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Learning Ukulele Strums - A Recipe for Success
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A strum is the execution of a rhythmic pattern - in a specific style at tempo.
Learning Strums, A Receipe for Success covers how to go about learning the various rhythmic patterns that are strums.
Strumming requires a specific set of skills. They are: 1) Memorization of chords 2) The ability to switch chords smoothly and 3) The ability to choose and execute a suitable rhythmic strum.
This series of lesson's focus is on the execution.
Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
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The six essential scale are: Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Ionian.
There are two scales that can be the memorized and all other essential scales referenced from these two. These two scales are the Major and Natural Minor scales. The Major and Natural Minor scales are traditional scales and common scales in all forms of contemporary music. This lesson explores the Major and Natural Minor scales and their derivations.
From these two scales the Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydiand and Dorian scale can be created.
Core Chords - Creating the Big Six from F7, 1st Voicing
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Taking a movable F7 chord, you can derive each of the 'big six' essential chords. 7, maj7, m7, m7b5, dim7, and aug7.
Featured Books 
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning
Beyond knowing the names of the open strings most ukulele players find it hard to learn the whole fingerboard.
If your goal is to finally learn the names of the notes on the ukulele fingerboard. Then "Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard" is your answer. "Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning" has a step by step approach to finally mastering the ukulele fingerboard. FREE download.
The Blues Scale
Learn to play the Blues scale on ukulele. Available in "C" Tuning. Scale diagrams in the QuickStart format and chords chart for all keys. This book is a FREE download.
Ukulele Chords
NEW This small (1/2 size) chord book is a great little book to carry with you. Ukulele Chords covers basic open position and basic movable form chords. From these two chord categories a variety of songs and styles can be played.
A Guide to Ukulele Chords
This book is designed as a guide to ukulele (pronounced “oo-koo-lele”) chords. Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part “jazz” chords and more...
Ukulele For Guitar Players
Ukulele for Guitar Players is a guide to transferring the accumulated experience and knowledge gained as a guitar played to the ukulele.
A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z
Covers the key of C major and C minor, including a detailed accompanying text explaining the principles behind each progression and the chord substutitions.
Exploring "Jazz" Chords on Ukulele
Exploring "Jazz" Chords takes the core chords from A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele and shows their use over a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire.
A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele
If your goal is to expand your chord vocabulary, The Advanced Guide to Ukelele Chords Series is your answer. Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords. A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords Volume I provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.
The Advanced Guide to Guitar Chords
Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords this provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.
Harmonic Analysis For Scale Selection And Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
Ukulele - Reading Music Series
Reading Music in Open Position, Single Note Studies- Primer. Reading music is not as hard as one might think. It may be new and unfamiliar to you but is not hard when you have a proper plan of attack.
Featured Song/TAB
Blue Bossa
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Blue Bossa is an instrumental jazz composition by Kenny Dorham (August 30, 1924 – December 5, 1972). It was introduced on Joe Henderson's 1963 album Page One. A blend of hard bop and bossa nova, the tune was possibly influenced by Dorham's visit to the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961. The tune has since been recorded numerous times by different artists, making it a jazz standard.
Includes: Play-along Lead Sheet, Ukulele TAB of Melody, Melody and Chord Ukulele rrangement, example chords and scales for accompanment and improv.
Over 1800 pages of
ukulele, guitar and music content. And 146 lessons for FREE or any donations.
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“I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books -- I have four of them and they are excelent.” - fatveg - Portland
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A Guide to Ukulele Strums | UKESTRUM1
Learn a variety of strums and rhythmic patterns in wide range of musical styles. One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer - songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.
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A Guide to Ukulele Strums
Author: Curt Sheller
Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications - (28 pages)
Published: July 01, 2008
ISBN-10: 1-60321-019-9
ISBN-13: 78-1-60321-019-5
Size: 8.5 x 11
Product Code: UKESTRUM1
Product Page: /books/UKESTRUM1/index.php
Introduction
One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer - songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.
Strumming requires a specific set of skills. They are: 1) Memorization of chords 2) The ability to switch chords smoothly and 3) The ability to choose and execute a suitable rhythmic strum. It is this 3rd skill that is our focus in “A Guide to Ukulele Strums & Rhythmic Patterns”.
Though strumming looks natural to the casual observer, it is anything but natural to the beginning ukulele player. Even experienced players have difficulty in identifying and executing certain strums. Though this is one of those topics that is typically taken for granted, there is much to learn about rhythmic feels, accents, dynamics, strum direction, feel, percussive accents, idiomatic styles and tempo variation.
First and foremost, the subject of strumming is inseparably linked to rhythm. Though an ability to read rhythm is helpful, it’s not necessary to profit from this material.
