Ukulele Lesson 4 - Uke Shuffle Strumming (UK-004)

Ukulele Lesson 3: Shuffle Strumming. This type of strumming works particularly well on uke so is something you wanna check out!

Taught by Justin Sandercoe.

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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.