How to Make Your Ukulele Chord & Note Changes Cleaner
- Matt Stead
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
If you've ever strummed your ukulele only to hear an unwanted buzz, thud, or muted note, you're not alone! One of the biggest challenges for beginner and intermediate players is making clean transitions between chords and notes.
The good news? There’s a simple fix that can make your playing instantly smoother and more professional.
👂 Why Do Ukulele Chord Changes Sometimes Sound Messy?
The culprit is usually lingering pressure or hesitation between movements. When you lift your fingers off one chord and move to the next, it’s easy to accidentally:
Leave fingers touching the strings
Release pressure too early
Move too slowly, causing ghost notes or buzzes
Even if you're fretting the right chord shape, your transitions may be muddy or clunky if your release and movement aren’t clean.
✅ The Quick Fix: Lift Cleanly, Land Smoothly
Here’s the tip:Practice lifting your fingers off cleanly and placing the next chord shape quickly and decisively.
Try this exercise:
Choose two simple chords (like C and G).
Play C. Before you move to G, move your finger slightly to the right (ie not straight up), focusing on a clean release.
Then place your fingers down firmly for G without pausing mid-air.
Repeat slowly and intentionally, listening for clarity.
🎯 You’re training your muscle memory to move cleanly — which helps every future chord change too.
🎥 Watch It in Action
I’ve made a super short video showing this 'sliding off' tip in action. You can watch it here:👉 How to Make Your Ukulele Chord Changes Cleaner (Short Video)
🎓 Want to Go Further?
If you’re working on smoother transitions, fingerstyle, and more advanced techniques, you’ll love my full Beyond Beginners: Intermediate course. It’s packed with lessons just like this — structured, musical, and fun!
👉 Join the Intermediate Ukulele Course:
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