Basic Ukulele Strumming Techniques with Jake Shimabukuro | Reverb Learn to Play

[@BirdWhisperer46]

I ordered my Ukulele about 2 weeks ago, never played anything before and I am 74. So just been strumming my belly to try and get the muscle memory. My Uke came Saturday, I can tune it, I know how to hold it and now, I know my first 4 chords, and the journey begins. I was worried I would never click with it, but by 2:02 I knew my life had changed. I can't thank you enough, old age is bad enough without boredom. :o)

[@tashhibbert4726]

Cool!!! I hope you have loads of fun learning the uke!

[@BirdWhisperer46]

@@tashhibbert4726 My problem is not finding the interest in picking up my Uke to practice, my problem is putting it down after an hour or so, so I don't burn out. HAHAHA

[@matokuwapi]

Like you, I'm a senior who picked up a uke a few months ago for the first time. Never played before and never had music lessons. I have to say, I'm now hooked and having fun. I joined up with the local Uke club here in my town and would jam with them every Wednesday night. It was a scary move but the best part was that there were about a hundred that turned out each night and they were very welcoming to new players...and with that many ukes going at once, no one heard all your mistakes. LOL. Well that all ended with Covid-19, but they still meet to jam online via Zoom. You'll learn to really appreciate KZbin, with all the "lessons" you can find on here...but it can get overwhelming, too. My favorite right now is probably Bernadette Teaches Music channel. Tons of how to videos, classes and live online content. (she's a good teacher. singing...not good, but so what). Another good one is Cynthia Lin Music. Or just search Beginner Ukulele. Keep practicing...it does come along with time. The biggest problem I have now...is trying to sing at the same time...exspecially when I'm trying to strum beyond the basic down strum. It's like trying pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time.

[@tashhibbert4726]

Mitch I feel you lol 😂

[@BirdWhisperer46]

@@matokuwapi I had ordered my Uke, then the next day saw one for sale in Craigs list, so instead of waiting 2 weeks I bought that one too, since it was cheap. {I can't believe how cheap these things are} And then I found another Oscar Schmidt and bought it too. Now I seem to have a collectors problem, cause I just ordered a Baritone to go along with the others. I think that should do it, for awhile. LOLOL

[@dr150]

You can tell he's a great teacher. He also seems very cool and humble!

[@00hn34]

Yeeeah, I was trying to come with that sentence. Haha.

[@salwong9905]

Great guide, thank you!

[@pratheekshap3672]

Totally agree..

[@wylancslass]

For someone who is such an experienced player .. remembering how he began all those years ago and teaching beginners like me .. Wow! So humble! What a lovely man! Thank you!

[@knightlaugh141]

Hey any progress after 3 years????

[@EnoshimaUke]

Jake! I met you at Kugenuma Beach about 12 years ago while you were recording video for a local TV show and I was walking my dog. You inspired me to get the ukulele(bought on a trip to Hawaii, but never used) out of the closet, and to learn how to play. Now, I play almost every single day! Thanks for the inspiration! Happy Strumming!

[@frankortega4280]

I love Ukelele because of Jake. He inspires with his talent and warm, easy going style. Jake has a warm and kind manner.

[@kennethsikora9136]

I just started learning the ukulele and it is my first foray into music (I'm almost 50). I saw Jakes rendition of When My Guitar Gently Weeps and it blew me away. I was struggling with getting a clear sound with my strumming. This tutorial explained alot for me. I look forward to your other videos. You are one of my inspirations for sure! Thanks for the tips.

[@LauraReevesartist]

I started at 60!!

[@TechitEscobar777]

I'm starting at 58!

[@carolzupkas6421]

I’m starting at 73 😃

[@faithfaith9798]

Years ago I played for a few months then had to sell my ukes. I'm buying an Oscar Schmidt ou3 soon and playing at 60!

