# Learn Ukulele — Classical exercises

> Interactive page: [`exercises-classical.html`](exercises-classical.html) · Hub: [`exercises.md`](exercises.md) · Matching drills: [`drills-classical.md`](drills-classical.md)

Thumb (*p*), index (*i*), middle (*m*), ring (*a*). Plant before you play. These are gym-length *pima* cards; the full method lives on [Classical drills](drills-classical.md).

**Technique path:** [Drills](drills.md) · [Exercises](exercises.md) · this page.

**Sources (two-check):** Carcassi / Sor / Giuliani for *pima* and planted arpeggios · Hal Leonard first-position reading. Pair a card with a short study from [Method books](exercises.md) on the Exercises hub.

On the HTML page, Play becomes Stop on the same button. Tempo follows the metronome. TAB is **A on top** (GCEA).

## Suggested order

1. i–m on open A
2. Plant p–i–m–a
3. p–i–m–i over Em
4. Walking thumb
5. Independence seed

### Three tracks

- **Beginner** — i–m on open A. Then plant p–i–m–a once, slowly.
- **Intermediate** — p–i–m–i over Em. Walking thumb on open G–C–E.
- **Advanced** — independence seed. Then deepen on [Classical drills](drills-classical.md).

## Classical · *pima*

Travis seed (folk door into fingers): [Folk exercises](exercises-folk.md).

### i–m on open A

Index and middle take turns on the open A string. Never the same finger twice.

```
A|-0---0---0---0-|   i m i m
E|-----------------
C|-----------------
G|-----------------
```

### Plant p–i–m–a

Set each finger on the string, then play Em seats ([0,4,3,2]).

```
A|-----------2-----   a
E|--------3--------   m
C|-----4-----------   i
G|-0---------------   p
```

### p–i–m–i over Em

Thumb on G, i and m on C and E; i returns. Hold Em.

```
A|-----------------
E|--------3-----3--   m / i
C|-----4-----4-----   i
G|-0---------------   p
```

### Walking thumb on basses

Thumb walks open G–C–E–C.

```
A|-----------------
E|-------0-------0-
C|----0-------0----
G|-0---------------   p
```

### Independence seed

Thumb on every click while i and m alternate on the off-beats.

```
    1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
A|----0-------0---   m
E|--0-------0-----   i
C|-0---0---0---0-   p
G|-----------------
```

Hands-together version: [Exercises · thumb bass + i–m](exercises.md).

## Practice note

8–10 minutes. Two on i–m, four on one arpeggio pattern, two on independence at half tempo. Then [Classical drills](drills-classical.md). Pair with method-book doors (Sor / Carcassi / Giuliani).