Throughout my musical journey, I have always loved creating my own music. Although I am not a professional musician, by teaching myself the ukulele, I have discovered a wonderful way to express my emotions and creativity.

In this article, I will share my methods and experiences in producing music works, hoping to inspire you and allow you to enjoy the process.

1. Learn basic chords and fingerings:

Learning basic chords and fingerings is the first step for me to teach myself ukulele and start making music. This process is not only the cornerstone of learning, but also the key to further composition and performance. In this article, I will share my experience of how I started making my own music by teaching myself the basic chords and fingerings of the ukulele.

At the beginning, I didn’t know much about ukulele, but I had a strong interest in music, so I decided to try to learn it. I searched online for some ukulele tutorials and videos and found some free resources. These tutorials usually teach basic chords such as C, G, Am, etc. I have found that understanding these basic chords is key to learning the ukulele, as they form the basis of almost all musical compositions.

I started practicing these basic chords over and over again. At first, my fingers felt unfamiliar and the pop-up sound wasn't clear. But I persevered and practiced every day, and gradually my fingers became more flexible and the chords sounded clearer. I realized that ukulele chords are relatively simple and beginner-friendly.

After learning the basic chords, I started learning fingerings. Fingering is the method of pressing the notes in the correct position and sequence on a chord. This is also an integral part of making music. I find online lessons and sheet music to be great resources for learning tablature. I can learn how to play different notes and melodies using fingerings by watching video tutorials or reading sheet music.

2. Cultivate creative inspiration:

Cultivating creative inspiration is one of the key steps in creating musical works. To me, the ukulele is not only a playing instrument, but also a tool for creativity and inspiration. In this article, I will share some of my experiences on how to teach myself and make music with the ukulele, especially how to cultivate creative inspiration.

Observing daily life is one of the main ways I get inspiration. Trivial matters in daily life, interpersonal relationships, natural scenery, etc. can all become sources of inspiration for musical works. I often bring my ukulele with me to record my emotions and observations at any time, and then express them with chords and melodies. For example, a sunny morning walk might inspire me to write an upbeat song, while a touching conversation might be the inspiration for lyrics.

Listening to different types of music is also a great way to develop creative inspiration. Different types of music styles have their own unique musical elements and emotional expressions. I listen to a variety of different music, including pop, classical, folk, jazz, and more. By listening, I can learn the techniques and characteristics of different musical styles and then incorporate them into my ukulele playing and writing. Sometimes hearing a beautiful tune inspires me to compose my own musical composition.

Reading poetry and novels is also a good way to cultivate creative inspiration. Words, images, and emotions from literary works can all be transformed into musical inspiration. I often read poems, especially those that are rich in mood and emotion, and then try to translate them into lyrics or melodies. This exchange of inspiration across art forms can create musical works that are unique and rich in depth.

3. Composing lyrics and melodies:

Composing lyrics and melodies is a wonderful process of producing musical works, and it is also an important part of my self-teaching and producing my own musical works through ukulele. . When I get inspiration, I quickly jot down what I want to express. This could be an emotion, a story, or just some random thoughts and words. I've found that it's not necessary to worry about the quality of your work initially, the most important thing is to get your ideas down. I usually use a notebook or phone app to record inspirations in case they get lost in my memory.

Next, I started writing lyrics. I'll look back at the inspirations I've recorded and try to organize them into lyrics that have a rhythm and rhyme to them. The sound of the ukulele often makes me want to write songs that are light and joyful, but of course it's also possible to create different styles of lyrics depending on the nature of the inspiration. The important thing is that I try to express the emotions and themes I want to convey.

The process of writing lyrics may require many revisions and improvements. I'm constantly going over the lyrics, checking that the meter, rhyme, and delivery flow. Sometimes I ask friends or musical partners to provide feedback to get a different perspective. Gradually improving lyrics is a key step to ensure the quality of your work.

4. Recording and Producing Music:

Recording and producing music has been the most exciting and challenging part of my self-taught ukulele journey. Through this process, I was able to transform the ukulele tracks I played into complete songs and add various musical elements to them to create my own unique compositions.

I will prepare the ukulele track I want to record. This includes making sure that my playing skills are mastered and that the tracks are played correctly.

I then use professional recording equipment, usually an external microphone, to record the sound of the ukulele. Sometimes I also use an interface to connect to a computer and record through audio recording software.

Once I tried to record a ukulele cover of a popular song. This song has a very fast tempo, which makes it challenging for ukulele players. I spent several days practicing making sure every note was spot on. I then recorded my performance using a microphone. The sound of the ukulele was captured clearly, but recording the entire track wasn't easy.

Once my ukulele track is recorded, I will further develop my musical composition. This includes composing and arranging, which is combining the ukulele track with other instrument parts. I can use music production software such as GarageBand or Logic Pro to add drum sounds, bass lines, harmonies, etc.

During the mixing process, I used an equalizer to emphasize the brightness of the ukulele and the clarity of the harmonies. I also added a reverb effect to enhance the sense of space in the music. Finally, I made sure the volume of each track was balanced to create a pleasing listening effect. Once I'm happy with the musical composition, I export it to a high-quality audio file, usually in MP3 or WAV format. This file can be shared and played on various platforms.

Beibei has something to say:

Producing your own music is an exciting and creative job. Whether you are a ukulele beginner or an experienced musician, you can realize your musical dreams through self-study.

Remember, creating music is a long-term process. Enjoy every moment of it and continue to explore and improve your musical skills. Most importantly, express yourself through music and share your voice and story.