[@footprintx]

Sounds like me. "Hm, sure I'll pick up the ukelele. What song should I learn first? Eh, let's try Jake Shimabukuro's version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

[@operamatthew]

this dude is an awsome teacher

[@cheyennealexander3039]

Jake is an extremely sincere, engaging and kind personality in this video. He makes the student really feel relaxed and attentive. It's a high energy video even though it's going over the basics. Thank you very much I learned a lot.

[@BruceXuHasADream]

That song you wrote is so harmonically pleasing! Jazzy and brilliant! Humble guy, ridiculous sound, such a concise explainer when he teaches; just a true warm human being. He deserves the world

[@blkPhillip]

This is an exceptional lesson. It not only covers the basics of strumming but demonstrates the possibilities for shifting the tone, projection, and mood of a song. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with us newbie players!🙏

[@JeffLarkin]

It hadn't occurred to me to practice switching between soft and hard in such a seamless way. I've played both ways, but never switching so suddenly between them. Beautiful. Something I need to work on for sure.

[@dirkiedenh]

Great. At last a strumming tutorial that pays attention to the upstrokes

[@Jurrockin]

What a cool dude. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@mariaclaraballestrinduriet8552]

Your tutorials are really helpfull! Keep on going with more strumming technics please!!!

[@natfurtop]

What an awesome guy and teacher!

[@Pindolene]

Jake Shimabukuro - the King of ukulele. Thank you for sharing your advice!

[@bhatki_gaayika]

Taimane is the queen..

[@kijoh7474]

taimane the queen and jake the king :)

[@caziko48]

Just beautiful to listen too Jake. You are so relaxed and a joy to listen to. 😀

[@AnabellaChiclana]

Met him at a concert once. We talked about how we were both from Hawaii. A really sweet and humble dude, and super talented!!

[@eleanorlebrecht]

When I came across this Jake S. video I thought... dpn't even go there..but actually he gives some great training for newbies. The first thing that wowwed me was using the flesh part of the thumb and index finger. I tend to gravitate to strumming with the flesh of the thumb and was always trying to get myself away from that. No more guilt about that now. He then shows how use the finger nails of those. I learned where to strum on the neck and the twist of the wrist. Oh how he fussed over the C chord, how to best aim the fingernails. He is really good about teaching the basics. I feel a major breakthrough here for me. Since I am reading Atomic Habits this fits right in., Remember the guys in the movie Wayne's World where they meet the rock stars and they fall down in front of them saying.."We're not worthy, we're nor worthy" ? I feel like Jake is saying..."get up, you are worthy.." lol

[@YotamPiano]

I love this dude!!! and his singing is not too shabby actually... his playing though... divine

[@LizaRecipeCookingTIPSandLife]

thank you for sharing your skills, your teaching is a great tool to make the world come true

[@MatsMatsuo]

i bought an ukulele, and i went directly for song tutorials, i've been playing with the nails since the begnning, i thought i didn't know how to play the other way, cause the sound was to soft, i thought it was playing it wrong, lol, now everything makes sense

[@zNblack00]

me too! But now i know it depends on what nuance that I want to deliver. Soft, warm: play with the fleshy parts of my fingers bright, crisp: with the nails

[@Piano_with_You]

Hands and fingers, fast as lightning ... you are awesome!

[@leftoverking]

saw jake in concert once in eureka and my mind was blown. amazing what he can do with that instrument.

[@singingmaiden]

Fantastic tutorial! Very easy to follow and fun to watch.

[@blurrystar]

Jake, you are an amazing teacher. Please do a course on Skillshare, or somewhere, anywhere. It would be a treasure to have.

[@rickmcconnell6520]

Jake, you are ridiculously talented ! I will watch and learn, thank you.

[@jchristodoulos]

The best teacher!

[@alizasaad6821]

Hats off to this man!! His way of teaching really helped me. 👍🏻

[@avyvemmy9867]

I've been struggling on how to properly strum the ukulele so this helps greatly! Thank you ❤️

[@soren6234]

Honestly this helps me so much. I've been struggling with going from thumb strumming to index strumming because it gave me a dull sound but now it's a lot easier!

