Category: Online Resources

Posted on

ChatGPT sums up ‘How to Strum a Ukulele’

(‘An AI chatbot went viral. Some say it’s better than Google; others worry it’s problematic.’ NBC News)

My son introduced his old man to ‘ChatGPT’ (AI or Artificial Intelligence) – https://chat.openai.com/chat

You can type in a question, ask for an essay on ____ or something similar. The results are quite amazing.

I asked it two questions on strumming a ukulele.

  • – How do you strum a ukulele
  • – What are some ukulele strum patterns?
Here are the results…

how do you strum a ukulele

To strum a ukulele, hold the ukulele in a way that is comfortable for you. Place your strumming hand on the strings near the sound hole. Use your thumb or fingers to pluck the strings in a downward motion, moving your hand from the top of the strings to the bottom. This is called a downstrum. You can also pluck the strings in an upward motion, moving your hand from the bottom of the strings to the top. This is called an upstrum. Experiment with different strumming patterns to create different sounds.

What are some ukulele strum patterns?

There are many different strumming patterns that you can use on a ukulele. Some common strumming patterns include:
Down, down, down, down (also known as “four on the floor”)
Down, down, up, down (also known as “three on the floor, one on top”)
Down, up, down, up (also known as “two on the floor, two on top”)
Up, down, up, down (also known as “two on the bottom, two on top”)
To create more complex strumming patterns, you can combine these basic patterns or add in additional strums. For example, you might try:
Down, up, down, up, down, down (also known as “the heartbeat”)
Down, up, down, up, down, up (also known as “the train”)
You can also try incorporating different rhythms and accents into your strumming patterns to create even more interesting sounds. The important thing is to experiment and find what works best for you.


Pretty good, huh??
Posted on

Start Learning the Notes to Increase the Fun!

Strumming chords and singing is fun but I find that I have the most fun by playing the ukulele as a pianist or an organist would – by playing the notes of the melodies along with the chords. It isn’t near as hard as it sounds. It starts with learning the notes of the fingerboard., This video created by Phil Doleman is great for learning those notes! Give it a try!

Posted on

Bernadette suggests ’20 Most Important Ukulele Chords’…

As part of her #30DayUkuleleChallenge ‘Bernadette Teaches Music’ provided a YouTube video listing and demonstrating the most important ukulele chords.

Of course, most of them are the common ones. A few of them , however, are good alternate chords by moving a barr chord up the fretboard (example: moving B flat up to form C, D and E.