“A strum is the execution of a rhythmic pattern — in a specific style”
Each strum is identified with a term that differentiates it from every other strum. This term is typically called a “feel”. Drummers learn these terms early in their studies so learning this language is not only helpful to learning the strums, it’s also helpful with communications among musicians in general and drummers in particular.
Strumming can be executed with fingers or with a pick. Regardless of your own style of strumming, it ultimately involves combinations of down strokes and up strokes. In the finger style, down strokes can played with the thumb or the nail side of your fingers. Up strokes can be played with the thumb or fingers. Any technique is usable as long as you can differentiate between down and up strokes.
A metronome is helpful to these studies but not mandatory. The purpose of a metronome is to help develop a steady sense of rhythm and to help increase your awareness of tempo in a beats per minute format. Terms like medium or fast tempo are approximate. An expression like “quarter note equals 120” is exact. We’ll discuss strumming with and without the aid of a metronome.
All strums can be executed at any tempo.
One strum is different from another based on the stroke direction, the stroke density, the subdivision of the beat and the accent pattern.
Guide to Ukulele Strums by Curt Sheller
Review By Alan Johnson, 4th Peg
Ok.. a bit overdue (hey, I’ve got a library book from 1974) but a wonderful addition to Curt Sheller’s marvelous ukulele lesson books is the Guide to Ukulele Strums. This is the one (and only, in my opinion) book to get to work on your right-hand technique and put some pizazz into your playing.
Curt starts with the basics such as what is a strum and some practice exercises. He proceeds with important items such as what do the symbols in the book mean. Curt moves straight on to the strum patterns showing how the strum are accomplished and gives a brief explanation of each. Strum patterns include basic rock strums, ska and reggae strums and many others. Curt also explains how to use single notes (such as bass notes) along with strums to liven things up. These are invaluable for those who truly want to take their playing to the next level. By the way, on page 21 is a Cut Time Strum. This strum is a staple of Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) and no Cliffy fan should pass this one up.
This is a great learning resource, a bargain of a price and I salute you, Curt! You rock (and reggae.. and waltz.. and mambo..)! Surf on over to Curt’s ukulele home on the web and check out his other offerings too.
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- Introduction 7
- Some Fundamentals 8
- Preliminary Exercises 8
- Symbols 9
- Quarter Note Strum 13
- Sustain Strum 13
- Rock Strum 14
- Light Rock Strum 15
- 12/8 Strum 15
- Shuffle Strum 16
- Power Shuffle Strum 16
- Double Time Strum 16
- Gallop Strum 17
- Flowing 3/4 Strum 17
- Ska Strum 18
- Bass Note Strum Patterns 19
- 3/4 Strum 20
- Reggae Strum 22
- Broken Patterns 23
- Variations 25
- Modular Phonetic Rhythm 26
- Conclusion 27
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Regarding the Ukulele Chord and Scale Books
Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. - - Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg
(Regarding QUICKSTART Scale Fingerings for Ukulele) The ukulele book arrived, it must have been chatting with some Christmas cards somewhere.
The books are great!! I am very happy to wrap the books up, and put them under the tree.
My husband and I are both learning to play ukulele and he is also playing a little bit of guitar. Thanks also for sending the full catalogue. These look like some of the best materials that I have found so far!
Thanks, Laura C.
(Regarding QUICKSTART Scale Fingerings for Ukulele) ... I was looking for blues chording info but your site came up as jazz chords. I figured soon or later I would need jazzer chords so here I am. Plus nobody else is offering more indepth info on the uke, I liked the scale one the best so far.
Thank you RDGauthier
I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books -- I have four of them and they are excelent.
fatveg - Portland (4th Peg Ukulele forum)
Thank you Curt,
I bought a ukulele a few months back after stumbling across a few people playing it on YouTube. I’ve been playing around for a while now, and these books are exactly what I need to bring my technique up a level. Your website and books are definitely a great resource that I’ll be returning to for ideas and help.
Thanks again,
“I agree with everybody about just using guitar chords and dropping 2 strings, but I have found Curt Sheller's book "Scale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele" helpful for practicing scales in different modes.” - - dave (davebough, ezFolk Forums)
“Your chord of the week lessons are great! Really opened my eyes as to what I was doing & has allowed me to figure out the best way to play the chords I need, depending on the arrangement. Ive actually only looked at the first 2 weeks so far, then worked out the 3rd week myself.
I especially like the way that each week builds on what was learned the previous, so you are incorporating all the forms into the exercises!”