[@feralferrari2516]

I ❤️ how calm Jake starts off, then slays with the whole hammer of the gods’ effect!⛰👺⚡️ 🙀🙀🙀

[@JohnHenrySheridan]

Great video! Thank you Reverb and Jake Shimabukuro!

[@idrayas2]

C major in an ukulele, the happiest sound for years to me. Thank you jake for making me play the ukulele since your white shirt my guitar gently weeps in the park video.

[@lillybeach2391]

I finally learned how to strum properly! The last tutorial I found didn't help but yours did. Thank you.

[@kimmyrawes8007]

amazing explanation of different sounds with different strumming

[@jaym1301]

Thank you! Now I know what I've been doing wrong trying to strum with my index finger, not curling it enough so the fingernail hits the strings more. Same with the thumb. This is one of the more helpful uke tutorial videos I've found. (I've only been learning for around two weeks. I'll be 63 in another two weeks.)

[@tatovive]

That Uke is beautiful! Thank you for the knowledge

[@PierreHacheMusic]

Great! strumming with thumb AND index, either nail or pads of fingers is an awesome technique. Clear instruction and nice playing!!! Good inspiration for my new channel. thanks!!

[@vincent3727]

Nice tuto, thanks Jake, you're my new favorite ukulele teacher :)

[@youknow8323]

awesome Jake! you're an inspiration for me too! i got this vid saved so i can refer to that take home lesson of how sometimes when you bring the gift of music, you go home feeling you're the one that has healed. mahalo!

[@kemayamars]

I recognized the song after the first few chords 😍 Jake is the best!!

[@bahaar2825]

He sings so beautifully!

[@barbaratibbets8643]

I just started playing about a month ago. Best lesson yet! Thanks!

[@riteshdassingh7043]

Sprightly! He is awesome. Look at the fastest fingers on the strings! Whoa

[@caruby6969]

Beautifully explained. Inspiring. Seems like such a nice personality and very talented.

[@thomaskirkland1810]

Not sure if you ever read your comments here...But I've been a big fan of yours since I saw your video doing George Harrison's "While my guitar gently weeps" in Central Park... Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us!

[@ashleykiser7107]

Your voice is great don't doubt yourself

[@MrJooploderus]

People who give tumbs down they don't have a life. How can you not like this, a talented musikus that teach what he do wit love and passion.. Even when you not like the sound of the ukulele you can show respect for the way this man play and teach others.

[@hatfieldrick]

Jake is a ukulele god, and I think I'm in love...

[@lukabalta2398]

much apriciated vid 2 years after! well explained great quality and a beautiful ukulele :D

[@whitnuld]

I learned more from this video than I in hours of other uke videos. Thanks so much!

[@love2laughwa]

Just bought my first ukulele and I was struggling with strumming...until this video! Thank you!!!

[@tatianaandstrannikmusic9306]

Humble pleasant person he is! 🌷

[@coolbreeze5683]

Wow, I found this video at the right time! I've been trying to figure out what that Fadd9 chord was, since I couldn't find a reference to it anywhere

[@B0K1T0]

Very good lesson.. but that song you played at the end was fantastic! :)

[@AllArePreciousToHim]

Ooooh, I'm excited to start watching your videos! Nice job teaching (I'm a music teacher too). I love your pedagogy!

[@krishnanandacp1908]

Jake.... Dude. Got scared in last part😂 you are awesome man!!!

[@_take5ive]

Jake: *plays C, Cm7, C7 and F* Me: hey that’s just like the beginning of “Something” Jake: These are the first 4 chords of George Harrison’s “Something” Me: *HAPPINESS NOISE*

[@kameron.w4089]

really

[@piercejohnson29]

*Cmaj7

[@Sierrafairy]

He did give credit to George Harrison at the beginning of this video.

