Clawhammer Ukulele Tutorial - 1 of 4 - The Bum Ditty

[@JesusWantsARelation]

I'm slow on the uptake, but coming back a long time later - I understand and will be able to pick this up 😊😊😊

[@FlatlandMando]

I've seen other people's bum- ditty & yours is both more relaxed yet more precise than most. Going to take more time & practice what you say. You know what you are talking about!

[@brandysenior854]

I love your tutorial💚 I'm learning to play my new banjolele and I'm really grateful for finding you on KZbin. Thank you!

[@yahuchanonyakov]

I love how he pointed out the similarity between banjo and ukulele, it will definitely bolster confidence for banjo players wanting to take up Uke, and vise versa....

[@4U4U7]

Richard you are truly a great teacher! Thankful for your in depth explanations.

[@superd222tube]

Thank you for your well thought out and well demonstrated ukulele tutorial. Many will benefit. Keep on pickin' and clawin'

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks superd... glad you found it helpful!

[@amjPeace]

I am glad you have felt inspired to share your knowledge with us. I really appreciate your calm, confident style, and of course your beautiful music! Thank you so much!

[@tmo7734]

Hi Richard. Thank you so much for your claw hammer ukulele tutorials. You did a terrific job explaining and providing enough play-along for those learning the claw hammer technique. Best wishes to you and your family.

[@RackwitzG]

After scanning loads of boring Tutorials by girls strumming chords and sporting their voices, I found this. Exactly what caters to me. Thankyou Sir!

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks... Kinda hard to compete with all those pretty girls strumming ukes!

[@phjr1954]

Awesome Lesson! I cant wait to review your other videos!

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks Paul!

[@kt6strings2]

The next best thing to having an in-person lesson. Thank you for a great tutorial.

[@paullavers4173]

You my friend are a musical godsend. Like yourself I have become besotted with this wonderful instrument. I am also a banjo player. Thank you for providing your professional skills to budding ukulele players like myself. You're tops.

[@ukuleleuniverse]

Richard, your tutorial is great, very clear and instructive.

[@ChrisJohnstonspeaks]

I really appreciate your approach to teaching this! I got my first banjolele about six months ago and I've only been playing the uke for a little over a year, so I haven't used it much. Going to hit this some every day!

[@benjamincordes207]

I really like that you go into so much detail. Know I will be coming back to watch these over and over again!

[@MegaSnippets]

Nice style, many thanks, it's taken the mystery out of that wonderful rhythm which I now know is clawhammer.

[@ChicagoRosePianist]

Thank you for a very clear explanation. You are a very good teacher!

[@martingoodhew1086]

Just discovered you after two years of playing uke. Brilliantly clear tutorial just what I need a new challenge! And you have done so many tutorials too. Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to post them.

[@dimi5464]

Began to learn to play on ukulele. I was lucky to have stumbled across your lessons.

[@bggruff3229]

I love your style of teaching this is very helpful. Thank you so much.

[@anapaolaizquierdo]

I'm finally gaining some confidence in clawhammer. Still working on it. Thanks a lot.

[@nick8292]

Thank you, sir. Excellent instructional style

[@marcusyaha]

I really love you intro. It makes me fall in love with clawhammer! THX!!!

[@GeraldWilliams55]

I'm finally getting serious about learning the ukulele. I'm delighted to have found your instructional videos because your patient, thoughtful, crystal clear instruction is exactly what I need to progress to the next level. Many thanks.

[@boydee133]

Gerald Williams uuuugfuyfcffcugf

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

A really excellent, clear explanation, Richard.

[@BuzzyWhitlowIndy]

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge

[@zachb8012]

I know that intro song is like apple pie to a clawhammer player but its one of the most beautiful little songs I've ever heard from this instrument.

[@laia100406]

Thanks Richard for these great tutorials

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks Jez! I'm a fingerpicker too but this style works out so well for a lot of songs (like your "Uke Players Anthem") that it's become my favorite way of playing. I've got the other 3 videos in this series recorded and will upload them ASAP.

[@paullandry5907]

Such an awesome and practical lesson. Perfect start to Clawhammer technique!

[@sacredcowyoga7672]

Thank you, great tutorial! You make it seem possible I . I practice a lot, but still seems so far away to actually using it, but I’m keen!

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks... Just keep up the practice and it'll come to you!

[@richardrosenbaum1622]

I watched your whole series today and must say, Well Done!!

[@tyleraustenfeld8180]

Richard, you're the man. Clear and concise tutorial, excellent speed, the whole thing is great man. I'm really enjoying getting to this style. I've been a guitar player for several years and I finally feel like with the clawhammer my Ukulele is getting more of a voice and more reasons to pick it up and play more often.

[@AmassakoulnTenere]

This is an amazing tutorial! thank you so much for making such a clear, understandable video!

[@AWGG42]

Crystal clear, well paced and very helpful. Thank you.

