4 Basic Strumming Patterns For Ukulele - For the Complete Beginner

A detailed tutorial for complete beginners to the ukulele on the 4 Basic Strumming Patterns you need to get started.
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[@Maverick-g7o]

First off, thank you so much for making this video. I have been searching a long time for a simple, very basic video to get me started and at a slow pace. I bought me a new Amahi Ukulele a few months ago and I’ve tried different times to get the hang of it and gotten frustrated and given up. I found this video today and I’ve hit rewind and played along with you and actually been able to keep up, now I’m starting to feel comfortable and finally I’m starting to understand as well ❤ 😅 Thank so you again and I’ve subscribed to your channel

[@johncaudrey-music]

I am so very pleased to hear that! Thank you so much for your kind comment and for subscribing to the channel. I hope some of my other videos prove as helpful to you as this one.

[@JHayes-to2hn]

Very helpful

[@johncaudrey-music]

@@JHayes-to2hn Thank you! 🙂

[@UkeyDuke-dj7xi]

Great tutorial John and very well explained. Thank you! 😄

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you too!

[@owellhenry703]

Thank you so much. I was able to understand all the strumming patterns. I play cords but it is a struggle for me to strum the ukulele.

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are very welcome!

[@Rufus835]

Great simple guide for beginners - many thanks

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are welcome, Thank You! 🙂

[@jrl587]

Thank you for the video! Very informative, it improved my playing greatly especially since I'm just beginning to learn the Yukelele! So many gems in 1 video! ^_^

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you, I am so pleased that the video helped so much! 🙂

[@rayhilliard2290]

John, thanks very much for this video. As a brand new player, with no musical knowledge, I found it easy to strum along.

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you, I'm glad it was helpful!

[@1uptowngirl]

Thank you for simplifying strumming. I struggle with this area the most. Can't seem to get it, but will practice what you have so effectively shared.

[@johncaudrey-music]

Glad it was helpful! Keep at it and it will get easier with time and practice.

[@ricks1fan]

Very helpful and easy to follow. I took notes and wrote down the strumming patterns but do you have a PFD available to print out?

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you! Sorry I haven't got a PDF available for this tutorial, I'm afraid.

[@jeanholt3531]

The best video .. simple, no frills, very clear. Thank you !

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you so much, that is very kind!

[@karennocco4974]

Finally a real helpful beginning!!! Thank you soooo much.😊

[@johncaudrey-music]

Glad it was helpful!

[@coolinva]

Thanks for the video, but the last strum, up is 1/8 or 1/16 beat (1, e, &,a) for 4/4, or up is 1/8 beat for 3/4 ? Thanks.

[@johncaudrey-music]

Good question and not the easiest to answer quickly and simply. In a "Straight Eight' pattern all the numbered beats are divided into two equal parts (or 2 x 1/8 beats). In a 'Swung' pattern, the same numbered beat is split into 3 parts, but we still think of them as 1/8s. This is called a 'triplet' (normally counted as '1 & a'). The down strum or numbered beat takes the time of 2 of the 1/8 notes and the up strum takes the place of the final one. This is also referred to as a 'triplet swing'. I found this article on Wikipedia, if it helps anymore: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_(jazz_performance_style)

[@coolinva]

@@johncaudrey-music Thanks for the info and always good to learn something new. Have a nice one.

[@57cjp]

@@johncaudrey-music Great! I learnt a lot in one video!

[@johncaudrey-music]

That’s great to hear, thank you!

[@peggy_tan]

Who is here to watch him strumming the 5k in the thumbnail...🥲

[@johncaudrey-music]

No, you are definitely the 1st person to spot that! Or at least the 1st person to say so. Sorry to disappoint! The 5K is one of mine though. Here is a short video of me playing it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHmmmGSmaZKIq9ksi=iRBROK7uswoMs2xD

[@akshitsharma3066]

THANK YOU SIR VERY MUCH NOW I UNDERSTAND STRUMMING RYTHM, YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER THANKS

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you! You are most welcome!

[@FidoHouse]

You have demystified this for me. Thank you!

[@johncaudrey-music]

That is great news! I am pleased to be of help.

[@teodoracordero2467]

Thank you you're a brilliant teacher I learn a lot it's very clear teaching from gensan city philippines

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you! You are very welcome.

[@TootToot2Draw]

Just bought one of these and never played a guitar before. Super, super helpful.

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you, glad I could help!