- - S. (sharp21 at 4th Peg "The Parlor Room" Ukulele Forum)
Aloha Curt,
Just a quick note to say, Mahalo for the quick shipping on the Kala Foldup Ukulele Stand. I'm working on my strums with the help of your book. The arpeggio Fingerings are for when I get some of my lessons down pat and I can move on to them. Mahalo for all your time and effort in putting these ebooks and the information you have on your site. I go to you for the most consistent in quality of information.
Me ke aloha pau ole.
Tamm
Thanks for the quick processing and delivery on my order. Your ukulele publications are the highest quality I have seen.
I'm just a beginner. Never played an instrument in my life. Now, at age 58, it's time to get down to serious learning. Retired, I now have the time.
Thanks, John
I wanted to pay you a compliment. (Now don’t get a big head!). I have purchased many books over the past 15 years I have been playing and none of them come even close to having the detailed and easy to understand information yours have. I really got a chance to get some practicing in and am finding your books to be such a great learning tool. I also purchased a timer like you suggested and my practice sessions the past 4 days have been my best in years. Take care.
Nick (Matty) Matyszczak
Related Books
All book sizes are 8.5" x 11" unless noted and music stand friendly, "lay flat" coil binding.
HARD COPY
BC1UKE2
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A Guide to Ukulele Chords, 2nd Edition
A Guide to Ukulele Chords, Second Edition is designed as a guide to ukulele chords. Covering the basic ukulele chords that ALL ukulele players SHOULD know. A Guide to Ukulele Chords covers movable chord forms, rock chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and includes an introduction to 4-part, a.k.a jazz chords and more...
From a few core, basic chord shapes and a understanding of how chords are constructed. Your chord vocabulary can be dramatically increased without memorizing countless chord shapes. There are too many chord shapes to memorize.
This book will take the mystery out playing and understanding chords on the ukulele, whether it is a standard, concert, tenor or baritone ukulele in C tuning, low or high string four.
Tunings: C Tunings. Low or high string four variations.
Lefties of the world! Don't feel left out. There is a version for you: A Guide to Ukulele Chords for Lefties
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-047-8 Published: November 2011 Pages 50
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Ukulele Chords
This mini (1/2 size) chord books are the perfect size for every ukulele gig bag or case and a great addition to you music book library.
SPECIAL: $4.97 for Hard Copy This is the same price as the PDF download.
Ukulele Chords covers basic open position and basic movable form chords. From these two chord categories a variety of songs and styles can be played.
Seventh chords, Major Sevenths, Minor Sevenths, Diminished, Augmented chords sus and add chords.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
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A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z
The Blues are at the heart of all American music. It has influenced Country, Rock, Folk, Jazz, Bluegrass and just about every form of American music we listen to today.
Studying the blues chord progressions presented in this book will open a wealth of creative possibilities for exploring chord progressions in all styles of music, not just blues.
This volume covers the key of C major and C minor. Each example includes detailed accompanying text explaining the principles behind each progression and its chord substitutions.
A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z starts with a basic three chord, 12 bar blues and progresses up to a sophisticated jazz blues with multiple chord substitutions.
All examples are shown in C and G tuning. Suitable for Soprano, concert, tenor and baritone ukuleles. Get through this book and you'll have a solid jazz chord foundation to build on.
Tunings: C and G. Low or high string four variations.
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A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords - Volume I
Beyond learning basic Ukulele chords most players struggle with advanced chords. Commonly called “jazz” chords, these more sophisticated voicings find a wide use in all forms of music.
A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele presents a highly organized and efficient approach to the mysterious subject of advanced chords. Chord dictionaries are not the answer. Even chord theory does not offer any insight into unraveling the complexity of Ukulele chord voicings.
If your goal is to expand your chord vocabulary, A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele is your answer.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-8-9 Published: March 2003 Pages 70
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Exploring Jazz Chords on Ukulele
Exploring Jazz Chords takes the core chords from A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele and shows their use over a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire.
Building a Solid Jazz Chord Foundation using Seventh, Major Seventh, Major 6, Minor Seventh, Minor Sixth, Diminished Seventh, Minor Seventh Flat Five and Augmented Seventh chords.
Tunings: C and G. Low or high string four variations.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-007-2 Published: January 2007 Pages 52
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The Advanced Guide to Chord Progressions for Ukulele - Volume I
Volume I features the principles of voice leading applied to chord progressions. These principles are explained using chords from volume I of The Advanced Guide to Ukulele Chords. Chapters with common major and minor full diatonic, partial diatonic and chromatic chord progressions are also included to further explore voice leading principles presented in the book.
Tunings: C Tuning with a low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-9-6 Published: January 2004 Pages 80
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AGCPUKE1
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