1 00:00:05,188 --> 00:00:06,235 Hey, how're you doing? 2 00:00:06,235 --> 00:00:08,798 Justin here with another ukulele instalment for you. 3 00:00:08,798 --> 00:00:11,742 And today we're going to be looking at shuffle strumming. 4 00:00:11,775 --> 00:00:14,168 Now this type of strumming is really, really 5 00:00:14,168 --> 00:00:16,182 common on the ukulele, so it's definitely 6 00:00:16,182 --> 00:00:18,282 something you need to do some practice with, 7 00:00:18,282 --> 00:00:22,082 and we're going to be doing a play along so you can get use to the feel of it. 8 00:00:22,082 --> 00:00:23,527 So, what is a shuffle? 9 00:00:24,268 --> 00:00:26,038 Normally in music when you have a: 10 00:00:26,038 --> 00:00:28,838 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 11 00:00:29,251 --> 00:00:31,524 It would be played very evenly, okay? 12 00:00:31,524 --> 00:00:34,024 Like mathematically as perfectly as you could. 13 00:00:34,219 --> 00:00:35,339 Doing something like: 14 00:00:35,339 --> 00:00:38,669 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 15 00:00:38,709 --> 00:00:41,769 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 16 00:00:42,066 --> 00:00:44,646 (continues strum pattern) 17 00:00:45,136 --> 00:00:47,414 Normally, it would be a down strum on the beat. 18 00:00:47,434 --> 00:00:48,784 On the 1, 2, 3, and the 4 19 00:00:48,784 --> 00:00:50,755 and an up strum on the "ands". 20 00:00:50,755 --> 00:00:55,235 So, 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 21 00:00:55,235 --> 00:00:56,215 Okay? 22 00:00:56,215 --> 00:00:58,895 That should be something that you're working on already, 23 00:00:58,895 --> 00:01:02,364 but the shuffle is particularly common on the ukulele. 24 00:01:02,364 --> 00:01:04,234 We use it on guitar as well, 25 00:01:04,234 --> 00:01:06,904 particularly blues used a lot of shuffle stuff, 26 00:01:06,904 --> 00:01:09,644 but on the ukulele there is something about that kind of- 27 00:01:09,954 --> 00:01:11,582 It's got a bit of a groove to it. 28 00:01:11,582 --> 00:01:12,691 Sounds great on uke. 29 00:01:12,691 --> 00:01:16,903 So what we are basically doing is delaying the up stroke a little bit. 30 00:01:16,923 --> 00:01:17,838 The "and" 31 00:01:17,838 --> 00:01:18,883 So instead of going: 32 00:01:18,883 --> 00:01:22,101 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 33 00:01:22,101 --> 00:01:22,801 We go: 34 00:01:22,801 --> 00:01:25,891 1- and 2- and 3- and 4 35 00:01:25,901 --> 00:01:29,461 and 1- and 2- and 3- and 4 36 00:01:32,507 --> 00:01:34,667 That kind of feeling, if it's straight. 37 00:01:35,006 --> 00:01:37,669 (demonstrates) 38 00:01:37,981 --> 00:01:39,411 Now with the shuffle again. 39 00:01:39,411 --> 00:01:42,460 (demonstrates with shuffle) 40 00:01:43,254 --> 00:01:46,018 Now, if we want to look at it mathematically, 41 00:01:46,018 --> 00:01:48,738 we would divide each beat into 3, 42 00:01:48,738 --> 00:01:50,543 commonly called "triplets" in music, 43 00:01:50,543 --> 00:01:53,323 and we would be playing the first one and the last one. 44 00:01:53,531 --> 00:01:55,631 If we were counting this we'd normally count 45 00:01:55,631 --> 00:01:59,512 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 46 00:01:59,580 --> 00:02:01,070 That would be the count for it. 47 00:02:01,203 --> 00:02:03,467 So it would be strumming the down on the beat, 48 00:02:03,467 --> 00:02:05,409 and the up stroke on the "let". 49 00:02:05,495 --> 00:02:07,835 So if I do it really slowly we would be doing: 50 00:02:07,835 --> 00:02:12,813 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 51 00:02:12,843 --> 00:02:18,323 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 52 00:02:18,376 --> 00:02:21,266 It's not quite as mathematical as that really 53 00:02:21,266 --> 00:02:23,228 when it comes to making music out of it. 54 00:02:23,277 --> 00:02:27,647 It's just got this kind of- It's a little bit more dance-y than 55 00:02:27,647 --> 00:02:31,717 (playing with shuffle) 56 00:02:32,767 --> 00:02:35,767 ♪♪ 57 00:02:37,109 --> 00:02:39,441 Than it would if I played that same thing straight 58 00:02:39,441 --> 00:02:43,781 (plays straight) 59 00:02:44,927 --> 00:02:48,298 It doesn't seem to have the same groove as: 60 00:02:48,298 --> 00:02:51,448 (with shuffle) 61 00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:55,510 ♪♪ 62 00:02:56,982 --> 00:02:59,822 So, to practice, what I would recommend you start off with 63 00:02:59,822 --> 00:03:01,352 is doing the little count thing. 