[@TootToot2Draw]

@@johncaudrey-music I’ll be using these videos to try and get the basics right. My fingernails are ‘short’ and I use a plectrum.. can you do a vid or include their use in one?

[@johncaudrey-music]

Most people use their fingers or thumb to strum the ukulele. Generally a plastic plectrum on nylon ukulele strings is a pretty harsh sound. If you are going to use a plectrum for the ukulele I would suggest getting a felt one specifically for the ukulele. You don't need long nails to strum, in fact its probably best if they are not, as you are using the back of the nail and not the tip as such. Hope that helps some!

[@mrofnocnon]

Thank you for the good info.

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are most welcome!

[@suenidasa6497]

Thanks for sharing this

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are most welcome! 🙂

[@kimsachan]

I am beginning ukulele player, ❤ thank you for your time.

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are most welcome!

[@funguykel]

As a beginner I use my index finger for the down strum and my thumb for the up strum. My fingernails hit the strings for both strums. I apply more pressure for the down strum and less pressure going up with the thumb. This seems to be working fine for me. My index finger would become sore when using for both down and up strumming.

[@johncaudrey-music]

Hi Ken, that is absolutely fine! There are many different ways to strum with varous finger and thumb combinations. In an ideal world, we should probably practice them all.

[@paulphelandesigns2537]

This is great .I've being looking for a good online video for a while .to start up on the uke.thank you sir you are a pleasure to follow along too

[@johncaudrey-music]

You're very welcome!

[@SeanFitzpatrick-w6t]

Thanks for making this, a great reference resource for getting started strumming!

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@bremersonne]

Could all four strumming patterns be played with the thumb or does it have to be the index finger for the last three?

[@johncaudrey-music]

Yes, they could all be played with the thumb, but you will probably end up with upstrokes being louder and down strums being quieter. That doesn't really need to be an issue though! I generally find I can play much faster with my first finger than I can with my thumb. In an ideal world, you'd want to learn with both as there are some strums you might want to learn moving forward that use both finger and thumb.

[@bremersonne]

@@johncaudrey-music Thank you for the quick reply! That's good to know. I seem to automatically use my thumb, but I will start practicing the strums with both.

[@soussantabatabai5727]

😍

[@johncaudrey-music]

😊

[@thelmajorge4109]

Thank you I like the video. You made it a little faster for me I have to practice every day.

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you, You can do it!

[@66mrzar]

Is that ukulele concert or tenor?

[@johncaudrey-music]

Neither, it's a soprano.

[@MerlinGarcia-o7e]

I enjoyed this lesson 😊

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thank you! 😃

[@piggy6424]

Thank you so much now I can strum a uke!!

[@johncaudrey-music]

Great news! Pleased the video was of help.

[@mariakeenan4908]

What ukelele do you recommend for beginners? I was advised to get a basic mahalo one?

[@johncaudrey-music]

Hi Maria, I would probably go for anything made by Kala (KA15S or KA-S or equivalent) or if your budget doesn't run to that, then maybe a Makala Dolphin. I personally think these are a little better than the Mahalos. I hope that helps!

[@mariakeenan4908]

Thanks John. I bought a KA15S. I seem to have to retune it after a few hours if I put it down and go to use it again. is this normal?

[@johncaudrey-music]

Hi Maria, that is completely normal, new strings need to stretch quite a lot before they stay in tune. After a few hours of actual playing time, the strings will start to settle and stay more in tune.

[@KDuran-mn8ge]

No sound?

[@johncaudrey-music]

@@KDuran-mn8ge I've only just seen this comment for some reason. I hope the sound is working for you now?

[@richardhoyle456]

Cheers,nice one!

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are welcome!

[@funtboy]

Many thanks!

[@johncaudrey-music]

You're welcome!

[@doncatchpole]

Good

[@johncaudrey-music]

Thanks

[@paddymelia1669]

I'm still struggling loosening my wrist up! Keep catching the first or last string at times :(

[@johncaudrey-music]

Yes, it definitely sounds like you need to relax your hand and play softer. Try playing as quietly as you can and make sure your strumming hand is playing where the neck joins the body of your ukulele.

[@paddymelia1669]

@@johncaudrey-music Appreciate the reply thanks! It's getting there for sure, just got to keep at it :) thanks again!!

[@angielinadupal-ag6022]

Thank you so much sir

[@johncaudrey-music]

You are most welcome! 🙂