Strum Like IZ in Somewhere Over The Rainbow (updated and most accurate version)

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How did IZ strum in his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow? The answer is in this video. But don't forget to smooth out your fingernails first or it really doesn't work well. More details found in this lesson. Enjoy!
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[@lovedove2661]

This was the exact strumming technique I have been searching for. Thank you Aaron for this invaluable video.

[@SuperUkulele]

You're welcome!

[@aking0309]

I love that I’m not the only one still obsessed with this strum. This is definitely the closest I’ve seen anyone get. For you beginners, you’re not going to find a better tutorial for this strum. Get down what Aaron teaches here, and then just keep playing. The nuance that IZ played with will only come with experience. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself lol! Great tutorial!

[@NathanThompsonBlueEyes]

HUGE! Several videos say he's island strumming, and I was like nope nope nope. Thanks a ton!

[@tjjuaco92]

I have been looking for this strumming for a very long time. Nobody has figured it out on you tube except yourself. Thank you so much for sharing. It makes a huge difference the way you play it. This gives it the real vibe. Great videos and tutorials.

[@red-hat-mike]

Dude, you are simply the best instructor IMO that explains how to strum. I like many, viewed many other YT videos and your way of explaining is so clear and concise. Thank You !

[@SuperUkulele]

That motivates me thanks man! :) ~Aaron

[@jomoland]

Super Ukulele I really appreciate the way you show us the view from the top of the ukulele. Thanks 🙏🏽

[@IAudabcrazy]

Love this strumming break down! This definitely sounds closer to what I hear on Iz's version. You camera view from the top was very helpful. Totally demonstrates the mute and hand position for the second half of the pattern.

[@joenorah]

Thanks so much for this. I have been playing this song for many years not quite satisfied with the sound of my strumming pattern but not knowing why. Now off to become comfortable with this new pattern which I believe is what Iz plays. Thanks again.

[@LyolikZzz]

The closest strumming to the original song, that I could find. Thank you!

[@SuperUkulele]

You bet. And sorry for that late reply.

[@joepringle9028]

This is the one. After all this time searching and trying different demos. you nailed it.

[@pamelaherrmann1004]

Loved this tutorial! I just played around with it while playing 'A Pirate Looks at 40' and it was so sweet! Like a lullaby. Thank you so much!

[@nicolascueto7735]

I saw your earlier video tutorial on this song, and I'm glad you posted this updated version with the strumming pattern. This has been very helpful.

[@dreamlover4128]

Since 2014, I've been trying to find the strumming pattern for this song. Finally, I found it! Just need to practice a lot, but I'm getting it. Thank you! ❤️

[@SuperUkulele]

You are welcome!

[@12dvylika12]

very good, i am happy i found this lesson. i knew there was something missing in other tutorials. in my opinion, you managed to cover the technique of the hands. but you should also use your heart to sound really authentic. good luck.

[@SuperUkulele]

Well put...thanks for the thoughtful feedback sir:-) Aaron

[@AnitaLife27]

OMIzzy! Been looking for a proper tutorial for this for YEARS!!! Thank you!!!! Glad to finally get this and finally discover your channel.

[@janinesyoutube1096]

Wow. this takes it to a new level... Absolutely love the sound!! and that top view to show the strumming was really, really helpful!!! Thanks what a gift!!! You're great.

[@DRameyCRNA]

Hi Aaron, Frustrated beginner here - long being unable to figure out Iz strummed my favorite Uke song... you just showed me how! Thanks so much!

[@SuperUkulele]

Awesome Doug. Keep up the good work. ~Aaron

[@pbunt58]

For me, this is the best tutorial for Iz's sound. Well explained !

[@adamfitchett8695]

omg genius! Haha I've been waiting for a long time to hear how he actually played this thank you!!

[@juliacriqui4860]

Thank you! Picking the C string was this missing piece for me and this finally makes it sound right. (I still need a lot of practice, but now I know what to do.)

[@anahim.9777]

Oh that is what was missing! I was trying to patchwork the different technics of several tutorials on youtube, but you show it all! Thank you :D

[@n_zhel]

Finally, I got this thanks to you! Nice and easy explanation. The best 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' strum tutorial on KZbin! Best wishes from Russia.)

[@woody1797]

Thanks, Supe! I had the thumb pluck and the strum worked out pretty well, but the 'thumb-1st finger' pluck combo really sounds closer to Iz's sound.

[@twotonenavy]

Welcome back!!! Your videos gave me my first lessons, and taught me so much, thank you! I've been playing for two years now, but I've been holding out on getting that low-g string... I guess it's time. I am looking forward to seeing more of you again in the future!

[@SuperUkulele]

Loved this feedback. Truly! Thanks for watching. ~Aaron

[@jwuzhear]

Best version I've seen. Thank you!!!