64 00:03:01,352 --> 00:03:04,077 So, first thing is to practice actually saying out loud: 65 00:03:04,077 --> 00:03:08,563 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 66 00:03:08,563 --> 00:03:10,023 over and over again. 67 00:03:10,104 --> 00:03:12,945 Then start playing along with the down strum on that beat, 68 00:03:12,945 --> 00:03:14,725 on the count: the 1, 2, 3, and the 4 69 00:03:14,785 --> 00:03:16,755 and the up on the "let". So going: 70 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,590 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 71 00:03:21,620 --> 00:03:26,173 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4- 72 00:03:27,316 --> 00:03:29,606 Let's have a little play along of doing that now 73 00:03:29,606 --> 00:03:32,746 cause this is how you want to get it under your fingers properly. 74 00:03:32,766 --> 00:03:35,903 Or finger, as you're probably strumming with your first finger, 75 00:03:35,903 --> 00:03:37,518 that's what I'd be recommending. 76 00:03:37,958 --> 00:03:40,468 I'm using a C-chord here as it's nice and easy, 77 00:03:40,468 --> 00:03:42,420 and you don't want to think about chords. 78 00:03:42,420 --> 00:03:44,470 You just want to think about the strumming. 79 00:03:44,470 --> 00:03:47,470 So if i'm going: 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 80 00:03:47,687 --> 00:03:53,397 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 81 00:03:53,458 --> 00:03:58,607 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 82 00:03:58,607 --> 00:03:59,457 Keep going. 83 00:03:59,457 --> 00:04:04,177 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 84 00:04:04,177 --> 00:04:09,015 down...up, down...up, down...up, down...up 85 00:04:09,315 --> 00:04:14,181 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 86 00:04:14,518 --> 00:04:19,271 1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4 trip-let 87 00:04:19,978 --> 00:04:23,697 Okay? So, really that's the way to get used to the idea of having that kind of 88 00:04:23,697 --> 00:04:26,137 delayed end, if you like, the shuffle. 89 00:04:26,317 --> 00:04:28,850 But really what's important is that it feels good. 90 00:04:29,096 --> 00:04:32,492 So once you've actually got it right the point would be to just play it. 91 00:04:34,265 --> 00:04:37,275 See if you can get that skip-y feeling where it's kind of- 92 00:04:37,631 --> 00:04:39,586 And I don't mean Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. 93 00:04:39,586 --> 00:04:42,540 I mean, like, you know. Kinda moving nice. 94 00:04:45,613 --> 00:04:48,423 That's really where it's at with this kind of rhythm thing. 95 00:04:48,423 --> 00:04:51,753 It's not so much about the mathematically perfect version. 96 00:04:51,753 --> 00:04:53,773 It's kind of getting it to feel nice, 97 00:04:53,773 --> 00:04:55,855 and that's something that you can practice. 98 00:04:55,855 --> 00:04:59,494 When you're playing it yourself, practice trying to make it feel good. 99 00:04:59,504 --> 00:05:02,738 You'll feel there'll be a certain little pocket where it'll be like- 100 00:05:02,738 --> 00:05:05,118 It'll make you move, it'll make you feel different 101 00:05:05,118 --> 00:05:06,884 and that's really where it's at. 102 00:05:06,884 --> 00:05:12,667 And this shuffle thing, for playing uke songs is a really important part of it 103 00:05:12,667 --> 00:05:15,486 because playing it straight on the uke just never seems to- 104 00:05:16,117 --> 00:05:19,770 Well sometimes it works better, but most times you want to try and get 105 00:05:19,770 --> 00:05:22,502 that shuffle rhythm in there cause it just sounds cool. 106 00:05:22,502 --> 00:05:24,902 Basically, it all boils down to what sounds good 107 00:05:24,902 --> 00:05:28,992 and learning the shuffle, and getting that groovy feeling when you're playing 108 00:05:28,992 --> 00:05:31,407 your rhythm guitar is totally where it's at. 109 00:05:31,407 --> 00:05:33,284 So, have a little bit of fun with that 110 00:05:33,284 --> 00:05:35,964 and I will see you for plenty more lessons very soon. 111 00:05:35,964 --> 00:05:37,106 Take care of yourselves. 112 00:05:37,106 --> 00:05:37,996 Bye-bye.