I cant strum!

Thanks for all the info about strumming. What is "chunking"? I saw it mentioned on one of Aldrine's videos, but I can't figure out what it is. Thanks.

gigischill said:

Thanks for all the info about strumming. What is "chunking"? I saw it mentioned on one of Aldrine's videos, but I can't figure out what it is. Thanks.

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it's where you strum, while muting the strings... so you place the heel of your hand over the strings as you hit the strings. kinda just helps to keep the beat when you are playing and not necesserily wanting to play a chord on each beat (i'm not sure if that makes sense).
i found this video which may be of some use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZxOof50iqk

I too am a "thumb strummer". I cannot for the life of me get my hand to do the finger strums...

That said, I am pretty confident I can do some chunking/muting and very cool patterns with just my thumb. Not everything you can to with fingers (Triplets, etc), but I can do a wide mixture of sound muting with my palm, and varying pressure across different parts of the strings. When I get into a strummin' groove, I really FEEL it and start ROCKIN!

I still wish I could learn the finger strum, but when I try it sounds like I don't know how to play a Uke at all!!!

I should make a comparison audio track of the same chords, but how different the sound is between my "thumb" strum, and my "Finger" strum. WORLDS APART!

I need more practice I guess...

Cheers,
Skottoman

gigischill said:

Thanks for all the info about strumming. What is "chunking"? I saw it mentioned on one of Aldrine's videos, but I can't figure out what it is. Thanks.

Click to expand...

check out this video:

http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/08/23/uke-minutes-23-chunking/

Thought I'd do a little experiment, although it didn't turn out so great.

I recorded (really badly just using my computer mic), some chords to "I shot the sherriff".

First half is with my thumb, second half is me TRYING to use my index finger for strumming. I did my best, but didn't really practice before doing this, just a quick dirty recording.

I can hear the difference, can you? (crappy distorted recording aside)
Cheers,
Skottoman

Oh, the uke is a Martin SO.

http://www.baileymusic.com/ukulele/test.mp3

Skottoman said:

Thought I'd do a little experiment, although it didn't turn out so great.

I recorded (really badly just using my computer mic), some chords to "I shot the sherriff".

First half is with my thumb, second half is me TRYING to use my index finger for strumming. I did my best, but didn't really practice before doing this, just a quick dirty recording.

I can hear the difference, can you? (crappy distorted recording aside)
Cheers,
Skottoman

Oh, the uke is a Martin SO.

http://www.baileymusic.com/ukulele/test.mp3

Click to expand...

ey, so you tend to catch your fingers on the strings when you strum using your finger? 'cause i don't know if this will help any, or if it's pointless, but i taught myself guitar and i learned with a pick and then went on to learn with my fingers (both strumming and picking) so now that i've got a uke (admittedly only a week or so ago so you can ignore me for sure, hahah) i can use my fingers fairly ok...

the way i do it though is to strum as if i'm holding a pick, but not be holding one. i don't know if this limits me in any way. i actually intend buying some uke picks (i know most people do not approve) because i see no harm doing what i find easier in a situation where what i'm playing is not limited by the tool i'm using. i can change to using my hands when it's necesery.

I'm also primarily a thumb strummer, but I can finger strum as well if needed. Mostly it's because for some reason, my rhythm gets messed up a lot more on the finger than the thumb (especially if I'm singing). So, I use my thumb for most strumming, unless it's something specific - then I use my fingers.

There's a kind of strumming where you'd strum down with your finger and up with your thumb, which is something I'm learning to do (which is also a bit like the aforementioned pretending you have a pick and strumming it).

But anyway, some uke players have told me that you could strum with your feet if you'd like, as long as it sounds good and you're having fun with it. Use your finger or your thumb or a pick - it's really up to you.

As for chunking - until recently I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to chunk, even after watching all those videos posted above and following other people's advices on it. I felt really stupid. But then, I kept at it, and one day, I can. I was psyched.
Chunking seems to be quite readily achievable for most, but if not, keep practicing!

Yes, Chunking takes a while to get used to with. I am also learning this from Aldrine video, and the "Wonderful Tonight Uke lessons" is a good one for chunking practice. I am still far from mastering chunking, but I am much better than 3 months ago... I just need more practice.
For now, the single finger roll is still very difficult for me.

Thanks for all the responses about chunking. The videos will be helpful -- I have a lot of work to do! Lovin' this UU website!

I also struggle with strums, and I just bought this e-book which was pretty helpful:

http://ukulelehunt.com/2009/07/15/ukulele-strumming-strums/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78nr8QMaUbI#t=4m50s
He explains some things that really help, especially when it comes to supporting using your thumb.
My strumming dilemma is making sure I have a consistent strum at very fast speeds as well as something I've been trying to steal from jake shimabukuro (I've stolen things from him before )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k#t=3m29s
that bit where he switches between what seem to be 16th and 32nd notes, i just cant quite double my speed like that, I think that one is just gonna have to require me starting slow and building up the speed.

If your fingers or nails are getting caught in the strings, then you're strumming too hard.

Check out how Uni stums her uke here... very light, she uses her whole hand/wrist to strum, very effectively I think.

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

Great site for strumming

normantxt said:

Halp. So i just got my ukulele yesterday and i dont know why but i have a problem strumming. i mean whenever my index finger hits the strings, my finger sometimes gets in between the strings and lags the strum. i cant keep a constant strum up and down without lagging in between strums. what can i do about this problem? what finger do you use to strum? and where is the placement of your strum finger? i read online that its suppose to be near the end of the fret board, above the hole.

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Here is a great site for strumming instruction on the uke. It has simple videos that shows the strum pattern and you can strum along with the teacher.
www.ezfolk.com/uke/Tutorials/Strumming/strumming.html