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[Emaline]

Right, so I don't know if there are any ukulele players on here, but if there are: I need some help trying to figure out the strumming pattern on this song. I've been trying for awhile now, and I cannot get it at all. I also, can't figure out when to switch cords, and thats frustrating. Basically, if I could figure out the strumming pattern, the rest would be cake.

In the mean time, anyone know any good songs I should look into learning? I'm pretty super new at my uke, but I feel like I've pretty much got the hang of it(I know some basic cords, I can play a few easy songs[Creep, Boy With The Arab Strap, Sea Of Love, etc]). I'd like to learn some new songs, but it's difficult finding interesting stuff for the uke. Since I cannot figure out that one song, I'm pretty much having some uke withdraw, and also frustration. I try playing that song, can't, give up, then feel worse for not playing, and repeat. Maybe if I try something else, I won't be as frustrated. Ideas?

[Ballard]

What are you having trouble figuring out, exactly?

His strumming pattern isn't precise. He's just running his pick over the strings up and down, starting with a down stroke, six times per measure, and accenting (strumming harder) on the first beat of every measure.

Tap your foot in 4/4 and it'll make more sense.

[Ballard]

Yep, I was right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnmact0wxNs

[Emaline]

Ok, so I realize it looks like that, but I don't think it's right. It's really hard to tell if he is just going up and down, or if its d dd dddd, or d d uu d u. Does that make sense? And I don't think he uses a pick.

[Ballard]

No it's definitely up and down.

Strumming with your fingers actually provides you far greater dynamic range once you get used to it. Use the nails of your right index, middle and sometimes ring fingers as the underside of the pick, and your right thumbnail as the top of the pick.

Keep your wrist loose when alternate strumming. You want most of the motion happening at your wrist and not your elbow.

[Emaline]

I don't use a pick, I don't think most ukulele players do. And I have no problems strumming. Its just this one song. Most ukulele songs have strumming patterns. Watch this video. It explains the pattern behind Boy With The Arab Strap. Once again, I don't think it's just up and down, because that doesn't make sense, and it doesn't sound like that, and that video you posted is a pretty crappy quality video and you can't even tell what he is doing.


Do you actually play ukulele?

[Ballard]

Oh I didn't realize I was the one who mentioned a pick first. Disregard all of that.

I play guitar. I've never bothered to learn uke chord shapes but as far as strumming patterns go they're quite similar instruments.

What on earth do you mean? You can see his hand moving up and down to the rhythm I described with crystal clarity.

[Emaline]

Ok, not your explaination, but the video is not clear. I understand what you are saying, but guitar rules do not at all apply to the uke. Ukuleles have strumming patterns for each song, not just chord progressions, but actually diffrent strumming patterns. Watch the Belle and Sabastian video I posted, and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

You can't know how to play guitar and the pick up a uke and expect it to be the same, because they are not at all. Ukes are diffrent and I'd almost argue harder to play.

[Ballard]

Songs for the guitar have strumming patterns. That is the strumming pattern for this song.

I'm not sure why I'm wasting my time trying to argue with you.

[Emaline]

Hey guys, instead of being asses(Which btws Gene, I was not trying to argue with you and I actually felt really bad for it, but man, you're wrong, and I'm sorry), why not, you know, waste a minute doing some ukulele research before thinking you can apply guitar rules to it. They are not the same instrument! I can't play a clairnet and then expect to also know how to play a recorder, or a flute, or a saxophone, because they are all different! Uke is not a mini-guitar!

Please stop being assholes(Jens!), and stop taking what I say(which was not meant as an offense, Gene, but rather you know, I know what I'm talking about when I'm talking about an instrument that I play, moreso than you, someone who does not play. Sorry. Just as I would not expect you to get upset when a violin player asked for advice, and you[assuming] not a violin player gave them advice, which they saw as wrong. Make sense?) as me trying to fight, because I'm really not. I'm just saying "hey, I play this instrument, and what you are saying does not make sense for it."


Why don't you guys check out this link?

I'll highlight something for you:

No one cares what strumming pattern you use on the guitar: In my many years on the dark side, I don’t ever remember anyone discussing any strumming patterns.

