This video features content from my book, Let’s Play! The Ukulele Handbook for Beginners.

Most strum patterns are simply different combinations of down-strums, up- strums, and rests (no strum). Your strum creates the rhythm of your music, and a strum diagram tells you how and when to play the strings. Here’s one example:

To play this strum pattern, you would strum down, then rest, then strum down, up, down, up, down, up. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Endeavor to play the strum pattern as evenly as possible, giving equal time to each down strum, up strum, and rest. Practice first with the chord of your choice, then try pairing it with a song.

Most strum patterns are comprised of different combinations of down-strums, up-strums, and rests (no strum). I often get asked, how do I know which strum to play with which song? The frustrating answer is that there is no right answer—we can strum our ukes almost any way we want, so long as we can keep a steady beat. The easiest way to practice a new strum pattern is to play it on its own until you can do so comfortably for an extended period, then work your way up to strumming while incorporating chord changes, and then adding singing into the mix. Do your best to strum smoothly and evenly, and consider taking my piano teacher’s advice to “play at the speed of no mistakes,” no matter how slow that is! Your ability to play at a fast tempo will come with practice.

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