Bluegrass Basics for Banjo Ukulele - EZ Techniques for Ukulele

[@andyhowe1302]

I do like your teaching 😊

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@andyhowe1302 thanks Andy! Glad you're enjoying it! Kelly

[@thereseg7203]

Kelly, John Denver Live Concerts 1977 in Australia was when I first heard that song. Appreciate very much you breaking down the Do Re Me etc scale. I got a lot out of that Video. The first 10 minutes is what I will be practicing until I can do it blindfolded. :-) Thanks again.

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@thereseg7203 I like this one too. It's a fun tune to play. Have fun Therese!! 😁

[@Sue-vo3lq]

Yay!!! Love Grandmas Feather Bed (and John Denver music!) I actually got brave and sang/played this at a jam last Sunday! Know it by heart :D

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@Sue-vo3lq awesome!!! Great to hear! It is a fun tune for sure!! Kelly

[@RegularBiscuit]

The day i bought my banjolele we get a banjolele video, hurrah!

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@RegularBiscuit yay! I've been waiting until you got one!! You're going to LOVE your banjolele - they are a blast!!

[@randywalker1925]

Another great lesson I love that song and another song called homegrown tomatoes. Thanks again Kelly😊

[@fourstringstrummer]

Hey Randy! Glad you liked it! I'll have to look up Homegrown Tomatoes!

[@RoderickPerks]

Let the fun begin....banjolele is now firmly integrated into guitar family and your online lessons are brilliant, many thanks. I'd like to change the (4) strings to steel strings (with loops) and tune it 'high G' C E A. Are there any specific string sets for this or will a 'normal' G tune up an octave?

[@alexjakubowski3863]

I just pulled the trigger on getting a Duke 10 banjolele- I am so excited! I play ukelele in our band right now and I'm super excited to bring some new sounds and techniques to our sound! Thanks for all the great resources!

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@alexjakubowski3863 that's great! I just sent your DUKE out! You should be receiving it very soon!! Kelly

[@alexjakubowski3863]

@@fourstringstrummer YAY thank you! I'm so excited :)

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@alexjakubowski3863 you are going to LOVE it!

[@DukeBanjoUkuleles]

Thanks so much for choosing a DUKE10! Bet you can't wait for it to arrive 🙂 Kelly is the best! - Let us all know what you think when you get it - Jamie

[@RoderickPerks]

Fabulous intro to the banjolele. Arthritis is affecting my guitar playing but having watched this short video, I'm off to buy my first banjolele. Thanks. Look forward to getting up to speed. Bluegrass is also new to me so really excited to get into a new genre.

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@RoderickPerks you're going to love it!!!

[@robkunkel8833]

Love it! Kala in hand following you closely.

[@pierrelachapelle9864]

Hey Kelly, i just bought a Duke 10, hopefully receiving it by mid October. I'm really looking forward to playing everything I have learned from your videos over the past month on my regular ukelele and transferring it over to the Duke10.

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@pierrelachapelle9864 Hey Pierre! That's fantastic! You're going to love it! I just looked in the system and I see your order in there!! Won't be long now! Kelly

[@pierrelachapelle1156]

@@fourstringstrummer Thanks Kelly, I'm really enjoying your videos and really working on getting the bluegrass strum down to an art. In due time.

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@pierrelachapelle1156 it's so much fun to play!

[@karisumner4709]

First play along song goal for 2025, love this blue grass banjolele sound.

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@karisumner4709 glad you enjoyed it! Keep at it and you'll definitely reach your goal!! Kelly

[@Sue-vo3lq]

OK...Question.... Are some string brands better for good hammer-on sounds? My hammer-ons sound weak, barely there. Any tips?

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@Sue-vo3lq not sure if a brand will necessarily make much of a difference but some types of strings may have better "punch", brightness and resonance and that may help. A lot of people really like fluorocarbon strings. I would recommend going on The Southern Ukulele Store's KZbin channel - he has a great rundown of all the different string types/brands etc all the different sounds. Very in depth

[@Sue-vo3lq]

@@fourstringstrummer I have lots of different ukes/strings.... will have to try them all to see which have more pronounced hammer-ons. Problem is.... unless I know the strings, I won't really know... I have only replaced a few sets- with Martin and Aquila.... :D Or, maybe, I just need to practice my hammer-ons.... ? lol...

[@pootwaddle]

I tune my banjolele to open C and try clawhanmer on it

[@janetmichal]

I find it easier to do the upstroke of the sledgehammer with my index finger rather than my thumb. Should I retrain to use my thumb, or does it matter?

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@janetmichal hey Janet! If it works for you - go for it! I'm not always the most "conventional" player - I kinda do what feels right. As long as you get the same effect and timing and it doesn't affect your ability to do other strums then I'd say do what works for you! Kelly

[@janetmichal]

@@fourstringstrummer Well, that's what I'm wondering - might it affect my ability to do other strums? I'm pretty new to the uke so I'd rather develop good habits now. By the way, I really like your lessons. And thanks for the fast reply!

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@janetmichal if you want to do the sledgehammer strum using your finger coming up that's okay. Eventually when you do other strums like the double strum you may want to use your thumb for the up strum. You could do it with your finger but then it gets pretty "busy". If you can use your finger and your thumb it kind of splits the work load and transition time - probably you'd be able to go faster down the road using thumb and finger.

[@janetmichal]

@@fourstringstrummer Great - thank you

[@fourstringstrummer]

@@janetmichal no problem!!