My knowledge of guitar is pretty nonexistent, and I'll admit that. So, maybe this is mistaken. Or maybe we are all misunderstanding each other about what we all mean by strumming patterns. Which I suspect is the likely culprit here. The ukulele is strung GCEA, so second highest, lowest, second lowest, highest. Which, you know, to most guitar players, doesn't make sense, sense guitars are strung lowest to highest. So how you strum a uke is pretty important, and makes a huge differences in the song. I pretty sure that you do not really ever strum up on a guitar(but like I said, I really don't know! Since I do not play!) and you do often on a uke. Did you guys watch the Belle And Sebastian video? I really explains what I mean by strumming pattern. Like I said I think we are all completely misunderstanding each other, and thats really unfortunate. Whats more unfortunate is that you both had to get so upset with me for disagreeing. I'm sorry that you found my posts offensive(really? Was asking if you actually played uke offensive? Or was it because I said that video Gene posted was unclear, and not much proof to anything? I mean, the video was shot on someone's cell phone, you can barely even tell what band is actually playing).

Ukulele in not a miniature guitar. It's a completely different instrument. It really is. Not all stringed instruments are created equal!

[Jace]

Guitar has strumming patterns on lots of songs. I suck at playing guitar and I still know that there are strumming patterns. Possibly you could try taking the advice offered instead of being so stupid. You are stupid. Do you know what you are talking about when you talk about an instrument you play when you ask for advice on how to play that instrument? You are dildos.

[ampersandwitch]

violin player  [...] Not all stringed instruments are created equal!

Apropos of nothing, violins also have down/up patterns, but they are called 'bowing' in this instance.  Man, string instruments sure are zany!*

*I have been drinking

[Ballard]

To clarify:

You strum up on a guitar all the time.

I watched the Belle & Sebastian video and the ukulele concept of strumming pattern is identical to that of guitar.

I would not give a violin player advice because I don't play a violin. However, a ukulele is absolutely a miniature guitar in every way.

The widely accepted standard tuning on a guitar is low to high (although generally you would look at it from the ground up, making it high to low) but you can tune a guitar to countless different things. The ability to correspond attack with pitch is pretty essential knowledge for most string players. It's a simple matter of dynamics.

There's about a dozen ways to play this "strumming pattern" properly. One of them, the simplest, is to strum up and down six times a beat, putting an accent on the first beat of every measure.

Another, sparser way is D DUDUD DUDU switch chord repeat. The result is essentially the same, if slightly more defined. I'm sure Condon has played both before. Strumming pattern is a pretty fluid thing. It's only important to be mathematically precise about it until you are comfortable enough with the dynamics of your instrument to switch it up.

I'm annoyed because generally it is considered obnoxious to ask for advice, refute it, be overwhelmingly wrong, and continue to assert your knowledge on the matter.

[Eris]

I can't play a clairnet and then expect to also know how to play a recorder, or a flute, or a saxophone, because they are all different!

Actually, the clarinet and the saxophone are fairly similar, and it is pretty easy to transition from one to another. Especially if you play tenor sax, as it's in the same key, uses the same fingering and all that. I know a fair few clarinettists who play both quite easily. They even go from the clarinet to the different saxophones, putting them in different keys, quite easily! The flute would be hard to change over to because it uses a fundamentally different way to create a sound in the instrument, as it doesn't use a reed like the clarinet and sax.

[Emaline]

They are not guitars! Go buy a ukulele now, and let me know when you learn to play. Seriously. They aren't the same.

And Jace, its different to ask for advice and then refuse it for no reason. But what Gene was saying was going against things I had previously heard. From ukulele players. I'm asking for advice about ukulele, Gene plays guitar and gave his advice, ukulele players have said something different, whos opinion should I trust? I don't ask a hunter how to bake a cake. Make sense?


And I wasn't trying to offend and annoy anyone! Like I said I felt bad for disagreeing, but I'd rather disagree and stand up for myself than take bad(as I see/saw it) advice, and continue to be wrong.


It's really unfortunate that Jace and Jens cannot be adults about this. Do you guys really need to call me stupid for disagreeing with you? Really?

[Jace]

I'd call you stupid if you agreed with me. I mean, straight up doggo, you stupid.

[ampersandwitch]

They are not guitars! Go buy a ukulele now, and let me know when you learn to play. Seriously.

I was actually intending on doing just this.  Did you shop around for the best quality?  Lemme know what's good. 

[Emaline]

My boyfriend and I actually spent a lot of time looking into what is the best ukulele for a decent price. He bought it for me as a gift, and got me a Lanikai 21C. It's a really good beginner's uke, and decent enough to stay with you longer than that. I really like my uke a lot, and often take it with me where ever I go ust because its so much fun to play. I'm fairly certain that I've annoyed my coworkers with too many tales of it, so yeah. I love my uke.

