Posted on December 27, 2009 by admin

Although I am not very skilled, I have played the guitar for years.  Being in my early 50’s I was attracted to the ukulele because it is much easier to learn than the guitar.   How?   It has only 4 strings and a shorter fretboard so there are much fewer notes to master.   Many people use the ‘High G’ tuning and only play a solo line on the bottom 3 strings SO this makes it half as many strings as the guitar.  One reason that I am interested in learning and even mastering the ukulele is that I hope to stimulate the brain and to fend off ‘brain decay’.

There are many other reasons that the ukulele is great for aging adults.  MusicAfter50.com recently posted a great article entitled, ‘Ukulele Goes From Stepchild of Guitar to Cool Child‘.   This is wonderful article that you must read.  You’ll learn why billionaire Warren Buffet started playing the ukulele and much more!   Here is a quote as to why the ukulele is good for older adults:

‘Because the instrument is so small and light, it is perfect for older people. The trend toward offering uke classes in senior centers – where some people simply can’t lift heavy instruments or are wheelchair bound – is a great one.’