Ukulele strumming for beginners is the down, down, up, up, down, up pattern, called the island strum, played with the index finger, strumming down across the strings, and up, back, in a steady rhythm. The strum is the rhythm, and the chords are the harmony, and together they make the song.
What is ukulele strumming for beginners?
Ukulele strumming for beginners is the down, down, up, up, down, up pattern, called the island strum, played with the index finger, strumming down across the strings, and up, back, in a steady rhythm. The strum is the rhythm, and the chords are the harmony, and together they make the song, because the strum gives the beat, and the chords give the notes, and the two together are the music, and the island strum is the most common strum, because it is easy, and it sounds good, and it is used in most ukulele songs. The strum is made with the index finger, or with a pick, and the finger strums down, across the strings, from the G string to the A string, and up, back, from the A string to the G string, and the strum is even, and the strings ring, with no buzz and no mute, and the rhythm is steady, because the strum is the beat, and the beat must be steady, or the song will not flow. The down strum is stronger, and the up strum is lighter, and the pattern, down, down, up, up, down, up, is the island strum, and it is the strum most beginners learn first, because it is the most useful, and the most common. The C major ukulele chord and the G major ukulele chord are the chords most players first strum, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How ukulele strumming works
Ukulele strumming works by moving the index finger, or the pick, across the strings, down and up, in a pattern, so the strings are hit, in time, and the rhythm is the pattern, and the chords are the notes, and the two together make the music. The down strum hits the strings from the G string to the A string, and the up strum hits them from the A string to the G string, and the strum is made with the nail of the index finger, or with a pick, and the strum should be even, and the strings should ring, and the rhythm should be steady, because the strum is the beat, and the beat must be steady. The island strum is down, down, up, up, down, up, in one bar, with the downs on the beat, and the ups off the beat, and the pattern is the rhythm, and the chords change, on the first beat of the bar, and the strum continues, without stopping. The strumming hand should be relaxed, not tense, because the tension makes the strum stiff, and the rhythm will be uneven, and the playing will be hard, and the relaxation makes the strum fluid, and the rhythm steady, and the wrist should be loose, moving from the wrist, not from the arm, because the wrist is the engine, and the arm is the support, and the strum is the wrist, moving, down and up, and the arm stays still. The D major ukulele chord and the A major ukulele chord are the chords the strumming is built on.
Worked example — the island strum on C major. Hold a C major chord, with the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, and the other strings open, and strum the island strum: down, on the first beat, down, on the second beat, up, off the beat, up, on the third beat, down, on the fourth beat, up, off the beat, and the pattern is down, down, up, up, down, up, in one bar, and the strum is even, and the strings ring, G, C, E, C, and the chord is C major, and the rhythm is the island strum, and the song flows, because the strum is steady, and the chords are clean. Now change to G major, on the first beat of the next bar, and strum the island strum again, down, down, up, up, down, up, and the chords change, and the strum continues, without stopping, and the music is the strum and the chords, together. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to strum with the island strum.
How to practise ukulele strumming
Practise strumming by playing one chord, with one strum, until the strum is even, and the strings ring, and then by playing the island strum, with the chords, so the rhythm is steady, and the song flows.
- Strum down, once per beat, on a C major chord, with the index finger, and listen for the strum to be even, and the strings to ring, G, C, E, C.
- Strum the island strum, down, down, up, up, down, up, on a C major chord, and listen for the pattern to be steady, and the rhythm to flow.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major on ukulele, with the island strum, changing chords on the first beat of each bar, and listening for the harmony to change, smoothly.
- Practise with the metronome at 60 beats per minute, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute when the strum is clean at the current tempo.
- Practise strumming with a relaxed wrist, moving from the wrist, not from the arm, so the strum is fluid, and the rhythm is steady.
Common mistakes
- Strumming too hard — A strum that is too hard will make the ukulele sound harsh, because the strings are hit too hard, and the sound is loud and brash, not bright and happy. Strum gently, with the index finger, and the ukulele will sound bright and happy.
- Stopping the strum to change chords — A strum that stops, to change chords, will break the rhythm, and the song will stutter, because the beat is lost, and the music does not flow. Keep the strumming hand moving, even when the fretting hand changes, and the rhythm will stay steady, and the chord change will be ready, when the beat comes.
- Strumming from the arm, not the wrist — A strum from the arm will be stiff, and the rhythm will be uneven, because the arm is heavy, and the wrist is the engine, and the strum should be from the wrist, moving, down and up, and the arm stays still, and the strum is fluid.
Quick reference
This table shows the island strum, with the beat, the strum, and the direction for each one, so you can see the pattern at a glance and practise it one beat at a time. The pattern is down, down, up, up, down, up, in one bar, with the downs on the beat, and the ups off the beat, and the strum is the rhythm.
| Beat | Strum | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Down | Down, across the strings |
| 2 | Down | Down, across the strings |
| 2 (off-beat) | Up | Up, back across the strings |
| 3 | Up | Up, back across the strings |
| 4 | Down | Down, across the strings |
| 4 (off-beat) | Up | Up, back across the strings |
Use the table to practise the island strum: strum down on beats 1, 2, and 4, and up off the beat, and listen for the pattern to be steady, and the rhythm to flow, and the chords to ring cleanly. When you can strum the island strum, without thinking, you can play most ukulele songs, and the strumming will be automatic.
Frequently asked questions
What is ukulele strumming for beginners?
Ukulele strumming for beginners is the down, down, up, up, down, up pattern, called the island strum, played with the index finger, strumming down across the strings, and up, back, in a steady rhythm.
What is the island strum?
The island strum is down, down, up, up, down, up, in one bar, with the downs on the beat, and the ups off the beat, and it is the most common ukulele strum, because it is easy, and it sounds good, and it is used in most ukulele songs.
Should I strum with my finger or a pick?
Either. The index finger is the most common, because it is soft, and the ukulele sounds bright and happy, and a pick is louder, and brighter, and the choice is the sound you want, and the finger is the best for beginners.
How do I keep the rhythm steady when I strum?
By keeping the strumming hand moving, even when the fretting hand changes chords, and by practising with a metronome, at 60 beats per minute, and increasing the tempo, when the strum is clean, at the current tempo.
Why does my strumming sound uneven?
Because the wrist is tense, or the strum is from the arm, not the wrist, or the chords are not clean, and the strings are buzzing, or muted. Relax the wrist, strum from the wrist, and check the chords, string by string, and the strum will be even.