Why This is My Favorite Strumming Pattern of All Time

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Today I give you a simple but highly effective strumming pattern to use whenever you’re learning a new song on ukulele. I explain why it’s my favorite pattern even after 25+ years of playing ukulele. I show you a medley of four popular easy ukulele songs you can apply this pattern to and give you the steps for implementing it in your own playing.
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#ukulele #ukulelelesson #ukulelestrumming

[@dianapetranek2093]

Perfect explanation and lesson! Thanks so much. Will definitely use this information!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Glad you liked it, Diana! Thanks for your comment!

[@elsiecow7023]

Thanks Brett. Great Video. The down, down, up is my favorite strum pattern. Comes from my old guitar days. I love your courses. Still working on those chord melody Christmas songs. Your a great inspiration. Ronda

[@UkuleleTricks]

Ronda, that's a really solid pattern too - great for establishing the rhythm of a song! So glad to have you as a student. It's normal for those solo pieces to take some time! Keep up the good practice, and thanks for your comment!

[@matokuwapi]

Nice video. I've been working through your Sturmming, Finger Picking and Arpeggio courses and I just have to say am really loving them. I enjoy your teaching style, too. I feel like I'm progressing...finally.

[@UkuleleTricks]

That makes me so happy to hear, Deb! Keep up the awesome practice!

[@stchannel2476]

I enjoyed this video. I just started taking ukulele lessons and I’m trying to learn about the strumming. I like the down strums and up strums.I borrowed my friend’s metronome to practice. Thanku

[@gresyoungchannel7742]

I love how you teach easy to get into it. Thank you so much sir💕

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thanks for watching!

[@viraj_singh]

Great explanation. Thanks

[@UkuleleTricks]

I'm glad I could help. Thanks for watching!

[@acterene1]

Love your energy and voice. I have joined up. Thanks!!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Woohoo! Welcome, Mark!!

[@acterene1]

E5 chord! I have been saved!

[@grimmy5595]

that's awesome....thanks so much

[@UkuleleTricks]

Glad to help, Ian!

[@barbaradean2544]

This is fabulous

[@UkuleleTricks]

Awesome, Barbara! Glad you dig it.

[@glennhart4267]

Great lesson love the 'new-to-me' fingering for the E minor chord. Thanks.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thank you for watching!!

[@ssoutsan65]

Good lesson.thank you very much. I'm a beginner from Mrocco.

[@daniels.]

After a few years playing the ukulele and the guitar I still haver a hard time keeping time. Your tips are great!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Glad to help, Daniel! Thanks for watching!

[@pammartin3554]

Do you ever teach Baritone Uke or just Tenor? I haven’t picked up a tenor in a few years after discovering the baritone, and fell in love with the baritone - I’m still practicing fingerpicking on the baritone

[@ayesaacebedo7806]

hi Brett...got it but a lot of praaactiiise...gee whiz so grate...thanks so much...illget with my lesson later💥

[@UkuleleTricks]

You're welcome!

[@meganf1658]

This is cool, thank you. You focus on the down strum to keep the rhythm and then you add in the up strum and then you make it more complicated, but you have to have the correct rhythm before you do anything else. I think I understood correctly.. lol. It will be helpful for me to keep that in mind when learning new strumming patterns. I love the sound of your singing voice by the way!

[@UkuleleTricks]

You understood correctly! :) Thanks for that and I'm glad I could share!

[@gannoli]

Great video! Love the method of getting the beat and adding to it. My goal is to strum and sing along but as soon as I start singing my hands freeze, even if I'm just listening to you sing! Any tips would be great. But I know practice practice :)

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey Nick, glad you liked this one! This is a big challenge and it's one I cover with a lot of depth in my Strumming Tricks course. But the big tip here is the process you follow to learn a song and introducing the singing. For example, I've been playing my whole life but there are still times when I am learning a new song and add singing and my strumming (or picking) rhythm gets thrown off! Normally this happens when the rhythm of what I'm singing is slightly different than the rhythm of what I'm strumming, creating almost a counter rhythm, which is a lot like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time! When this happens, you have to take a step back and work on that coordination specifically.

[@gollymolly9555]

great!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thanks for watching!

[@deadendjack7755]

Thank you

[@UkuleleTricks]

My pleasure!

[@Dowhatexcites12]

Nice video 👍

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thanks for watching!

[@mariasakuma1107]

This is my third day of ukelele and I am feeling so happy to learn this lesson!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Keep going! You got this!

[@ayesaacebedo7806]

hi Brett...thanks for this...love the "down up " strumm...can i use G7 instead G? cant do this for my frett hand...as what you said they are the "substitute "?

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey Ayesa, for the context of this chord progression, G7 will sound off because a G7 chord has the notes G-B-D-F, but this chord progression is in the key of G major, which has the notes G-A-B-C-D-E-F#. This means the G7 chord has an F note that isn't found in a G major scale, which makes the chord not work so well as a substitute here. I recommend playing a standard G chord here.

