpicking #4 – Slow and Fast
- Cha Cha Ukulele Fingerstyle Rhythm
- Cuban – Ukulele Fingerstyle Rhythm
- Disco-Funk – Ukulele Fingerstyle Rhythm
Extended Techniques and Studies
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – Prelude One – Extended Techniques
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – Prelude Two – Tapping – Foot Stomp
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – Technique 5 – Studies 1-4 – Tapping – Body Percussion
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – Technique 5 – Study 5
- Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele – Technique 5 – Study 7
Solo Fingerstyle Repertoire
- Si Bheag Si Mhor – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Scarborough Fair – Solo Ukulele Fingerstyle
- Study in D Minor – Mastering Ukulele Fingerstyle
- Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen – Ukulele Fingerpicking
- Morrisons Jig – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Greensleeves – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
- Ukulele Tab & Chords – Carolan’s Concerto
- Ukulele Tab-Chords-Notes – Sheebeg and Sheemore
- Ukulele Tab-Notes-Chords – Wind that Shakes the Barley – Fast!
- Ukulele Tab and Sheet Music – Little Kate
- Ukulele Tab and Sheet Music – Merrily Kiss the Quaker – Jig
- Ukulele Tab and Sheet Music – Raccoon in the Attic
- Ukulele Tab – Celtic – Hector the Hero – Play Along
Ensemble Arrangements
- Ukulele Ensemble – Speak Softly Love (The Godfather) – Notes and Tab
- Green Onions – Ukulele Ensemble
- Ukulele Ensemble – Maisie’s Waltz – Music and Tablature
- Havana Trio – Ukulele – Guitar 1 & 2 – Tab and Chords
- It’s Time (Enya) – Ukulele Ensemble
- Tico Tico – Ukulele Ensemble – Sheet Music – Score
- Habanera – Bizet – Ukulele Ensemble
- Worried Man Blues – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Rock Around the Clock – Ukulele Ensemble
- Havana – Ukulele Ensemble
- Despacito – Ukulele Ensemble
- Norwegian Wood — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór (Celtic) — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Fields of Gold — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Pipeline — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Carol of the Bells (Holiday) — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- I Have a Dream (Abba) — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Falling Slowly — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Spanish Romance (Romanza) — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
- Moonshadow — Ukulele Ensemble (Score & Tabs)
Duets and Other Arrangements
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Guitar Ukulele Duet – Tab – Notes – Play Along
- Havana Trio – Ukulele – Guitar 1 & 2 – Tab and Chords
- Guitar – Ukulele – Violin – Hello – Adele – Cover
- Gymnopédie No. 1 – Eric Satie – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Worried Man Blues – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Allegretto – Carulli – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Midnight – John Dowland – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Maestoso – (Giuliani) – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Andante Opus 241 n.18 – (Carulli) – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
- Worried Man Blues – Guitar and Ukulele Duet
Popular Songs, Themes, and Crossover Repertoire
- AC/DC Thunderstruck Ukulele Solo
- Havana – Ukulele – Guitar Chords – Ukulele Tab 7 Notes – Havana Acoustic Cover
- Ukulele Tab – 7 Years – Guitar Chords (Capo 5) – Lukas Graham – Notes
- Band Tab and Chords – Renegades
- Ukulele – Braveheart Theme – Tab and Notes
- Ukulele Tab – Stitches – Easy Ukulele
- Ukulele Tab – Uptown Funk – Easy Uke
- Ukulele Tab and Notes – Pirates of the Caribbean Theme
- Ukulele Tab – Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Notes
- Ukulele Tab – Under the Sea – Notes
- Ukulele Tab – Everything is Awesome – Piano – Duet
- Ukulele – tab – Stay With Me – Arrangement – Chord Melody
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to follow this learning path in order?
No. Use it as a guide rather than a fixed curriculum. Many players move between technique, repertoire, lessons, and resources depending on what they need most.
Which book should I start with?
Most players should begin with Ultimate Ukulele Technique & Warm-Up Book and Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele. Together they provide the core technical foundation for the rest of the path.
Is this suitable for beginners?
Yes, especially adult beginners who prefer clear explanations. Some exercises challenge advanced players too.
Do the books include tablature?
Yes. The materials are designed to be practical and accessible, and many of the books and arrangements use tablature alongside standard notation.
Is this path only for fingerstyle players?
No. Fingerstyle is a major focus, but the path also includes technique work, chord studies, arrangements, ensemble playing, and related listening resources
Is there video instruction?
Some video exists, full course in development. Most resources use written instruction, tablature, and audio.
Where can I find audio tracks?
Many audio tracks are included directly on the individual product pages, through the downloads page, or in the Listening Room below.
Ukulele Listening Room
Welcome to the listening room for the Ukulele Learning Path. These recordings are demonstration tracks taken directly from the books and lessons so you can hear the rhythms, phrasing, and fingerstyle techniques used throughout the learning path.
Put on a pair of headphones, open the books, and listen while you practice. Many players find that hearing the examples first makes it easier to understand the exercises and patterns.
Generally, most audio tracks are included directly on individual book pages, or alternatively as a .zip file on the downloads page. However, if you don’t see what you are looking for, contact us.
Featured Listening Albums
Start with these two collections for a focused listening experience. One highlights graded technique material, while the other focuses on fingerstyle arrangements and musical application.
Additional Listening from the Books and Lessons:
Ultimate Ukulele Technique & Warm-Up Book
Ukulele Riffs – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
F Major Ukulele Riffs – Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
Continue the Learning Path
The Ukulele Learning Path is designed as a long-term reference rather than a single course. You can return to these books, lessons, recordings, and arrangements as your playing develops.
Many players move back and forth between technique work, fingerstyle patterns, repertoire, and listening. Over time, the goal is to combine these elements into your own practice routine and musical style.
If you would like to explore other instruments and approaches, you may also find the following learning paths helpful.
Open Tunings Guitar Learning Path
Cigar Box Guitar Learning Path
Looper Guitar Learning Path
All Learning Paths