[@faytheweber8578]

thanks for digging deeper!! I knew most of the other tutorials on you tube were not quite right, and its so fun to play it with this tutorial.

[@SuperUkulele]

You bet! Thank you and sorry for this late reply:)

[@KarenMitchellSmith]

Great job! I'm a teacher, too (not music), and you break it down just right. Thank you for being a great teacher!

[@scootersays]

I've searched a lot of tutorials for this strumming pattern and in my opinion, I think this is the closest, most authentic to IZ's version. And a lot of people miss the G on the second go around, they still play the Em again. Well done!!

[@SuperUkulele]

Thanks! Glad it helped. Just heard it one day and though...shoot this is it. Finally figured it out. Had to share.

[@petecassidy2580]

Wonderful! The BEST and most ACCURATE I have seen. There are a bunch who try, but YOU ARE SPOT ON. God bless you for sharing. I have to believe with all of my heart that IZ is smiling down at you.

[@SuperUkulele]

You are so welcome! The voice that came out of IZ was legendary. I'm always trying to strum like that guy.

[@michellejankowski3914]

It is great to see you back!

[@SuperUkulele]

Thanks Pete, Good to be back my friend. -Aaron

[@h-bombfitness237]

Best IZ strumming pattern I've been able to play, sounds great! Thanks for the video!

[@SuperUkulele]

Thanks Hunter! Keep playing. Peace. ~Aaron

[@the9thlimb]

Nice confirmation! Just nailed on guitar yesterday and this confirms. 🙏

[@filmgirlpipes]

Your videos are always so fantastic. You are a great teacher. :) This DOES sound so much like IZ! Thank-you. Thank-you!

[@snakedietswitzerland8089]

You have it spot on... thanks for sharing !

[@sharksuke1510]

Sick man! I’ve trying to figure this out. It’s a little difficult but I’m gonna keep trying thanks for sharing - subbed

[@kookianmin9866]

Thank you for teaching this. I struggle with this strumming pattern.

[@sentuki3140]

Единственный парень со всего ютуба, кто показал ПРАВИЛЬНЫЙ бой под эту замечательную песню! Спасибо/ Thanks!

[@johngardner1898]

I've got to be honest with you. This is spot on. Lovely. Thanks for posting. I can't wait to learn and play this for my spectacular Hawaiian daughter-in-law. Well done. You might have good days and bad days in your Ukulele career, but you were the best Uke instructor on the planet the day you shared this strum. This is a very graceful video.

[@SuperUkulele]

John this is a late reply but made my day today. Glad you liked that video. Keep strumming! -Aaron

[@lilzie1020]

Yeah! You're back!

[@kevinkirchoff3868]

this is the one! the right Iz strum. saw many others but don't look further. Thanks

[@lluis9377]

Fantastic. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@brianpolicoff6153]

Really well done! Your instructions are immaculate! Best uke tutorial yet!

[@SuperUkulele]

You gave me a very kind bit of feedback 11 months ago. So sorry for the late reply but thank you so much.

[@lindsydream4001]

This is so helpful for me thank you man!

[@astridthepastrid]

immensely helpful. thanks!

[@basileatutheo]

Thank you so much for showing the IZ way!

[@davidedolcevita8286]

You made the best tutorial...Thank you so much! God bless you!!!

[@SuperUkulele]

Thanks and God bless! ~Aaron

[@lisasolomon888]

This is great!!! So glad I found this. It would be helpful to me if you add info about how everything is accented. Again so appreciate this!!! I love this song and you have provided the most accurate strumming pattern I have found.

[@SuperUkulele]

Great suggestion!

[@robertkurtz6275]

Excellent video!!! (I like the view from above especially--very helpful!) I've been trying to figure this strumming pattern out for a long time, and this is the first time I've seen anyone get it right. After watching your video, I played IZ's video at half speed, and I'm pretty sure you nailed it. Thank you!! The only thing I'd add is that for me, muting the strings seems more natural (easier) using my left had fingers rather than my right hand (especially because of the speed of the strumming), but maybe that's just personal preference. P.S. Nice uke! (I have the same one...used to live down the street from the Kamoa shop in Poʻipū :)

[@SuperUkulele]

Thanks awesome that you have the same Uke. Out of all my Uke's this particular one had that IZ sound I thought. Thats awesome that you use to live so close to the Kamoa shop. Hopefully where you live now is pretty cool too. I lived in Honolulu for a while and picked up a pretty good Uke from a place called Good Guys once. Thanks for the awesome feedback! ~Aaron

[@flockyh3549]

Vielen Dank für dein Strumming!!! Super erklärt! Viele Grüße aus Germany 😁

[@jaykay1699]

Best I've found!! Thx for sharing!

