This is the companion resource page for Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele by Brent C. Robitaille. Use the search box and filters below to find audio tracks, video demonstrations, and references by page number, technique, or keyword indexed from the book itself.
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MUSIC
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2025
Mastering Fingerstyle Ukulele
BOOK COMPANION · brentrobitaille.com/mfu
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| PAGE | TOPIC / CONTENT | TAGS | RESOURCES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting Started — Foundations | |||
| p.6 | How to Read Ukulele Tab and Chords String order G C E A · fret numbers · barre chord notation (BVII, .BV) · left-hand finger numbers · hammer-on · pull-off | Reference | — |
| p.8 | Introduction to Fingerstyle Ukulele — 10 Essential Facts Holding position · right-hand 45° angle · free stroke (tirando) · rest stroke (apoyando) · finger names T I M R · left-hand preparation · dynamics · tone colour · sul ponticello · sul tasto · palm mute · rasgueado · tambora · golpe · nail care · timbre · tempo markings · phrasing · melody voicing | ReferenceTechnique | — |
| p.18 | Overview of the Six Fingerpicking Techniques Summary of all six techniques: alternating thumb · set position · alternating fingers and tremolo · chord melody · extended techniques and body percussion · combining techniques | Reference | — |
| p.21 | Fingerpicking Primer — Warmups Two-finger, three-finger, and four-finger combinations (t i m r). Can be done away from the instrument. Covers all 24 four-finger permutations (4×3×2×1). Builds hand-to-brain coordination and muscle memory before playing patterns. | Warmup | — |
| p.24 | Ukulele Rhythms — Straight vs. Swing Straight even eighth notes vs. swing/shuffle rhythm (66/33 triplet feel). How to apply different rhythms to fingerpicking patterns. Quarter notes, half notes, sixteenths, accents, syncopation, tied notes. | Reference | — |
| p.26 | Practice Tips and Goal Setting — 25 Strategies Spaced repetition · elaboration · metronome use · practice logs · breaking into sections · tempo control · recording yourself · performance prep · 30-minute daily practice · avoiding multitasking | Reference | — |
| Technique One — Alternating Thumb (p.28–44) | |||
| p.28 | 24 Fingerpicking Patterns — Alternating Thumb Thumb alternates between strings 3 (C) and 4 (G). Index on string 2 (E), middle on string 1 (A). Practice straight and swing. Use metronome or tap foot. Repeat each pattern until no hesitation. | Tech 1 | — |
| p.31 | Travis Picking Patterns Alternating thumb on strings 3 and 4. Includes "pinch" — double-pluck two strings together. Common in pop, folk, and blues. Thumb warm-up · basic Travis patterns · patterns applied to chords C Am F G. | Tech 1Travis | — |
| p.35 | 12 Double-Pluck Fingerpicking Patterns Combination of single and double-pluck (two strings simultaneously). Still alternating thumb. Index and middle on strings 1 and 2. Precision over speed — both notes must be struck simultaneously. | Tech 1 | — |
| p.37 | 64 Patterns in 3/4 and 6/8 Time — Alternating Thumb Accent beat 1 in 3/4 and beats 1 and 4 in 6/8. Includes pinch patterns in 3/4 time. Set metronome to correct time signature. Eighth and sixteenth note rhythms throughout. | Tech 1 | — |
| p.41 | Technique One — Song Examples Worried Man Blues · Estudio · Scarborough Fair · Spanish Romance. Full arrangements using alternating thumb technique. | Tech 1Songs | 🎵 Audio |
| Technique Two — Set Position (p.47–61) | |||
| p.47 | 24 Fingerpicking Patterns — Set Position Thumb fixed on string 4 (G). Index on string 3 (C), middle on string 2 (E), ring on string 1 (A). Hand stays in one position throughout. | Tech 2 | — |
| p.50 | 24 Thumb Pinch Patterns — Set Position Thumb pinch (two strings at once) within the set position hand placement. | Tech 2 | — |