Here is a review of the Lanikai brand. That review is from the site Ukulele Hunt, which really, if you are considering getting a uke, I'd check it out. It's a really nice site, and has a lot of really good information on ukes.

[Spluff]

They are not guitars! Go buy a ukulele now, and let me know when you learn to play. Seriously. They aren't the same.

I have a uke and several guitars, and dogg, they are the fuckin same.

[ALoveSupreme]

I can't play a clairnet and then expect to also know how to play a recorder, or a flute, or a saxophone, because they are all different!

Actually, the clarinet and the saxophone are fairly similar, and it is pretty easy to transition from one to another. Especially if you play tenor sax, as it's in the same key, uses the same fingering and all that. I know a fair few clarinettists who play both quite easily. They even go from the clarinet to the different saxophones, putting them in different keys, quite easily! The flute would be hard to change over to because it uses a fundamentally different way to create a sound in the instrument, as it doesn't use a reed like the clarinet and sax.

That's weird, I was going to say the opposite!  I transitioned from flute to alto sax and, despite the difference in reed embouchure vs wind, I found it very easy because of the similarity in finger positioning (and went on to dabble in bari and tenor sax which obviously they all have the same fingerings as an alto)... however I tried to learn clarinet a couple years ago and found it impossible because of the insane fingering chart I was staring at and trying to learn.

Interesting, I guess. ... but, oh, uh, what was everyone else talking about?

[ampersandwitch]

In conclusion: clarinet players are the most beautiful and talented musicians the world over.

Good thread, everyone go home.

[pwhodges]

I learned the clarinet; not my choice, but had to play it until I was 19.  Hated it.

[johnny5]

I am so drunk I am breaking my promise to ignore Emaline but fuck it. She is so stupid she thought I was actually comparing incest with eating animals in discuss. I mean that takes some fucking groundbreaking levels of stupidity if you have followed the thread at all

preserving for lols

anyway so ema why did you decide to pick up the uke? i'm only asking because it seems like the choice of instrument when you want to appear musical but you actually can't play anything at all. all around here lots of hipdouches love to walk around the mall kinda strumming and when i ask them to actually play anything they pretend like they didn't hear me even as i'm shouting as they walk away and calling them out. but the one person who actually could play something made it seem really cool. and i'm sure he got the pussy later that night

[RallyMonkey]

I play both the ukulele and the guitar, they are very fucking similar. Technically, played almost exactly the same. This would be like someone asking for help on the violin, and getting pissed off at someone answering based on their knowledge of the viola. It's a different size, with different strings and tuning, but it's played exactly the same.

[Cire27]

I think what they're trying to say is:  You hit the strings in the same way, it just makes a different sound.

[Emaline]

I am so drunk I am breaking my promise to ignore Emaline but fuck it. She is so stupid she thought I was actually comparing incest with eating animals in discuss. I mean that takes some fucking groundbreaking levels of stupidity if you have followed the thread at all

preserving for lols

anyway so ema why did you decide to pick up the uke? i'm only asking because it seems like the choice of instrument when you want to appear musical but you actually can't play anything at all. all around here lots of hipdouches love to walk around the mall kinda strumming and when i ask them to actually play anything they pretend like they didn't hear me even as i'm shouting as they walk away and calling them out. but the one person who actually could play something made it seem really cool. and i'm sure he got the pussy later that night

Well, theres a number of reasons. I just thought it was a cool instrument, I'm half Hawaiian, it's small, and I like the way it sounds. I just wanted something where I wouldn't get a lot of pressure from people wanting me to join a band(As in "Oh, you play guitar? Lets start a band!" which, no I don't want to join anyone's band). I've never been drawn to guitar, and I wanted something that I could sit and play songs for myself. The only person I'm really interested in impressing with it is my grandmother, who would probably just die if she saw me playing. So yeah, there is definately a "get in touch with my roots" sort of thing going. But otherwise, I just have really loved it for awhile.

[Ballard]

Hawaii is a state in the United States of America.

Are you trying to say that you're half Polynesian?

[Cire27]

I am pretty sure indigenous Hawaiian is more accurate than Polynesian.

[KvP]

'tis.

[Inlander]

"Polynesian" describes a broad ethnic group spread across a wide region, much like the terms "Caucasian" or "Melanesian".

[Zingoleb]

Huh, I've never heard of Melanesian. I just assumed it was a group of dudes who got the cancer in their skin.