[@SuperUkulele]

You gave me some kind feed back a year ago that I just noticed and I just want to say thanks for that. Hope you're doing well.

[@mrlollipop7132]

Hi SU, Great video,this is the fourth one of yours I've watched. As you can see this is a long winded request, but basically I got my first Uku yesterday...I know total, total beginner, but I've watched a lot of videos and specifically regarding strumming, i.e. pick don't pick, thumb, don't thumb, claw index finger primary/traditionally, etc. Now most of you guy's do seem to use the technique you've demonstrated (in your other strumming vid), but when I do it and yes, I am of course very new so no real experience or flexibility in my wrists, but if I try any technique except using my Thumb up and down I am only connecting with two or maybe three strings on the up strum. It probably doesn't help that I have postural tremors in both hands/arms, but I don't want to let that stop me or be an excuse. So I guess what I am asking, is should I just persevere with the index finger or will using my thumb be ok and not prevent me from doing other techniques at a later stage...Sorry really long winded I know. Take care, more Uku vids please.

[@station_is_42]

Wow, that's it! Good work!

[@eddiemoy]

Thank you for this! Thanks to you I think I'll be able to play my favorite song!

[@f1948s]

Thank you very much Aaron. Your instruction video does sound so much more like the way IZ did his strumming. There are numerous instructions out there but, to be honest with you your version is the best that I have found,. Also a big plus for you to let everyone know the construction of your ukulele as to what it is made of and the fact that you have a low g string. I like the way it looks. Is that a Kamoa ukulele? Thanks ,,

[@tr0ysk1]

I have pored over many videos to find the correct strumming for this song and you have done it. I am learning to play this to honor my father when we spread his ashes in the near future. I inherited his old ukulele. I know it is at least 40 years old if not older. I have just recently changed out the tuning pegs and am waiting on the new low g strings to come in. My only word of advice is to get some sort of boom mic or a lapel mic to get better audio quality. Although, you can be heard fairly well, it does sound like you are in a hall which can take away from what you are trying to teach. Other than that, great content!

[@Doke25]

Thank you for this! My friend loves this song and he recently passed away. I wanted to learn it for him. Really... Thank you 💚🌈

[@jaredkozel]

This is great. Thanks so much. I'm trying to find the right pacing and rhythm. How many strum patterns to you tend to play between the chords changes? Israel seems to play quite a few, and quickly if you listen to the number of mutes before each chord change...

[@malcolmchisholm24]

At last! You've explained Israel's strum! Thank you so much! Easy to follow when played back at half speed and I could watch your strumming and fingering. BTW, the link to your newsletter failed when I tried to sign up for it. Cheers! Malcolm

[@cliffy_255]

Hey I love your strumming

[@jean-marcpannetier163]

Hey You are a great teacher ! As a total beginner (with my own uk though) please tell me where should I start. Merci from Paris !

[@55guild]

Thanks man, like everyone says.....you nailed it!!! Even your ukulele sounds like his. What strings are you using? They have the Izzy " jangle" I've been looking for!

[@samueltang2101]

Great tutorial!

[@Gabi____]

4 - 3 - DU - rest - UDU

[@mistermomo2904]

Gabi funny because in the beginning of his medley Iz says “k, this one’s for gabi”

[@alquimistabarraza]

Excelente video bro'! Yo pude entender al fin! Gracias!

[@SuperUkulele]

Thank you my friend! -Aaron

[@jacquieklar]

Thank you for made this video! There a lot of motivated beginner here and we need datails datails datails:) You explain wery well.

[@SuperUkulele]

You're very welcome. ~Aaron

[@tysoncantrell8477]

Great video! Could you possibly play the whole song strumming like this? Just so I can follow along!

[@BltchErica]

So I need to only change the G string to low? Can the other strings be the same and also tuned the same as they are?

[@sahilsrhythm5550]

Great tutorial. Thanks.

[@SuperUkulele]

You bet thanks for watching!

[@apanloco]

perfect, identical, thanks!

[@chipsterblack7950]

Finally someone who got right! You are the man!!!!!!

[@TroyNaumu808]

Awesomeness!!! That's how Iz did it.

[@userytuser]

Свежий взгляд на классику! Большое спасибо)

[@angelofmusic477]

Thanks for sharing. Is is possible to put the strumming timing in musical notation?

[@AksiTosbaa]

Low G string is on the way! Thanks i always wonder why it sounds different everytime, even i do the same chords.

[@SuperUkulele]

Yes my friend. The Low G is how to really get that sound going. -Aaron

[@brucegorrie1140]

Where can I find your fingernail shaping thanks in advance

[@Kicks001]

Best video yet on this subject. BTW.. do you know if there are any videos of Brother IZ playing this song?