[@67angie]

That's just great, I played along and it sounded way better than it would have, if it had been just me playing. It made me keep in rhythm and time. My usual strumming pattern is DDUD or, depending on the beat of a song DDU, as I do in "Streets of London". Actually I had to analyse my strumming for this comment, 'cause I used to do it by how it felt right or acceptable with the song. I wasn't aware of the pattern 😂

[@UkuleleTricks]

That's great to hear, Angie! Just being aware of your timing can have a huge impact on how you sound! Thanks for your comment.

[@67angie]

@@UkuleleTricks I'm working on my timing. For some reason I tend to speed up if anyone is around or playing with me. My concentration is focused on getting the chords right (and on my singing) then and I can only guess that this is the reason I start "racing".

[@rayrasmussen4936]

Nice lesson ... do you have your series with the Baritone Chord names or is there a capo position I could use so that I could play along with you? ~ Ray, Canadian

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey Ray, if you click over to my website I have a baritone chord library you can reference. Alternatively, you can capo the 5th fret on your baritone and play the same positions as me to match the pitch!

[@saturaivonen7364]

Thanks for a great video, what an assume medley! My favorite strumming pattern is ddu udu. I'm wondering about the lessons if become a member of ukulele tricks, are all lessons only on beginner level or is there little more advanced lessons as one learns more? Also would love if you made a uke version of king of clowns, Neil sedaka, it would sound great!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Glad you liked it, Satu, and thanks for the song idea! To answer your question, the lessons in Strumming Tricks take you from beginner level to low intermediate, so I recommend the course if you are a beginner and are struggling to gain proficiency in your ukulele playing. In the course, you build the specific skills needed to be able to strum any song on ukulele. If you are an "advanced beginner", then, I recommend going over to UkuleleTricks.com and checking out my other courses too! For example, I also teach fingerpicking, blues, jazz, country, bluegrass, and more. Feel free to send me an email if you have more specific questions and I can point you in the right direction!

[@Liasisws]

Not gonna lie, I gave up playing Uke because I just don’t have the coordination to strum, sing, and keep time. But wholly carp the down only strum actually sounds good, and I’m sure I can keep that beat no problem! Thank you so much. I think I’ll be bringing my Uke out of retirement tomorrow after work!! Thank you! 🙏

[@UkuleleTricks]

Heck yeah! Finding the beat is the most important step! Great job and glad I could help.

[@cathiejung3597]

Love love this video. Cannot figure out how you make the E minor chord from the D sus4. I’ve watched your fingers over and over! Please help! Struggling in Vancouver BC Canada.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey Cathie! I actually use the Em position I show in my latest video on the channel here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWK4dXuogL-jgrc The Em position I use is where I barre or press down on all three strings at the 2nd fret with the index finger, middle finger on the 3rd fret of the E-string, and ring finger on the 4th fret of the C-string, letting the top string ring open. The reason I use this position coming from the Dsus chord is because it allows the tip of my index finger to stay in the same place, so I minimize the fretting hand movement, making the change easier and faster!

[@lishavi6607]

Short question about the Em chord please Brett : it seems to me that you do it by barring the 2nd fret. Is it right ?

[@UkuleleTricks]

You got it! I'll barre the bottom three strings at the 2nd fret sometimes to play the Em. It all depends on the chords that come before and after. I'm always looking for ways to make changes faster and easier!

[@rhondachomos8322]

LIke you, on a new song I start with down strokes on the count. Once I learn a song, however, I seem to go with 1, 2, 3, 4 and.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Solid approach, Rhonda! Adding just a little bit of variety a little bit at a time with the up strums is a great way to find something that fits well. Thanks for your comment!

[@allenmay8850]

I can see the benefit of keeping accurate timing and beats, however, I tent to shy away from strumming too much, because I don't sing, and strumming 3 or 4 cords can get boring pretty quick. Would your course benefit someone like me?

[@UkuleleTricks]

Great question, Allen. There's a lot of benefit in Strumming Tricks, mainly in that it gives you a system to understand rhythm and timing, so that when you listen to a song you like, you can identify the beat and figure out the best pattern. That said, you sound more interested in fingerpicking, in which case, you should DEFINITELY follow your interest! I have other courses that focus on fingerpicking the ukulele that might be more suitable for you. If that's something you're interested in, I recommend heading over to UkuleleTricks.com and click on the "Courses" tab. The Fingerpicking Tricks course is the best beginners approach to fingerpicking the ukulele that I offer (it's currently closed but you can get on the waiting list) and I also recommend the Minor Arpeggio Studies course if you want to dive right into learning some fun solo pieces. Hope this helps!

[@Pamcee3]

Hey Brett..were you playing Em differently?

