Strumming is the heartbeat of ukulele playing. While chords provide the harmony, strumming patterns give songs their rhythm, groove, and personality. A simple chord progression can sound completely different depending on the strumming pattern you use—from a gentle, flowing ballad to an upbeat, energetic tune. Mastering strumming patterns is essential for any ukulele player who wants to move beyond sounding like a beginner.
In this guide, we'll start with the fundamentals of strumming technique, then progress through increasingly sophisticated patterns. By the end, you'll have a toolkit of patterns that will bring life and expression to any song you play.
Strumming Fundamentals
Before diving into specific patterns, let's establish proper strumming technique. Good technique makes playing easier, sounds better, and prevents injury from repetitive strain.
What to Strum With
Most ukulele players strum with their index finger, using the pad on downstrokes and the nail on upstrokes. Some players use the thumb for a softer sound, while others prefer a felt pick for more volume and attack. Experiment to find what feels comfortable and sounds good to you—there's no single "correct" approach.
Strumming Motion
The strumming motion should come from your wrist, not your entire arm. Think of it like gently shaking water off your hand. Your wrist should stay relaxed and flexible, with your forearm remaining relatively still. Stiff, arm-based strumming is tiring and produces a harsh, uneven sound.
Strum across the strings where the neck meets the body of the ukulele, roughly over the soundhole. This position produces the fullest, most balanced tone. Strumming closer to the bridge creates a thinner, more percussive sound.
Understanding Down and Up Strokes
In strumming notation, "D" or a downward arrow indicates a downstroke (moving from the G string toward the A string), while "U" or an upward arrow indicates an upstroke (moving from the A string toward the G string). Downstrokes typically emphasise beats 1 and 3, while upstrokes emphasise the "and" between beats.
Pattern 1: The Basic Downstroke
The simplest strumming pattern is four even downstrokes per bar, one for each beat:
D - D - D - D (counted: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4)
This pattern is perfect for beginners still developing chord-changing skills. Focus on maintaining a steady, even tempo. Use a metronome starting at 60-70 BPM, and only increase speed once you can play through chord progressions without hesitating at changes.
Pattern 2: Down-Up Eighth Notes
Once comfortable with basic downstrokes, add upstrokes to create eighth-note rhythm:
D U D U D U D U (counted: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &)
Keep your strumming hand moving in a constant down-up motion like a pendulum. Even when you don't actually hit the strings, keep the motion going—this maintains your rhythm and prepares you for more complex patterns where you skip certain strokes.
- Your strumming hand should always be moving, even when not striking strings
- Downstrokes happen on beats (1, 2, 3, 4)
- Upstrokes happen on the "ands" between beats (1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &)
Pattern 3: The Island Strum
This classic ukulele pattern gives songs that characteristic laid-back, tropical feel. It's used in countless songs from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to contemporary pop hits:
D - D U - U D U (counted: 1 - 2 & - & 4 &)
Notice that beats 3 and 4 have missing strokes—your hand keeps moving but doesn't strike the strings on those positions. This creates a syncopated rhythm with emphasis on the "ands" rather than the main beats, giving the pattern its distinctive groove.
Start very slowly, exaggerating each movement until the pattern becomes automatic. Most beginners rush the tempo before the pattern is solid, resulting in sloppy rhythm. Patience pays off here.
Pattern 4: The Folk Strum
This pattern is widely used in folk, pop, and singer-songwriter music:
D - D U D U (counted: 1 - 2 & 3 &)
The first beat is emphasised with a downstroke, followed by a rest on beat 2, then steady down-up patterns. This creates a driving yet spacious feel that works beautifully with storytelling songs.
Pattern 5: The Reggae Strum
Reggae-style strumming emphasises the upbeats, creating that characteristic off-beat feel:
- U - U - U - U (counted: - & - & - & - &)
Mute or skip the downbeats entirely, playing only on the "ands." This takes practice because it fights against our natural instinct to emphasise downbeats. Start by playing regular down-up strumming, then gradually let the downstrokes become quieter until they disappear.
Many Bob Marley songs use this pattern, as do reggae-influenced pop songs like "Red Red Wine" and "Bad Boys." It's also great for adding variety to your playing—try switching to reggae strumming for the chorus of a song for instant energy.
Pattern 6: The Chunk Strum
Adding "chunks" or muted percussive strokes gives your playing a rhythmic, percussive quality. A chunk is created by strumming while your fretting hand mutes the strings (relax your fingers so they touch the strings without pressing them to the frets):
D - D U x U D U (where x = chunk)
This pattern adds a drum-like "pop" to your playing and works wonderfully for upbeat songs. Practice the chunk motion separately before incorporating it into patterns—it should sound crisp and percussive, not like a muddy chord.
Developing Your Rhythm Skills
Beyond specific patterns, developing strong overall rhythm skills will make you a better player:
- Use a Metronome: Practice with a metronome regularly. This builds an internal sense of steady tempo that will serve you in any musical situation.
- Play Along with Recordings: Put on songs you love and strum along. This teaches you to lock in with other musicians and develops your ear for different rhythmic feels.
- Count Out Loud: While learning new patterns, count the beats out loud. This reinforces the relationship between what you're doing and where it falls in the bar.
- Tap Your Foot: Keeping time with your foot while playing establishes a physical connection to the beat that keeps you grounded.
Common Rhythm Mistakes to Avoid
Watch out for these common issues that can undermine your rhythm:
- Slowing Down at Chord Changes: Maintain steady tempo even if it means flubbing the chord. It's better to hit a wrong note on time than a correct note late.
- Inconsistent Dynamics: Keep your strumming strength consistent unless you're intentionally adding dynamic variation. Random loud and soft strokes make rhythm sound uneven.
- Rushing: Many players gradually speed up without realising it. Check yourself against a metronome periodically.
- Tension: A tight grip or stiff wrist affects rhythm and tone. Stay relaxed.
Record yourself playing and listen back. You'll often hear rhythm issues you didn't notice while playing. This honest feedback accelerates improvement.
Adapting Patterns to Songs
As you learn more patterns, you'll develop the skill of matching patterns to songs. Consider these factors:
- Tempo: Fast songs often work best with simpler patterns; slow songs can accommodate more complexity.
- Genre: Match the pattern to the style—island strum for Hawaiian and reggae-influenced music, folk strum for acoustic pop, etc.
- Mood: Gentle ballads might use soft downstrokes; upbeat songs might feature energetic island or chunk patterns.
- What the Original Recording Uses: Listen carefully to the original version for inspiration, but don't feel obligated to match it exactly.
Moving Beyond Patterns
Eventually, you'll internalise these patterns to the point where you create variations and combinations instinctively. This is where your personal style emerges. You might mix elements from different patterns, add accents, or subtly vary the pattern to match the song's emotional arc.
The goal isn't to memorise endless patterns but to develop such familiarity with rhythm that you can express yourself freely. These foundational patterns are the building blocks; what you create with them is entirely up to you.