# Learn Ukulele — Today

> Interactive page: [`routine.html`](routine.html)

A plan for the step of the book you are on. Pick the step, pick how long you have, and play down the column. Every row links to the drill or lesson card it means. Keep the same plan for a week before you change it.

**How a session runs:** wake the hands first, spend the most time on the one thing the step is about, and end on music. Metronome on throughout. If the 10-minute column is all you have, it is enough; done every day it beats an hour on Sunday.

**Sources:** Hal Leonard Ukulele Method Book 1 (short daily sessions: warm-up, new material, review, a song) · Berklee practice guidance (one focus per session, metronome throughout).

## 1 · Start here

Hands, two chords, one strum, one song. Most of the time goes on changing chords without stopping the strum.

| Block | 10 min | 20 min | 30 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Wake-up · chromatic](drills.md#hands) — 1-2-3-4 on every string, slow | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| [Chord changes](chords.md#changing) — two shapes, one minute, count the changes | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| [Strum](strumming.md#pattern) — downs on the click, then the pattern | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| [Boom-chick through a change](drills.md#coord-boom-gcd) — right hand never stops for the left | — | 2 | 4 |
| [Play along](songs.md#songs) — one loop, start to finish | — | 3 | 6 |

Move on when the [first-ten checklist](chords.md#check) on Open chords is true on a normal day.

## 2 · Neck and names

Names on all four strings, then shapes that move. Say the letter before you play it — every day this week.

| Block | 10 min | 20 min | 30 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Wake-up · spider](drills.md#hands) — one finger per fret, four strings | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| [Find every natural](notes.md#find-nat) — one letter, every place it lives | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| [First-position scale walk](notes.md#scale-pos) — say the names as you go | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| [Mute / ghost eighths](drills.md#pick-pm) — pitch stays, ring dies | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| [Barre](barre.md#bb) — Bb, one string at a time until it rings | — | 4 | 5 |
| [Reading](reading.md#rhythm) — one line of TAB with its rhythm | — | 3 | 4 |
| [Movable shapes](movable.md#slider) — one shape, a new root each fret | — | — | 6 |

Move on when the [Ready when](notes.md#ready) list on Notes on the neck is true on a normal day.

## 3 · Playing styles

A style a session, and the island strum every day. Solo lab is for when a style page feels easy.

| Block | 10 min | 20 min | 30 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Wake-up · chromatic](drills.md#hands) — or one loop cell | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| [One style page](#the-style-pages) — Folk or Classical | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| [Island strum](strumming.md#island) — D–DU–UDU, wrist loose | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| [Fingerpicking](fingerstyle.md#pima) — *pima* over one held shape | — | 4 | 4 |
| [Loop cells](warmups.md#cells) — one cell that mixes two styles | — | 4 | 5 |
| [Improv · one cell](improv.md#cells) — hear the call, answer in rhythm | — | — | 3 |
| [Solo lab](solo-lab.md#path-a) — one path, one etude | — | — | 3 |

When a style page feels easy, give the long block to [Solo lab](solo-lab.md).

## The style pages

For step 3, or any day the hands want a change. Each page has a suggested order, the drills, and a practice note.

- [Folk](drills-folk.md) — boom-chick, alternating bass, Travis seed, lok, variants on any chord.
- [Classical](drills-classical.md) — *pima*, planted arpeggios, rest-stroke scales, tremolo seed.