terrgy
Well-known member
I know this will possibly be a lame subject for the experienced ukulele players, but for me it is a challenge.
Strum patterns. When it comes to strum patterns, it's a struggle and sometimes I think "well maybe I am just not musical, perhaps no rhythm. I don't know. But I do want to get some feed back on this subject, hopefully finding a way to deal with it.
Background: I am a self taught mountain dulcimer player. Never got into strum patterns. After lots of practice and a few years of playing, I can play at a decent level.
The strum patterns I got hooked on, and addicted to, are DDUD, and DDUDUD. Practically all of my dulcimer playing includes these two strum patterns worked into the song. DDUD usually is the beginning bars and DDUDUD ends the lines. Some times I do end on DDUDU, and then a DUD.
I decided to attempt to learn ukulele, about 3 months ago now, to add more variety to my music, which includes the dulcimer and tremolo harmonica. I purchased "Ukulele Primer with DVD, by Bert Casey. I think it's a wonderful beginners book. The lesson book teaches several different strum patterns. I have practiced, then practiced, then practiced some more, trying to play simple songs like, "He's to the Whole World in His Hands", and "Pay Me My Money Down". Two different strum patterns, and I guess easy ones.
However, practice as I may, I just can't get it in my head. I'll go real slow, trying to get the strum pattern he plays. But I just don't "hear the song". I go right back to my basic strum patterns that are so ingrained in my head, psych, and I think more important, or perhaps a disability.
Anyways, I am just wondering if there are others that have faced this same challenge, and if so, what did you do about it, or should I just embrace it and go...?
But of course, if I didn't think something was missing, I would never have started this topic. It's hard to keep one's ears from listening.
Thanks
Terry
Strum patterns. When it comes to strum patterns, it's a struggle and sometimes I think "well maybe I am just not musical, perhaps no rhythm. I don't know. But I do want to get some feed back on this subject, hopefully finding a way to deal with it.
Background: I am a self taught mountain dulcimer player. Never got into strum patterns. After lots of practice and a few years of playing, I can play at a decent level.
The strum patterns I got hooked on, and addicted to, are DDUD, and DDUDUD. Practically all of my dulcimer playing includes these two strum patterns worked into the song. DDUD usually is the beginning bars and DDUDUD ends the lines. Some times I do end on DDUDU, and then a DUD.
I decided to attempt to learn ukulele, about 3 months ago now, to add more variety to my music, which includes the dulcimer and tremolo harmonica. I purchased "Ukulele Primer with DVD, by Bert Casey. I think it's a wonderful beginners book. The lesson book teaches several different strum patterns. I have practiced, then practiced, then practiced some more, trying to play simple songs like, "He's to the Whole World in His Hands", and "Pay Me My Money Down". Two different strum patterns, and I guess easy ones.
However, practice as I may, I just can't get it in my head. I'll go real slow, trying to get the strum pattern he plays. But I just don't "hear the song". I go right back to my basic strum patterns that are so ingrained in my head, psych, and I think more important, or perhaps a disability.
Anyways, I am just wondering if there are others that have faced this same challenge, and if so, what did you do about it, or should I just embrace it and go...?
But of course, if I didn't think something was missing, I would never have started this topic. It's hard to keep one's ears from listening.
Thanks
Terry