5 Strumming Mistakes Beginners Make on Ukulele

[@RockClass101]

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[@bennyaus9308]

I am 70 year old now I find the most happiness is to start play the Ukulele 👍

[@kmtbyrd]

What a great teacher you are! Thank you for breaking down and explaining everything you were teaching. I've learned so much! This is exactly what I didn't understand when trying to learn the ukulele on my own! Thank you so much, I can't wait to watch and learn more from your videos! You're the best!

[@ab31_sk]

You gave a different perspective to the way i strum. I was missing that pulse.Thank you🫡

[@janemaher9121]

Very nice thanks. I finally feel like I know what to do re strumming!! Now for the rhythm😬🙏🏻🥰

[@JevenMusic-d6v]

You are a good teacher Sir, I'm a young beginner from Zambia.

[@txproudproudamerican9474]

I'm just researching if I should purchase a Ukulele and learn how to play. I've never played an instrument, but I've noticed people learning to play the Ukulele seem to be having more fun. Also, after watching this video it seemed to provide so much good info, and I actually didn't feel stressed out after watching it like I have when watching other instructional videos. Many Thanks!!

[@RockClass101]

Def get one!! Here's our article & video to help you find the perfect uke: rockclass101.com/4-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-ukulele/ And when you get your uke, check out this page for some ideas on where to start as a beginner player: rockclass101.com/learning-paths/

[@lpotter08]

Same situation for me. No previous knowledge of any other instrument. I thought it was easy but I'm struggling to find the rhythm. I just managed to play the chords for "Let it be" front the Beatles, but still the strumming part is the more difficult for me.

[@neurodeprogramming]

Flawless man! Great work.

[@Empt109]

I didn’t watch live and I’ve been learning to play the ukulele since May . Great video, learning the notes , chords and music theory isn’t nearly as difficult playing and making the music sound GOOD. I started playing while my wife and I were on our 35th wedding anniversary in Hawaii . She signed me up for a 30 ukulele class and i haven’t put the thing down . I own three Ukes and fixing to get another one . I’m retired I got nothing else to do . I love it .

[@SurjitSingh-us6xl]

Good strumming guide

[@Zurison]

Thank you. My friend and I followed along and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to checking out more of your videos. x

[@roxanemarin5387]

Fantastic video. It’s helped me sooo much. Thank you!!

[@conniechan3280]

Thanks❤

[@justinmills4275]

Really great video! Thank you again Matt! Such good teaching! Just so so much great information to help people (me included) improve!

[@laekhastephens1269]

Thank you so much.Greatly appreciated your knowledge 😎

[@ellenkuhl3171]

I have only owned my first ukulele in a month or so and right now I find it a bit too tricky to both strum in patterns , read the lyrics and remember where to put my “chord fingers”, so right now I’m just strumming down. But when I am better at finding the chords I will definitely try and use some ( if not all) of your tricks 😀

[@RockClass101]

Strumming on the down beats is a great starting point. If you'd like to jump into more lessons on the fundamentals of playing, I'd recommend checking out our Beginner's Course: rockclass101.com/definitive-beginners-guide-ukulele/

[@accountingink]

Its interesting. Regarding point 1 I find that that although it is a sweet spot for strumming its not necessarily so for fingerpicking, And to transition between strumming and fingerpicking where the placement of the hand is at the fretboard is challenging because there is a reduction on space at the fretboard compared to the just above the soundhole for fingerpicking . Wonder if anyone has the same experience

[@marvelousmaker]

When I am noodling I seem to strum okay but I am not putting much thought into it. Yet when I follow a play along. My strumming gets so ferocious that I feel like I am using the strings to grate cheese.

[@sudeepnarasimha]

Yeah right feels like to break the string

[@brian423]

Thanks for the very valuable lesson. Two things: 1.) Tips 2 and 3 can be briefly summarized as "Let your wrist be your double-speed metronome." In effect, in a manner of speaking, isn't that so? 2.) If the strumming motion is pretty much all in the wrist, why should the choice of thumb or index finger make much difference in the strumming speed a player is capable of? (I ask partly because I'm finding it easiest to get a sound I like by using the flesh of the thumb for the downstrum and the nail of the thumb for the upstrum.)