| p.53 | 24 Thumb and Ring Patterns — Set Position Incorporates the ring finger (R) into the set position patterns for added variety. | Tech 2 | — |
| p.56 | 32 Patterns in 3/4 and 6/8 Time — Set Position | Tech 2 | — |
| p.58 | Double and Triple-Pluck Exercises — Set Position 6 double-pluck and 8 triple-pluck exercises. Precision over speed. Both notes struck simultaneously — not separately. Practice at equal volume, then accent top note, then bottom note. This level of control takes time. | Tech 2 | — |
| p.60 | Technique Two — Song Examples Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen — key of C, slow legato, barre chords (C Em Am G7 F/C) · Greensleeves — Cm, 3/4 time, rolled chords, anonymous trad. · Study in Dm by Dionisio Aguado (1784–1849) — originally in Am on guitar, transposed to Dm for ukulele. | Tech 2Songs | 🎵 Audio |
| Technique Three — Alternating Fingers & Tremolo (p.64–70) | |||
| p.64 | 28 Exercises — Alternating Fingers & Tremolo Fingers alternate on one string: i-m · i-r · m-r. Faster = tremolo. Free stroke and rest stroke both covered. Switching strings, combining patterns (i-r + i-m etc.). Table-tap exercise builds coordination before the instrument. Essential for speed. | Tech 3Tremolo | — |
| p.68 | Technique Three — Song Examples The Entertainer (ragtime feel) · Allegretto. Full arrangements using alternating finger and tremolo techniques. | Tech 3Songs | 🎵 Audio |
| Technique Four — Chord Melody Style (p.71–79) | |||
| p.71 | Fingerpicking Exercises — Chord Melody Playing chords with fingers instead of strumming. Solid chords vs. rolled chords (up and down roll). Chord melody = single melody notes combined with plucked chord notes. Chords covered: C · G · F · Dm · Em · Am. Experiment with volume balance — melody louder, accompaniment quieter. | Tech 4Chord Melody | — |
| p.74 | Technique Four — Song Examples Sà Bheag Sà Mhór — Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738), Irish air, harp-like legato, key of C · Danny Boy — traditional Irish ballad, chord melody, techniques 2 and 3 combined, key of F · Lark in the Clear Air — Irish, chord melody style. | Tech 4Celtic | 🎵 Audio |
| Technique Five — Extended Techniques & Body Percussion (p.80–92) | |||
| p.80 | Extended Techniques — Notation Guide, Zones & Full Reference Body zones 1–7 (lower right, upper right, bridge, upper right, upper left, fretboard, sides). Hand parts: N=Nail · F=Finger · K=Knuckle · T=Thumb · P=Palm. Left-hand: prefix L (e.g. LF4). 35 total hit combinations. Techniques covered: rhythmic slaps · percussive strumming · palm muting (P.M.) · thumb slapping · brushing · snare technique · rimshots · natural harmonics n.h. (12th/7th/5th fret) · artificial harmonics a.h. · tapping (+) · bending · slide · stomping. Muted strings = X notation. Behind-nut strumming = BN. Stomp pedal optional. | Tech 5Notation | — |
| p.84 | Studies 1–10 — Body Percussion Exercises Studies 1–4: strum + finger tap (1F) · adding thumb hit (2T) on the "&" of beat 2 · sixteenth-note taps (4F) with m-i alternation. Studies 5–7: chords on beats 2 and 4 · left-hand side tap (LS) · region 4 finger hits (4F). Studies 8–10: nail muting (6N) on strings · muted X notation · syncopated D7 · C D7 F C progression. Use drum machine or metronome. Check audio and video online. | Tech 5Percussion | 🎵 Audio |
| p.88 | Prelude One, Prelude Two, Prelude Two with Looper Prelude One: left-hand finger tapping (T) · hammer-ons · pull-offs · strumming behind the nut (BN) · optional foot tap or stomp pedal. Modular composition — each section builds on the previous by adding rhythm or melody. Prelude Two with Looper: record layers with a looper pedal. Check website for instructional videos. | Tech 5Preludes | 🎵 Audio |
| Technique Six — Combining Techniques (p.94–99) | |||
