Basic Strumming

Still haven't found what I'm looking for by U2

Can you play ukulele in an orchestra?

Sure can.... it looks like lots of fun! Make sure you check out the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra when they are next in town.

Has anybody seen my girl?

This is what it can sound like when you speed it up.

CC Rider - A7, D7, E7

Haere Mai

Inspiration - Amazing ukulele playing girls

Inspiration - Ave Maria (by Franz Schubert) Jake Shimabukuro

Inspiration - Jake Shimabukuro - Come Together (Beatles) with Jay Molina

Beginning Strumming Patterns

1. Down, down, down

2. Down, down up, down, down up

When I was first learning how to strum, it was the most difficult thing in the world for me. It can feel a bit unnatural and hard to know what type of strumming pattern fits into what song. However, there are some key things that can help make sense of your strumming.

In this lesson, I wanted to look at strumming patterns for beginning or new players. I really want to provide a basis for which to learn other strumming patterns. Strumming is not so much about how fast or how complicated you can strum. Strumming is a form of rhythm, and the most essential aspect of rhythm is consistency and good timing. If you don’t have these things, your strumming pattern is useless.

Tuning your Ukulele

Standard Ukulele Tuning

This is the most common ukulele tuning. Soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles are tuned in standard tuning, sometimes referred to as “C tuning.”

In the picture above, you see the notes of each string. The top string or fourth string of the ukulele is tuned to a G. The third string is tuned to a C. The second string is tuned to an E. The bottom, or first string, is tuned to an A.

This most common way of tuning a ukulele is seen on the musical staff:

Or on the piano keys:

Some people also use the opening line of the song My Dog Has Fleas to remember how to tune a ukulele since that line is identical to how a ukulele is tuned.

5 Effective Strumming Patterns

Using the chord of C

1. Down,           down,          down,         down         1,    2,     3,      4

2. Down, up,     down,  up,   down, up,   down, up,  1 +,  2 +, 3 +,  4 +

3. Down,           down,  up,   down,         down, up,  1 ,    2 +,  3 ,    4 +

4. Down,  up,     down,     down,  up,       down,       1 +,   2,  3 +,   4 

5. Down,           down, up     ______  up,       down, up,     1,   2,  + ,  +,  4+  (Calypso strum)

Check out where to use these strums at this link.

Triple Strum with Jake Shimabukuro

Start off really slow but then speed up to learn this 'Spanish style' strum.

Jamming on C7 with Jake Shimabukuro

Just using one chord - C7, you can jam along with the amazing Jake Shimabukuro.

Jamming starts at 3:13 on this video.

Learn Something by George Harrison at 4:17. You will learn to play four one finger chords in this song. 

  C 

First finger, First string, 3rd fret.

?

First finger, First string, 2nd fret.

C7

First finger, First string, 1st fret.

First finger, Second string, 1st fret.

Basic Chords with Jake Shimabukuro #2

Lesson 2:

Three finger chord shape G chord - slide to get heaps more...

G

1 fret up - A flat

2 frets up - B flat 6th

4 frets up A7 chord

How could we use this?

G -  2nd/3rd fret (G chord)

G -  7/8th fret (C chord)

G - 9/10th fret (D chord)

Wipeout

G G G G C C G G D C G G repeat again

Ending with fret 6, fret 4, fret 3, fret 2.

Start Wipeout at 5:34 on this video.

This is what Wipeout should sound like!

Basic Chords with Jake Shimabukuro #1

Learn how to play C7 and F to play...

1. Row Row Row your Boat

Let's add the C, C7, F chord to play this little sequence ...

My Guitar Gently Weeps - George Harrison

Check out this guitar playing by Jake Shimabukuro. You are going to need to do lots of practise.

Somewhere over the Rainbow - Harold Arlon (C, Em, F, G, A)

Check out this awesome kid teaching us how to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

It uses the chords of C, Em, F, G and A.

You will learn the strum first then 

Go to the tutorial via this link. 
You will learn the strum first then work through the chords.

Twist and Shout - The Beatles (D, G, A)

This is another beginners song using just using the chords D, G, A. You will learn how to mute the chords and follow along in the strum pattern. 

Remember: look for the pivot finger, the one you can slide to the new chord.

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (C, G, Am, F)

Check out this beginners song using the chords of C, G, Am, F.
Work through the chords and strum before getting up to speed.
When you are getting really fast, test yourself out against the video below.