[@pauldepter6031]

@@abendrot___8055 right!

[@DarranJHankey66]

Imagine an evening with these two on stage kzbin.info/www/bejne/eamyhHWlnJWDe5I That would sell out.

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

It’s good to see you!

[@debosmitadola7133]

I just love your techniques

[@anjaliradhe]

Thanks Jake and Reverb!

[@moes_film]

beautiful uke, great sounding too!

[@HarleyFatBoyJr]

Cheehuuuu!! Amazing Cousin. KCC was a long time ago but even back than you were amazing. Will never forget you playing Sleepwalk on my guitar in the cafeteria. 🤙🏾🔥

[@markrose53]

As a beginner, I Haven’t heard this take before, very interesting

[@jenniegarcia3833]

Love this lesson video!😁 thank you

[@Kwood10]

Awesome video 👍🏻loved it . More videos from Jake please 🙏🏻

[@wendycampbell3801]

Jake, you are awesome. Thank you for your video! :)

[@wylancslass]

I love this! It is so encouraging for a beginner like me using the thumb! Thank you so much.

[@Sidetrackification]

Saw him in Florida on tour. He and a bass player covered every genre of music ever heard! More music was generated by 8 strings, than by an orchestra. ..

[@sherrikeikilani5426]

He’s the best. Aloha Jake 🙂💜✌️

[@SwoleNerdYT]

The way he went into flow was crazy

[@eyesaid7172]

You’re incredible! Thank you so much 😊

[@joshpalmer8485]

Thanks for the instruction. Like it . Subscribed

[@arundhati4084]

Thank you so much Jake!!

[@petethescalemodeller6130]

Love the attk , with the nail , freekin awesome ty :)

[@leetayon8791]

You are amazing!!

[@Srcsqwrn]

Are there any videos for more advanced strumming? I want to learn to strum in different ways!

[@MarkSHogan]

You can sing. Thanks for this.

[@BarnabyWild13]

Thanks man! You are awesome!

[@Indi_Waffle_Girl]

Thank you, as a fresh uke noob I appreciated being taught the basics of all basics XD also I loved your Hawaii five o song!!

[@creatingbeauty5522]

That is such a gorgeous ukulele. Nice teaching too. Thank you!

[@timursenchenkov8704]

Why does this video not gather a billion likes?

[@joseph2832]

great video thanks so much

[@noumine]

amazing! thank you!

[@Rockies007]

So awesome! You Freaking rock Jake! Big fan here

[@abn8818]

Great video! Which ukelele is best for a beginner please?

[@coming_out_97]

This. Channel is so amazing

[@stephencunliffe3879]

Excellent ! Thanks

[@penniemeadows2009]

Love your lessons I have a Baritone ukelele do you do any lessons specific to the Baritone?

[@nelanelasupergirl]

hi guys, the greatest success that ive ever had was with the Arthurs Uke Blog (just google it) definately the most useful system that I've followed.

[@markl4159]

The song he wrote was awesome

[@felipebechstedt4064]

man, u can play so fast hahaha amazing!

[@jay-ki6ie]

damn when he started playing his song i was blown away

[@evelynvongizycki1017]

Does Jake or anybody here know where he got that ukulele strap? My biggest problem is holding the uke and trying to transition from Chord to chord. I see a lot of straps online but that one is kind of unusual it looks really good

[@breakerparsons253]

Great vid ,easy to follow ,thankyou 😁

[@tessamaliepaard557]

But... I just didn't want to complain because you CAN sing. You have a nice and warm voice

[@subhajitmusicalofficial3225]

You are awesome Sir

[@dominic5479]

I saw a ukelele and was immediately tempted to leave a shithead comment, because I'm reminded of the countless mediocre ukelele strumming opening acts I've endured. If you feel the same, take a look at 6:07. This is genuinely compelling music. Thank you for the lesson, Jake.

[@solodolotrevino]

This man had me playing Something in 3 minutes