| p.94 | Technique Six Overview — Combining All Techniques Advanced pieces that move between techniques 1–5 within the same arrangement. Common in more challenging repertoire. No single technique rules — weave between them as needed. | Tech 6 | — |
| p.95 | Technique Six — Song Examples St. Louis Blues — blues, swing rhythm · Morrison's Jig — Irish jig, 6/8 time · Vivaldi Spring — classical. | Tech 6Blues / Celtic | 🎵 Audio |
| Applying Patterns — Chord Progressions & Duets (p.101–128) | |||
| p.101 | How to Apply Patterns to Songs and Chord Progressions Three-step method: (1) learn a pattern · (2) apply to chord progressions · (3) apply to your own repertoire. | Chords | — |
| p.102 | Basic Chord Progressions — Keys of C, G, D, F, B♠Essential diatonic progressions in five keys. Good starting point before adding jazz or blues changes. Apply any fingerpicking pattern from the book. | Keys: C G D F Bb | — |
| p.112 | Popular Chord Progressions — C, F, G Pop and folk progressions in C, F, and G major. I-IV-V-I · I-vi-IV-V · contemporary patterns. Multiple variations per key including Dm Bb F C and G Em C D. | Keys: C F G | — |
| p.118 | Jazz and Blues Chord Progressions — Keys of C and F 12-bar blues in C and F · 12-bar minor blues (Cm7, Fm7) · 12-bar jazz blues "Basie Blues" · Rhythm Changes (C6 Am7 Dm7 G7…). Use swing rhythm throughout. Moveable barre chord shapes. Includes ii-V-I and turnaround progressions. | Blues/JazzSwing | — |
| p.122 | Ukulele Duets — Four Arrangements House of the Rising Sun — Am, folk, 6/8 time · Amazing Grace — G major, 3/4 time, techniques 1 and 2 · Pachelbel's Canon — C G Am Em F C F G, technique 2, fixed position · Wayfaring Stranger — Am Dm E7, technique 2. Tip: record part 2, then play part 1 over it if no second player. | Duets | 🎵 Audio |
| Fingerstyle Rhythms by Genre (p.130–135) | |||
| p.130 | Fingerstyle Rhythm Patterns — Complete Genre Collection 50s Rock (×2) · Blues shuffle (×3) · 12-bar blues shuffle · Bluegrass banjo rolls (×4) · Bossa Nova · Cha Cha · Classical Alberti bass · Country (×4, alternating thumb) · Cuban · Disco · Folk (×2, includes Travis picking) · Funk (×2) · Irish Jig (×2) · Jazz (×2, Charleston) · Mambo · Merengue · Motown · Pop · R&B · Reggae (×2) · Rock · Rhumba · Salsa · Tango · Waltz (×2). Many work with techniques 1 and 2. Drum backing tracks available on website. Use drum machine or loop to jam along. | Genres | 🎵 Audio |
| Fingerpicking Riffs — Embellishing Chords (p.137–143) | |||
| p.137 | Riffs for C Major, G Major, Am, Dm — and Combining Riffs Short riffs to embellish fingerpicking and strumming. Riffs for C (including slides) · riffs for G major · riffs for Am · riffs for Dm (barre chord riffs). Combining riffs: Example 1 = C–Am–F–G · Example 2 = Dm–G–Dm–Am. Add slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs to personalise. Check website for audio and video. | RiffsC G Am Dm | |
| p.140 | Fingerpicking Riffs in F Major Riff collection for the F chord and F major progressions. | RiffsKey of F | 🎵 Audio |
| p.142 | Fingerpicking Riffs in D Minor Riff collection for Dm chord and minor progressions. Includes barre chord riffs at various positions. | RiffsKey of Dm | 🎵 Audio |
| Reference — Chords, Scales, Theory, Fretboard Maps (p.144–168) | |||
| p.144 | Ukulele Chord Library Comprehensive chord diagrams for all common chords in GCEA tuning. | ChordsReference | — |
| p.149 | Diatonic Chords — Circle of 4ths — 2-5-1 Progressions Diatonic chord theory · circle of fourths · ii-V-I jazz progressions. | Theory | — |
| p.153 | Moveable Chords, Warmup Scales and Arpeggios Moveable chord shapes up the neck. Scale and arpeggio warmup exercises. | ScalesReference | — |
| p.155 | Ukulele Fretboard Maps Complete fretboard note maps. All 12 notes across the neck in standard GCEA tuning. | Reference | — |
| p.168 | Ukulele Note Chart Note chart for all strings and positions in standard tuning. | Reference | — |
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