[@navinolosba1917]

Alisdair Gorml

[@patogden856]

Thanks Richard " my ukulele should arrive tomorrow . You have inspired me greatly. Thought I would stretch my grey matter at 70 . Cheers Pat nz

[@RichardHefner]

Fantastic! It's never too late to start!

[@ianwhite6670]

Excellent video series, thank you.

[@ogstopper]

Hello Richard. Greetings from England. I play uke and George Formby-style uke banjo. Thank you for an excellent introductory Clawhammer tutorial! I'll give it a go!

[@premasru]

Thank you for this clear introduction to the clawhammer technique :D)

[@patogden856]

Pat again from nz . Thanks again Richard , got my callouses back already . So thrilled with your lessons decided to get a banjo (coming next week) . Am starting to get a little bit of decent sound from my ukulele and my guitar . Really exciting . Cheers

[@RichardHefner]

That's great Pat... Keep up the good work!

[@PeteyHoudini]

That was really well explained. Thanks!

[@pauldavies31]

Good Clear Video Richard Thanks

[@NumberSixRule]

Wow, this is great teaching. Thank you.

[@rjfpace]

Nice! Thanks for passing on your experience.

[@danieldenizman7790]

Very well explained, i love the clawhammer style ! Now that i m getting better with my uke I m definitely going to try this style!! It sounds amazing and, as you said, its difficulty might be overrated...i ll give myself a few months, though :)

[@RichardHefner]

Hi Dennis... I've never used a thumbpick for clawhammer and I'm not sure it would work but you could give it a try and see. I've noticed that some ukes are better (or worse) than others for playing clawhammer style.

[@williamgriffin8750]

Thank you so much for this! I’m a beginning ukulele player and I’ve been practicing the bum-ditty while holding an E chord. Trying to kill 2 birds, I guess. I’m nowhere near where I need to be to progress to the next level yet but I’m making slow and steady progress.

[@RichardHefner]

Great... Keep up the good work!

[@MFVV2010]

Great demonstration, thank you :)

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks Ken... I tried to make it so simple that even I couldn't understand it!

[@papabear5253]

Excellent tuition

[@Ukulele_am_Limit]

This is one of the best ukulele clawhammer tutorials on the whole internet. Thank you so much, Richard! I am from Germany and I have been so inspired by it that I've finally decided to launch my own youtube channel. It's the first one about clawhammer uke in German. So if you are looking for a German youtube-channel try "Ukulele am Limit" or visit www.ukulele-am-limit.com. Wer das Clawhammer auf der Ukulele auf Deutsch lernen will, sollte mal "Ukulele am Limit" aufrufen.

[@RichardHefner]

Thanks for your comment and good luck with your German clawhammer uke channel!

[@BlessYourHeart254]

Just discovered this, many thanks! I have a question: my hand wants to use the middle finger for the “bum” and the index for the “dit,” then the thumb as you do on the “ty.” Is it ok to use two different fingers rather than just one on the “bum dit” part, or is that bad technique?

[@RichardHefner]

Hi Cindy... What I'm teaching would be what most people would probably consider standard for clawhammer, but there are so many styles that if you can do what feels right to you and make it sound good, then go for it.

[@tomorrow2964]

Coolest tut since raggy Ragsdale!!

[@RBI22269]

Fantastic!

[@FlatlandMando]

On u-tube I can hear how any piece of music sounds so full & complex ( as you can play clawhammer). I am definitely one who needs the " baby-steps" approach to pick up this new thing. ? How far back in american history does this emerge, & do people think it came from African playing styles?

[@luke1035]

FlatlandMando it’s been a year sense you commented on this video. Have you found the answer to your question? I’m interested!

[@dennisdanner0]

Fantastic videos as always, Richard! Your quality of instruction is excellent. One question: the fretboard on my uke extends all the way to the sound hole. Consequently, when I bring my thumb down against the 4th string there isn't much clearance with the edge of the fret board blocking me. I am not able to get much of a pluck from the 4th string unless I move my claw/hand down over the sound hole which I am not crazy about. Should I try using a thumb pick or is there another solution?

[@johnbrothers4741]

This is a great tutorial. The problem is that the audio and the visual are not synchronized!.

[@RichardHefner]

It looks synchronized to me. Could it be that it shows up differently on some computer systems?

[@RicardoNask]

Richard Hefner Here is ok. Great Tutorial :)

[@MrMonkeyhanger]

Great tutorials Rich, cheers, although whether I'll ever manage to get up to the proper speed is another matter! Is the ezfolk site still running? Been trying to have a look about it but just keeps coming up as server not found

[@RichardHefner]

The ezFolk site is back up and running after being down for almost 24 hours due to a server crash. Right now I'm in the process of changing web host providers after being with the same one for about ten years. The transfer is going on right now and should be complete within 72 hours (there's a lot of data to transfer). Definitely everything should be in place by Monday, 03/08/14, and I'm hoping the site will be running smoothly with the new web host by then.

