What is a strumming pattern? Types of strumming patterns on ukulele

Summary

Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn to combine downstrokes and upstrokes in a simple strumming pattern. Integrate Solfeg.io in teaching the basics of ukulele playing.

💻 Materials:

• Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
• Projector or computer and access to WIFI
• Ukuleles
• Mobile devices with the Solfeg.io mobile app installed (optional)

🎲 Activities included:

• Learning the Am, F and Dm chords
• Playing the Am, F, and Dm chords in a song
• Learning the basics of strumming
• Playing a strumming pattern in a song

Introduction to the song

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Get familiar with the chosen song
• Recognize instruments in a song
• Describe the characteristics of a song

🎶 Recommended Song:

‍

🎲 Activity:

• Project the song onto a screen. Click on 'Ukulele' under 'Tools' - 'Visuals' so that the ukulele chord diagrams are visible.
• Listen to the verse and chorus
• Shortly discuss the song with the class.

What instruments do you hear?

Is there a ukulele played in this song?

Which chords are featured in this song?

What is the tempo, mood and genre of the song?

Learn or recap the chords

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Get familiar with the chords in the chosen song
• Learn or recap chords using chord diagrams

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

-Distribute ukuleles to students. If there's one for each student - perfect! If you have less ukuleles than students, distribute one instrument to a small group of students - they will have to take turns when playing.

-Press “Play” and then pause the song at each new chord that appears in the chord diagrams at the bottom of the song player.

-If needed, explain to class how to read the chord diagrams:

• The horizontal lines represent the strings. At the top you can see the string which is at the bottom when playing the ukulele - the A/1st string.
• The vertical lines indicate the frets.
• The dots indicate where the left hand fingers should be placed on the ukulele.
• The numbers inside the dots indicate which finger should be pressed:

1 - index finger

2 - middle finger

3 - ring finger

4 - pinky

Play the Am chord

🕐 Time: 10 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the Am chord on the ukulele

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on 'Am' under 'Tools' - 'Chords' so that the Solfeg.io fretboard showing the Am chord is visible.
• Tell your students to play the Am chord on their ukuleles with their left hand. To play that chord, students should place the 2nd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Then strum downwards with their right thumb.
• Let them practice the chord and get familiar with it!
• Play the chorus 1 and verse of the song and listen to it with your students.
• Tell the students that they will now have to try to play the Am chord in this song.
• The rules are simple - as soon as the Am chord passes the red line - play it! Other chords should be omitted now.
• Press play and let them practice the chord and get familiar with it! You can also press the loop button in the controls so that the intro section would repeat multiple times.

Play the F chord

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the F chord on the ukulele

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on 'F' under 'Tools' - 'Chords' so that the Solfeg.io fretboard showing the F chord is visible.
• To play the F chord, students should place the 1st finger on the 2nd string, first fret. Then add the 2nd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Then strum downwards with their right thumb.
• Let them practice the chord and get familiar with it!

Combine Am & F chord

🕐 Time: 10 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the Am & F chord on the ukulele

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Tell students that they will have to play the Am and F chords in this song.
• Look at the song and play Am and F chords when they pass the red line
• Slow the song down by pressing “﹣” on the left side of the “Play” button. You can press it up to 4 times to choose the preferred speed.
• Play the chorus 1 and verse sections of the sons and let them practice the chords and get familiar with it! You can also press the loop button in the controls so that the section would repeat multiple times:
• Leave out the Dm chord for now.
• When students are comfortable with the speed, repeat the exercise at a faster speed until the original speed of the song is reached.

Last chord - Dm

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the Dm chord on the ukulele

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on 'Dm' under 'Tools' - 'Chords' so that the Solfeg.io fretboard showing the Dm chord is visible.
• To play the Dm chord, students should place the 1st finger on the 2nd string, first fret. Then add the 3rd finger on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Lastly - add the second finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Then strum downwards with their right thumb.
• Let them practice the chord and get familiar with it!

Get comfortable with the chord combo

🕐 Time: 10 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Practice combining chords
• Play a part of the chosen song

🎶 Recommended Songs:

🎲 Activity:

• Play chorus 1 and verse parts.
• Press “Play” and invite the class to play along, following the chord symbols.
• If needed, slow the song down by pressing “﹣” on the left side of the “Play” button. You can press it up to 4 times to choose the preferred speed.
• When students are comfortable with the speed, repeat the exercise at a faster speed until the original speed of the song is reached.
• You can loop a selected part of the song by pressing the “Loop” button on the right side of the “Play” button.

Basics of strumming

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Understand the concept of downstrokes and upstrokes
• Practice alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes

🎲 Activity:

• Explain the two types of strumming: downstrokes and upstrokes.

To play downstrokes, simply strum all four strings in a downward motion with the flesh of the left side of your right thumb.

To play upstrokes, strum all four strings upwards starting from the bottom with the nail or fingertip of the right index finger.

• Practice combining downstrokes and upstrokes alternately - either on open strings or a chord of choice!
• Some tips and tricks to share with students:

Try not to change the hand shape when switching between downstrokes and upstrokes, simply move the hand upwards.

Make sure your shoulders are relaxed.

Use the wrist and the elbow while strumming, move them freely together with the hand.

After the downstroke, the right hand should continue the movement and come back up, stroking the strings.

Strumming pattern

🕐 Time: 15 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Practice a strumming pattern at different speeds

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Show students this easy strumming pattern:

To boost the creativity of students, you could ask them to come up with their own strumming pattern using downstrokes and upstrokes in 4/4.

• Press “Play” and invite the class to play along with the new strumming pattern.

Slow the song down by pressing “﹣” on the left side of the “Play” button. You can press it up to 4 times to choose the preferred speed.

If you wish to loop a selected part of the song, press the “Loop” button on the right side of the “Play” button.

When students are comfortable with the speed, repeat the exercise at a faster speed until the original speed of the song is reached.

Performance

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Play a song or parts of a song from the beginning till the end

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• When students are comfortable with the strumming pattern, invite them to perform the whole song or parts of it (if “drivers license” or “Way Down We Go” was chosen) in front of the class.
• You can divide the class into smaller groups and ask each group to perform a different part or play a different strumming pattern.

Reflection

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Reflect on the learning process

🎲 Activity:

• Ask these questions to the class and have a short discussion

In your opinion, why do different strumming patterns are used in songs?

How does the feel of the song change, when a different strumming pattern is played?

What was the most fun/challenging part of the lesson?

What other songs would you like to learn to play on the ukulele?

Homework assignment

🕐 Time: 3 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Practice combining easy chords on the ukulele
• Consolidate the concepts learned in the lesson

🎲 Activity:

Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…

• Learning to play another song from the suggestion list.
• Learning another strumming pattern on the Solfeg.io mobile app

‍