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey Pam, I am! For this Em shape, I am playing a Dsus chord before, so I keep the tip of the index finger in place on the 2nd fret of the C-string and barre or press down on all bottom three strings at the 2nd fret. Then, I place the middle finger on the 3rd fret of the E-string and ring finger on the 4th fret of the C-string. This minimizes fretting hand movement which makes the chord change faster and smoother. I'm saving time by not completely moving the tip of my index finger from the 2nd fret of the C-string (for Dsus) to the 2nd fret of the bottom A-string (for Em). This decision is very specific to the context of this chord progression. I hope this make sense!

[@Pamcee3]

@@UkuleleTricks it does and I love it! 😁👍 thank you.

[@e.castlerock8454]

Great video with excellent tips! Still struggling as a beginner. Thinking of looking into online courses. Are you a music teacher in your non-KZbin life? In other words, do you have ukulele students? I'm wondering if courses from a teacher with a real curriculum would be more beneficial to me than someone who just plays ukulele and offers courses that jump all over the place.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey E, figuring out the best method to make progress is an important decision. To answer your question, yes, I've been teaching music full-time for the last 12 years! I studied music in college and I'm a lifelong ukulele player as well as the author of Ukulele Exercises For Dummies. KZbin is fun for me but not the main focus. The majority of my focus is over at UkuleleTricks.com where I support my students who are learning with me in my various online courses. I should be clear, learning online is NOT for everyone, and you raise a valid critique about how many online courses can be disorganized. However with the right curriculum you can definitely see progress (and many of my students do). I wrote an article awhile back called the "4 Ways to Learn to Play Ukulele if You're a Complete Beginner" and I compare the different approaches to learn. You might find it beneficial as you explore (a lot of my students use a combination of approaches): ukuleletricks.com/4-ways-to-learn-to-play-ukulele-if-youre-a-complete-beginner/ And feel free to send me an email over at Ukulele Tricks (click over to the Contact page) if you have specific questions!

[@e.castlerock8454]

@@UkuleleTricks - Thank you for your reply, and so fast! I'm glad to know you are a teacher. If I do go the online course way, I'd prefer a real teacher. I'll read your article and have a look around your site. Thanks again!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Absolutely! Here if you need anything!

[@67angie]

Is flat picking something that would work on the Uke, too or is it more a guitar thing? In case it is also for the Ukulele, would you like to make a tutorial? It sounds so great on guitar but I have not the slightest idea how it's done.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hey Angie, I love flatpicking on guitar. It's been a focus for me the last year in my own practice. One of the main reasons it sounds so cool on guitar is because of the "lively" steel strings. Even flatpicking on a nylon guitar sounds way different (which I do sometimes depending on what instrument is within arms reach at the time, hah!). That said, doing a tutorial on using various plectrums with the ukulele could be interesting, so I'll write it down to the ideas board ;)

[@67angie]

@@UkuleleTricks guitar is my next goal 😉😅 But so far I have to admit, that my Ukulele, (which 9 months ago was in danger to be smashed into a wall or being used to create a nice little fire), has become my friend and an addiction, a healer even. Slow progress, but there IS progress.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Haha, we've all been there... WAY TO GO! :)

[@Sabat_Sawen]

💚💚🙏🙏

[@31291settle]

how are you playing E?

[@matthenson3472]

I THINK he’s barring the 2nd fret with his first finger (like a moveable Bb) in order to keep the first finger in place for the Dsus4/Emin shift.

[@matthenson3472]

@BRETT: It would be really helpful to some of us if you would walk us through the choice of using a moveable chord vs. “Regular position” chord.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Jaron, Matt's comment is spot on! For this Em shape, I am playing a Dsus chord before, so I keep the tip of the index finger in place on the 2nd fret of the C-string and barre or press down on all bottom three strings at the 2nd fret. Then, I place the middle finger on the 3rd fret of the E-string and ring finger on the 4th fret of the C-string. This minimizes fretting hand movement which makes the chord change faster and smoother. I'm saving time by not completely moving the tip of my index finger from the 2nd fret of the C-string (for Dsus) to the 2nd fret of the bottom A-string (for Em). This decision is very specific to the context of this chord progression. I hope this make sense!

[@CourtHaych]

I received my first Uke a mere 5 days ago and adore your tips but am finding it very difficult to go from D(sus4) to Em! Any advice on how to do this smoothly would be GREATLY appreciated! I'm new to this***

[@UkuleleTricks]

Congrats on the new uke Court! I actually wrote a free book on this topic called "Make Smooth, Seamless Chord Changes" and you can get it on the chords section of my site by scrolling down to the bottom of the page here: ukuleletricks.com/ukulele-chords/ In the book, I provide ideas surrounding on how to make chord changes like these easier as well as providing examples. For Dsus4 to Em, I really like keeping the index finger in the same position for the Dsus4 as the Em chord, meaning, I keep the index finger pressed on the 2nd fret of the C-string (for the Dsus4 chord) and then when I switch to the Em chord I use that index finger to barre the bottom two-strings. This minimizes movement, although it's a bit advanced! I recommend the free book for an exploration on this topic :) enjoy!