[@MrMonkeyhanger]

Lovely stuff, just given it a try again and I'm on now. Cheers for getting back to us so quick :)

[@jonc.porter6965]

Awesome! Thank you. 9:58

[@amyferebee]

great explanation ;^ )

[@ukuleletim]

Would love to jam with you some time if you are ever in the Austin area.

[@redlightsprinter]

thank you for doing these videos, may i ask how you chose which string you " Bum" on if i was picking a song?

[@RichardHefner]

If you're playing the melody of a tune the bum would be dictated by the melody notes. If you're just playing chords to accompany your singing you might try alternating between the 2nd and 3rd strings, however it sounds best to you. If you're playing in the key of C, for example, it would most likely sound best to play the 3rd string (C note) on the count of 1 in each measure and alternate the count of 3 with the 2nd string (E note). Listen to what you're playing and play what sounds right to you.

[@redlightsprinter]

@@RichardHefner i think i understand the theory , just got a lot of practicing to do. Thank you very much for your reply and these videos.

[@tickledgreen]

Thank you.

[@derovvvv]

YOU MAKE ME THINK I WATCHED THIS

[@ytkbtest]

what's the name of that nice song in the intro?

[@RichardHefner]

It's Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home."

[@ytkbtest]

Richard Hefner Of course! I knew it sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. Beautiful rendition of it. It makes the song livelier, yet prettier and sweeter at the same time!

[@magicalleela]

Is there any particular string the Bum in done on? For C, it's the C string, of course, but how about the A, 2100, or the G with the drop thumb. Are there any rules to it?

[@RichardHefner]

There are no absolute rules you have to follow. Ordinarily if you're playing just a clawhammer strumming backup along with singing the 3rd string works well, but you might find with some chords a different string might sound better (most likely the 2nd), so if it sounds better to play a different string just do that. Be sure to watch all four of my clawhammer ukulele video tutorials... kzbin.info/aero/PLr8buQg7bZ3sXXF24xI-hZCFfyWezOLkg

[@magicalleela]

Richard Hefner Thanks Richard. I did them when I first started, time to go back and review. I am still working on the When the Saints Go Marching In, very slowing, still cannot sing and play the clawhammer at the same time yet...

[@leslynfarmer5343]

I play left handed - totally left handed - and am beginning to suspect I may never be able to produce the right “stuff” with the claw hammer technique. Am I correct?

[@RichardHefner]

No, you're not correct. I'm "totally left handed" too, but after I tried playing upside down and switched the strings so they were backwards, I finally decided I'd just play like everybody else. Nevertheless, if you insist on playing backwards or hold your guitar upside down, that's okay. It didn't hurt Jimi Hendrix or Paul McCartney, but most of us left-handers just play like everybody else. It takes two hands either way.

[@RBI22269]

What set of strings would recommend for clawhammer on the uke ?

[@jasneskis]

When you started counting at the very end I got completely lost. I was counting 3. Middle finger, land on thumb, then strum all strings down with middle finger, than thumb. 3 counts for me. Are you playing single finger, than thumb than strum all strings then thumb. How do you get the 4 count? Please explain, I thought I understood till the very end.

[@RichardHefner]

It's bum-ditty-bum-ditty -- 1 - 2 and - 3 - 4 and -- that's about as simple as I can explain it. You may need to watch that part a few more times to get it, or just go to the next video and maybe that'll give you a better understanding of what's going on. Hope that helps.

[@JohnnyOScott]

thank you..my uke seems to be out of tune with its self..any sugestions??

[@RichardHefner]

John Scott -- Hi John... If you don't have an electronic tuner you should get one. Any music store would have a good one for less than $20. Or maybe you need new strings... or if you have a low quality uke (I didn't want to say cheap) you might need to spring for a better one.

[@JohnnyOScott]

I have one..but my c is in tune my g is not...

[@mugsyg237]

I LOVE my ukulele-specific SNARK!! I also find it fun to Say SNARK...clearly I have very simple pleasures. SNARK!!!! :)

[@maicamanabo4202]

you can download on apps a tuner for ukelele ^_^ for free

[@charlesbrown7579]

is a ukele better than a banjoele which is thhe best to buy

[@RichardHefner]

It's a personal choice. I prefer a normal wooden soprano ukulele but some folks like the sound of a banjolele better.

[@mugsyg237]

My fingernails are like paper. So I really need a pick on index finger on my banjolele and on a cheaper concert uke (picks really bring out that sweet sound.) Question: if I have to use a finger pick my other fingers sound duller than my plastic :) nail. I think I should use picks as well on my thumb and middle...agree? ALSO: have you ever tried the Alaska finger picks? They're really expensive and they only give you one. For the price ($12) they feel kinda cheap. Thoughts? ALSO ALSO: what do You do when your key fingernail breaks down to the quick? Mahalo.

[@zeemisery]

you are god

[@RichardHefner]

Haha... God might disagree, but thanks...

[@salliejohnson3750]

how is your ukulele tuned?

[@RichardHefner]

It's standard tuning... gCEA -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2bXaYaVhdeseaM

[@douglasmann9437]

L