I'm having a horrible time trying to chunk. I can't figure out how to strum my fingers across the strings while still having my palm touching them all. Anyone have some tips? I've checked out numerous videos and I still can't figure it out.
I use the side of my hand or heel as it is sometimes referred to. I can strum down with my index finger and then "mute" the strings with the heel at the very same time or just after, depending on the sound. I can do this with an up strum as well but that is more of a 1 - 2 movement, up strum then mute. It just take lots of practice to get the timing right
I thought chunking was done via your fretting hand, either by releasing pressure on the fretted strings, or muting them with your wayward and extended pinky of the fretting hand...
Aldrine has a video on this, albeit with a completely different technique:
I thought chunking was done via your fretting hand, either by releasing pressure on the fretted strings, or muting them with your wayward and extended pinky of the fretting hand...
I thought chunking was done via your fretting hand, either by releasing pressure on the fretted strings, or muting them with your wayward and extended pinky of the fretting hand...
Aldrine has a video on this, albeit with a completely different technique:
I think so Booli, what you're describing sounds like muting. MUCH harder, at least for me, than chunking. A chunk is a downstrum followed by an immediate mute with your strumming hand, either palm or thumb. It creates a "chunk" sound, quite different from string muting with the fretting hand. It should sound almost like a snare drum.
A long while ago I changed my basic strumming from sticking my index finger out there and moving it up and down, to making a fist, opening it up and extending the fingers across the strings, then bringing it back to a fist either back across the strings or not, usually just hitting the strings with my first two fingers. I saw a guy in a movie doing that, and it looked so effortless and smooth that I thought that I might figure it out. It is pretty much my go to basic strumming technique now. I got a bit of a wrist flick going with it too sometimes. After I started doing that, chunking was easy. As time went on, I found that it also lent itself to triplets and rolls, which are good to learn as well. I think that someone had a video of that technique a few months back on UU, but I can't seem to find it now.
Apparently I don't know what I am doing or what it is really called:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:
But like many other things in music "If it works for you it is right" So it is all good. Don't worry Booli this was NOT a response to your comments. Just an awareness on my that part that there are many different names and techniques to accomplish certain things.
Apparently I don't know what I am doing or what it is really called:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:
But like many other things in music "If it works for you it is right" So it is all good. Don't worry Booli this was NOT a response to your comments. Just an awareness on my that part that there are many different names and techniques to accomplish certain things.
Apparently I don't know what I am doing or what it is really called:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:
But like many other things in music "If it works for you it is right" So it is all good. Don't worry Booli this was NOT a response to your comments. Just an awareness on my that part that there are many different names and techniques to accomplish certain things.
No worries from me. I'm just a hapless idiot, lucky to be here at all LOL.
Whatever gets one to make music is all that matters to me, whereas 'standing on principles' is for theorists, professional naysayers and critical hob-nobbers, and NOT for practical use in my own experience...
Thanks everyone. It never occurred to me to try with the thumb side instead of the pinky side. I've been practicing on my imaginary work ukulele . Can't wait to get home and try it out on the real thing. LOL.
I confess I've all but completely given up trying to chunk despite many attempts over a long period of time. I'm reasonably happy with muting though.
It would help a lot if I weren't left-handed, as simply slapping my hand over the strings usually results in my wedding ring smashing in to the ukulele making a large bang! Without that, I think I'd eventually succeed, but taking it off isn't an option which I can realistically contemplate.
A few different styles. I suggest you view some of the tutorials in the links provided here. It seems to be one of those techniques that you "suddenly get" after practicing for an undetermined length of time.
