Check out the neat analogy of this video on how to strum using the fingernails.
Remember, it takes time and practice to have nice smooth strumming – don’t sweat it! Just have fun on the journey!
Happy Strumming!
Strumming Methods Tutorial (4 Strums) with Your Guitar/Uke Sage
Right click the link below and open the video in a new window so you can see the notes below – YourGuitarSage (Your Uke Sage)
Lightly mute for percussion sound as in ‘Hey, Soul Sister’
Feel the beats by stamping your feet.
‘And’s are usually the ‘upbeat’
#’s = downbeat
+ = upbeat
1 (05:30) Downbeats only on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4thbeats. The upbeats ‘+’s are ‘ghost strums’ meaning you pass the strings going up but don’t hit them.
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Down
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Down
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Down
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Down
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1 (+)
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2 (+)
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3 (+)
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4 (+)
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2 (06:30) Strum both the down beat AND the up beat
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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1 +
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2 +
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3 +
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4 +
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3 (07:00) A very common strum in rock/pop/country. Include a little ‘drop out’ on the + of 3 and 4
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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1 ( +)
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2 (+)
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3 +
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4 +
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4. 2 (08:46) Taking the 4 + downbeat out
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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Down / Up
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Down
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1 +
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2 +
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3 +
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(4) +
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Beginning Ukulele Videos by Zelda Sheldon of Ukulele Lessons Today
Thanks to Zelda Sheldon of Ukulele Lessons Today for her excellent tutorial videos!
The videos below are videos from Zelda’s channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/zeldauku?feature=watch
Very Basic and Slow Strums with Zelda Sheldon (UkuleleLessonsToday.com)
Strum Styles how to strum with your index finger (Zelda uses a pick in the last example which is not generally recommended but it is up to you)
1 Down Strum per Measure or Bar to 8 Down Strums per Measure
Down, Down, Down, Up-Down Strum
Down, Down-Up, Down-Up, Down-Up
Down, Down-Up, Down-Up, Down-Up
>>>> Click Here for More Beginning Ukulele YouTube Tutorial Videos