On this site I whole-heartedly recommend various books and materials for becoming a better ukulele player.
Some links are affiliate links and help support my efforts in the form of a few pennies here and there.
Thank you for your support.
Please note: after careful consideration, this lesson has been moved to LEVEL 4 (please ignore any references to level 3).
Relevant symbols from The Key:
Π = downstroke with index, middle or both
V = upstroke with index, middle or both
– = placeholder for half of a beat (let chords ring unless otherwise indicated)
X = ‘chnk’ is a purely percussive downstroke (no notes are sounded) muted with right hand
What You Need to Know
An X can be substituted in place of a Π in any strum pattern. There are a number of ways to make the ‘CHNK’ sound; a purely percussive downstroke made by strumming the muted strings. The simplest involves a sort of sideways-karate chop that places the fleshy part of your palm (down from your pinky) on the strings followed a microsecond later by a strum.
CHALLENGE
Earn your Strummer Level 4 patch by demonstrating three of the following strums in 4/4 time. You may use a song or songs you are working on to demonstrate the strums, or one of the chord sequences you’ve learned so far. Demonstrated strums should keep a consitent beat with no noticeable pauses between chords. Patterns may be played straight or swung.
X V X V X V X V
Π V X V Π V X V
Π V X V X V X V
Π – X V – V X V
Π – Π V X V Π V
Π V X V X V Π V
Π – Π – X V X V
Π – Π – X V Π V
Π – X V Π – X V
OR any of the L3 strum patterns where you substitute at least one X for a Π (or more)