[@MattDahlberg]

It’s not all in the wrist, the fingers are also active. Think of your elbow as a first gear, wrist as a second, and fingers as third. ;)

[@brian423]

@@MattDahlberg The elbow is not supposed to move. The elbow holds still, so that the instrument can be held steady behind the forearm. As for the fingers, I have a hard time visualizing any motion of the fingers that would turbocharge a strumming wrist. (I'm talking only about strumming, not about any fingerpicking methods.)

[@brian423]

@@MattDahlberg I think I may owe you an apology for my earlier reply. I'm sorry if I came off as a heckling know-it-all.

[@suenidasa6497]

This is like spicing up a normal strum pattern. Interesting!

[@dereknrobw-g4749]

Excellent video! Are you using a Tenor in this video? Reason I ask, I am adult male with similar size hands as yours. I am just starting my Ukulele adventure and I borrowed a Concert from our local library and it feels a bit tight. Just wondering what size is your preference and if it would make a difference in comfort. Thanks!

[@RockClass101]

Thank you for the kind words, Derek! Matt plays tenor-sized ukuleles. I’d def recommend that size if you have larger hands as the fret spacing is wider, which makes it easier to fret notes and chords. If you can, stop by a local music store to try one out. I think you’d find that size more comfortable to play 😊

[@Edvenchers]

I’m wondering how I got golfer’s elbow in my strumming hand when I started playing finger-style and what I can do to avoid it in the future

[@RockClass101]

Hi Eddie, can you post a video of you playing on our forum? I'd be happy to take a look and make sure your form looks good: rockclass101.com/forums/forum/rock-class-101-ukulele-lessons/

[@67angie]

Me too! If you find the answer to avoid it, please let me know. It hurts very much and I had never thought, playing the Uke caused it... until I saw your comment just now.

[@ZachariahKane13]

Does ice cream is the best, love the shirt!

[@jessicaengle1024]

Immediate improvement. Thank you, please have some engagement.

[@sasuke_2145]

when strumming up with thumb, most of the time lower string sounds like it's muted. Any idea how to fix it??? The only sound which comes is of thumb nail sliding in string without string vibrating much. How to fix it???

[@RockClass101]

Can you post a video playing on our forum? I'll be better able to help if I can see/hear what's happening: rockclass101.com/forums/forum/rock-class-101-ukulele-lessons/

[@enadow1]

Sometimes I'm tempted to use middle fingernail for down strums on cord melody because my index nail is constantly breaking 🙁. Is this a bad habit? It sounds so much prettier with a finger nail.

[@RockClass101]

Totally fine!

[@67angie]

I usually use my ringfinger. Will now try the index finger after this tutorial

[@AdamBHarrisHarpist]

I think the quote about not playing notes comes from Miles Davis

[@suenidasa6497]

I get sore fingers often after a long strumming

[@RockClass101]

It's always good to listen to your body. If anything feels sore, definitely take a break. You may also want to double check that you are using proper form for fretting and strumming. Check out these lessons for help with that. Left hand form: rockclass101.com/proper-left-hand-ukulele-form/ Right hand form: rockclass101.com/proper-right-hand-ukulele-form/

[@mattyp3925]

Hilarious. For every teacher that says use your elbow, there is one that says to leave your elbow still and its "all in the wrist." I am a few days in but 25+ videos later pretty much the truth is just do what "best works for you"

[@George-of5kl]

Strumming with your finger like that is awkward and not good for really fast strumming for me

[@RockClass101]

Try strumming with the claw-shapped method we teach in this lesson: rockclass101.com/proper-right-hand-ukulele-form/. I (Andrew) prefer this method over Matt's preference, which is to use the index finger.

[@kennethroberts2748]

You're making 2 to 3 negative comments for every good idea you're presenting, and they are good ideas.