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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.
Down
Down
Down
Down
1     (+)
2         (+)
3        (+)
4        (+)
2  (06:30) Strum both the down beat AND the up beat
Down / Up
Down / Up
Down / Up
Down / Up
1     +
2        +
3       +
4       +
3  (07:00) A very common strum in rock/pop/country.  Include a little ‘drop out’ on the + of 3 and 4
Down / Up
Down / Up
Down / Up
Down / Up
1    ( +)
2        (+)
3       +
4       +
4. 2  (08:46) Taking the 4 + downbeat out
Down / Up
Down / Up
Down / Up
Down
1     +
2    +
3       +
(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

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Playing the Ukulele is EASY but NOT INSTANT

I would assume that you’ve seen the Staple’s ‘EASY’ Button commercials where hitting the button takes care of all your office or home problems quickly and easily.

Learning to play the ukulele is easy, too, BUT not THAT easy!

NOTHING worth doing is THAT easy.

I had to laugh when I read an add for a very slightly used ukulele on Craigslist. The listing said,

“I bought it a year ago, but played it maybe 5 minutes. It is as perfect as the day I bought it from guitar center for $280. Comes with the origional case. It looks and sounds beautiful, I just couldn’t get into the instrument.’

It was all I could do to keep from writing the dear soul and to encourage him/her not to give up and to give it a little time.

Perhaps he/she has with ANOTHER instrument.

It is so much easier to get a decent sound out of a ukulele than most instruments including the guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, piano, harmonica and even the recorder.

BUT it ISN’T instant – give it time! Practice a little, get with a friend and try things out, watch a YouTube tutorial.  BUT don’t give up after 5 minutes OR even 5 hours or months!  Hang in there!

You’ll be glad you did!

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Love Train’s ‘Sing Together’!

Lyrics and Chords can be found at Ultimate-Guitar.com http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/t/train/sing_together_crd.htm To sing it in a key that is easy but still close to the original transpose it up 5 half steps.

To match the video you’d have to transpose up 6 half steps for the ukulele.  Warning: This is not a easy key.

Verse 1
C# G# A#m  F# C#
 
Verse 2
G# A#m F# D#m C# G# A#m F# D#m G#
 
Chorus
C# G# A#m F# C# G# A#m  F# C# G# A#m  F#
D#m  G# C# G# A#m  F# D#m  G#
 
Verse 3
C# G# A#m F# C#
 
Verse 4
D#m C# G# A#m F# D#m F# D#m G#
 
If you have a capo you could put it on the first fret and it becomes MUCH easier.

Verse 1
C G Am F C

Verse 2
G Am F Dm C G Am F Dm G

Chorus
C G Am F C G Am F C G Am F
Dm G C G Am F Dm G

Verse 3 C G Am F C

Verse 4 Dm C G Am F Dm F Dm G

I used Auto-Transposer to do this – http://www.autotransposer.com

Any other easier solutions?

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I never cease to be amazed at people’s talent!

Set up a Google alert on Ukuleles and you’ll come across some amazing videos and stories about and from people playing the ukulele.

This one came across my email tonight and must say I was impressed! Beautiful voice, original song and I liked her strum…

Want to see how much progress she has made on the ukulele since November (only 6 months – at least from when she posted this YouTube video).

I’m inspired. How about you? Happy strumming!

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HAWAIIAN VAMPS for the UKULELE in FIVE BASIC KEYS – Taught by “UKULELE M…

Another great video lesson from Ukulele Mike!

The chords in the vamps are based on these key postions – ii V7 i
– that is the 2nd chord – the chord represented by the letter two steps higher than the root

– the 5th chord – the chord represented by the letter a fifth higher
– the root chord – the chord represented by the letter of the key the song is in.
5 Basic Keys:
– Key of F G7 – C7 – F
– Key of G A7 – D7 – G
– Key of C D7 – G7 – C
– Key of D E7 – A7 – D
– Key of A B7 – E7 – A
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Jake Shimabukuro to perform at Wingate University

Jake Shimabukuro will offer a ukulele performance at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Wingate University’s Batte Center.In the hands of Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian instrument is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force. On his most recent album “Peace Love Ukulele,” Jake mixes jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music and folk.Tickets are $25 and on sale via the Batte Center box office, www.battecenter.org, and the CarolinaTix phone room and website. Details: 704-233-8300.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/25/2869270/around-the-belt.html#storylink=cpy