{"id":24471,"date":"2022-01-10T03:22:08","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T03:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roadiemusic.com\/?post_type=blog&p=24471"},"modified":"2022-01-11T14:15:19","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T14:15:19","slug":"how-to-strum-a-ukulele","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roadiemusic.com\/blog\/how-to-strum-a-ukulele\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Strum a Ukulele"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today we\u2019re going to talk about how to strum a ukulele. Despite the fact that most of the attention is placed on chords, strumming is just as important for a good ukulele sound, especially for <\/span>beginners<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a matter of fact, strumming is where \u201cthe magic happens\u201d as they say. In the simplest of terms, you\u2019re going to be using your dominant hand to strum the ukulele. It is also the dominant arm that\u2019s responsible for securing and stabilizing the instrument while you play it. This is done by pressing it gently against your body while playing. For a great tool to help with your ukulele playing, check out our<\/span> Roadie Coach<\/span><\/a>. It offers personalized feedback and exercises to help you improve, several resources, and a recording feature. Without further ado, here is how to strum a ukulele.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With your fingers<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is the most popular way to strum a uke. It offers warmth provided by the unique sound of flesh combined with a bit of nail. For downstrums, point your knuckles away from the uke, curl your fingers in toward the instrument, trying to maintain a natural stance. Use your index fingernail to strum down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For upstrums, use the fleshy pad of your index finger for a warm sound. If you want something a bit crispier, try using your thumbnail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The trick here is to make the downstrums and upstrums feel like part of a unity and make them as cohesive as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With a pick<\/span><\/h2>\n

Strumming the uke with a pick provides more attack and sharper sound. This is because the plastic (sometimes nylon) used in picks is solid and creates more volume when hitting the strings. There are many types and gauges of picks so you might want to try with a few different ones to see what you prefer. You can start out with a <\/span>.071 mm pick<\/span><\/a> as it will provide a good balance of attack and flexibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hold the pick on your dominant hand between the fleshy part of your thumb and the side of your index finger. An advantage of playing with a pick is that it may be more comfortable for guitarists trying to pick up a uke. A good piece of advice is to try with a pick and with hand picking in order to see what you prefer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, struggling? Check out this video by Elise Ecklund:<\/p>\n\n

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