Hey, how're you doing?

Justin here with another 
ukulele instalment for you.

And today we're going to be 
looking at shuffle strumming.

Now this type of strumming 
is really, really

common on the ukulele, 
so it's definitely

something you need 
to do some practice with,

and we're going to be doing a play along 
so you can get use to the feel of it.

So, what is a shuffle?

Normally in music when you have a:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

It would be played very evenly, okay?

Like mathematically as 
perfectly as you could.

Doing something like:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

(continues strum pattern)

Normally, it would be a 
down strum on the beat.

On the 1, 2, 3, and the 4

and an up strum on the "ands".

So, 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

Okay?

That should be something that 
you're working on already,

but the shuffle is particularly 
common on the ukulele.

We use it on guitar as well,

particularly blues used 
a lot of shuffle stuff,

but on the ukulele there is 
something about that kind of-

It's got a bit of a groove to it.

Sounds great on uke.

So what we are basically doing is 
delaying the up stroke a little bit.

The "and"

So instead of going:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

We go:

1- and 2- and 3- and 4

and 1- and 2- and 3- and 4

That kind of feeling, 
if it's straight.

(demonstrates)

Now with the shuffle again.

(demonstrates with shuffle)

Now, if we want to look at it 
mathematically,

we would divide each beat into 3,

commonly called "triplets" in music,

and we would be playing the first
one and the last one.

If we were counting this 
we'd normally count

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

That would be the count for it.

So it would be strumming
the down on the beat,

and the up stroke on the "let".

So if I do it really slowly 
we would be doing:

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

It's not quite as 
mathematical as that really

when it comes to making music out of it.

It's just got this kind of- It's a 
little bit more dance-y than

(playing with shuffle)

♪♪

Than it would if I played
that same thing straight

(plays straight)

It doesn't seem to have 
the same groove as:

(with shuffle)

♪♪

So, to practice, what I would 
recommend you start off with

is doing the little count thing.

So, first thing is to practice 
actually saying out loud:

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

over and over again.

Then start playing along with 
the down strum on that beat,

on the count: the 1, 2, 3, and the 4

and the up on the "let". So going:

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4-

Let's have a little play
along of doing that now

cause this is how you want to get 
it under your fingers properly.

Or finger, as you're probably
strumming with your first finger,

that's what I'd be recommending.

I'm using a C-chord here 
as it's nice and easy,

and you don't want to think about chords.

You just want to think 
about the strumming.

So if i'm going: 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

Keep going.

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

down...up, down...up, 
down...up, down...up

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

1 trip-let 2 trip-let 
3 trip-let 4 trip-let

Okay? So, really that's the way to get 
used to the idea of having that kind of

delayed end, if you like, the shuffle.

But really what's important is that it 
feels good.

So once you've actually got it right
the point would be to just play it.

See if you can get that skip-y 
feeling where it's kind of-

And I don't mean Skippy
the Bush Kangaroo.

I mean, like, you know. 
Kinda moving nice.

That's really where it's at 
with this kind of rhythm thing.

It's not so much about the 
mathematically perfect version.

It's kind of getting it to feel nice,

and that's something 
that you can practice.

When you're playing it yourself, 
practice trying to make it feel good.

You'll feel there'll be a certain 
little pocket where it'll be like-

It'll make you move, 
it'll make you feel different

and that's really where it's at.

And this shuffle thing, for playing uke 
songs is a really important part of it

because playing it straight on 
the uke just never seems to-

Well sometimes it works better, but
most times you want to try and get

that shuffle rhythm in there 
cause it just sounds cool.

Basically, it all boils down 
to what sounds good

and learning the shuffle, and getting that
groovy feeling when you're playing

your rhythm guitar is 
totally where it's at.

So, have a little bit of fun with that

and I will see you for plenty 
more lessons very soon.

Take care of yourselves.

Bye-bye.