[@SuperUkulele]

Thanks my friend. I've looked around a lot to find a video of him playing this and it was surprisingly pretty hard. If I come across one I'll shoot you a link.

[@NaveenKumar-ld3rj]

Hi Dude,, The video is simply super and top view of strumming... Can you please clarify me whether we have strike all string while strumming or only few?? and while I try strumming I can hear only 3 string creating more sound and all the strumming sound looks similar... Please clarify my doubts..

[@juandamico4834]

You are the best man.

[@davidcrosson7272]

It does sound better than tho other tutorials!

[@paulaoreilly-green2553]

best lesson I've found!

[@SuperUkulele]

Hey thanks! ~Aaron

[@CindyNorman]

Is there any way to play this with a high G string? I hate to restring my ukulele differently just for this 1 song…. But I’m tempted!

[@margecrawford7891]

Thanks SOOOO Much!!!!

[@SaSaRush]

I am gonna practice and show this to my ukelele teacher :D thanks ! I knew something was missing

[@marialedezma553]

Very good!!!!!

[@bergfps7587]

Awesome video dude! One more subscriber :D

[@michaelwach8452]

Would it be a reasonable alternative to substitute a left-hand finger mute instead of the right-hand palm mute? To my ear it sounds about the same, and I want an excuse to practice left-hand muting.

[@rossol]

Great tutorial! Finally I found the exact sound that IZ is playing :) But one thing worries me. When I play G string then I get different sound than yours... Did you change your strings?

[@rossol]

Ok turns out I didn't watch the end of the video. Now I see that you changed the G string ;) Anyways thanks for the tutorial, I'm practicing it now :)

[@gamer3928]

It's a low g which is typical on a tenor.

[@JC-rb1nc]

spot on. thanks.

[@SuperUkulele]

You bet! ~Aaron

[@celeste4588]

The brand name of your ukulele?

[@grahamwalkingshaw6344]

Great stuff better than whatever it was I was doing and feel I could get the hang of this 😌

[@vickycarrion8909]

Thank you!

[@SuperUkulele]

You're welcome!

[@thesilentway371]

Awesome. Really User-Friendly :)

[@joshvaillancourt4817]

Awesome Tut. Anybody have a good link to the rest of the song sheet music?

[@titansful]

Very very nice

[@sunnyseal8876]

Very good, but is there a place to get the whole song with those chords, because mine in key of C doesn't have the same chords.

[@sleepy314]

Thanks. I was not isolating the 2nd ( 'up') strum to the 3rd string. Low-G tenor, Who was the luthier?

[@SuperUkulele]

The maker of this Uke is Kamoa. Sorry for the late reply. ~Aaron

[@kambenvenkatachellan5312]

Uke brand ?

[@utuber294]

How will changing my top string to low G sound for other songs? What’s an option for that low G if I don’t want to change the string?

[@woody1797]

I really like the low G tuning and have stuck with. It makes the uke tuning the same as the four highest strings on a guitar, but capo'd up a few frets -- sorry, but I'm too lazy to pull out both instruments right now to figure out the exact capo position. =:-D Anyway, I'm a long-time guitar player. I bought my uke just to learn the Brother Iz medley, but learning more songs on the uke in low G tuning has given me a whole new perspective on guitar chord relationships. If you learn the uke well enough in low G, you would be able to pick up the guitar much faster, if you wanted to.

[@woody1797]

You have to change that G string, though; the thinner string won't sound as good, and will tend to go out of tune from low G. I tried both a wound and unwound low G string, I like the sound of the wound string better.

[@taking3345]

Is there another way if I don't want to change the 4th string to low G?

[@Kicks001]

What tuning are you using? My Uke is tuned GCEA using a Rowin tuner, but my G sounds higher than yours. I'm new at this, so please excuse me if this doesn't make sense.

[@SuperUkulele]

Same tuning, I just have a Low G and you have a High G. You can buy a Ukulele Low G on Amazon or any good music shop. Hope this helps

[@Kicks001]

@@SuperUkulele Makes sense. Thanks

[@shepherdguy]

I have listened to dozens of KZbin videos that all claimed to teach how IZ strummed "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and none of them got it exactly right, actually, none of them were close enough to call it how IZ strums. Yours, however, is by far the closest to Israel's strum that I have heard. So close that I will deem yours as the first to imitate it. I do tend to think that IZ is not necessarily only plucking the 3rd string on the second strum, but doing an up strum and not hitting all of the strings. He is definitely using a stecatto after the fourth and eighth beat, although his is not quite as muted, and he may be doing his with a left-hand pinky tap rather than the strum hand, but I am not positive on that. It's just what it sounds like to me. Either way, kudos to you for turning out the closest I have heard yet - and I have heard a lot of them.