how to play ukulele without a pick

The arm’s up and down motion will tire you out much faster. With the right adjustment of technique, I can easily produce the short, quick rhythmic drive of la pompe using only my fingers. There are slight differences to be sure, but the sound produced by the fingers is more suitable for the sound of the ukulele anyway.Â, Using a pick is also ingrained into certain styles and sounds (Bluegrass or rock), whereas using fingers is ingrained into other styles (Latin, Flamenco, folk, Blues, etc.). If the strong attack of a plastic pick on the plastic strings is not desired, then there is a nice alternative found in the felt pick. When it came down to it, even after seeing my dad get a feel for my ukulele, I still wasn’t sure whether he’d really be able to play it or not as a result of his arthritis. Ideally, you should learn to use both fingers and a pick in order to adapt and. These calluses will be your protectors – saving your fingers a world of hurt by creating a thick layer of skin around them. Strum with Your Index Finger. Don’t underestimate the potential healing effects of some basic finger and hands stretches before and after a good strum session. A reason behind sore fingers that is often overlooked is that your fingers aren’t accustomed to this much moving and bending. Full Ukulele Arpeggio. Only increase your speed once you’re completely comfortable. Using your fingers to strum and pick allows for more versatility in your playing and style choices. The softness of the felt allows you to pick the strings without the string attack while still allowing you to play with a pick. Let’s talk about that today and present ways in which you can avoid it. Go out and experiment with different picks and different techniques to see what works for you right now.Â, Your email address will not be published. How To Strum the Ukulele // Beginner Uke Tutorial - YouTube © 2020 UkulelePlanet.net | All Rights Reserved. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. For example, the stronger-attacked and shorter strum rhythms and the quicker, more fluid and staccato melody improvising. You might consider using it for fretting as there are all the fancy bits involves, but keep in mind that your strumming hand is the first in the importance list. You will consider the style of music(s) you play, your desired sound, your experience with a pick or fingers, and the differences in technique. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. 3. Find Private Teaching Jobs on TakeLessons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. … When strumming down, make sure that your nails are hitting the string first. There’s a chance that no one might even notice – it’s just a few fluffed notes. With time, your body will start developing calluses which improve resistance on the fingers alongside decreasing sensitivity. (For reference, check out, techniques used by Flamenco and Latin styles. For instance, the sweet spot for soprano ukuleles lies in the meeting point of the its body and neck. Still, this might be a good choice for some styles of playing; for example, it’s a popular choice for those who play jazz ukulele. One more thing to follow is to always use the wrist to strum, not the arm. There is a difference in sound between using a pick and using your fingers. This isn’t simply limited to your arms and hands. Tightening the muscles make the sounds robotic and tires out the fingers at the same time. You’re basically exposing yourself to bunch of health risks like carpal tunnel syndrome. The entire body should be relaxed. You have the option of using a hard pick or your fingertips for strumming the strings of the ukulele. One such style that comes to mind is the, Another may be the flatpicking stylings of. Make sure the fingertips are lightly touching the palm, not pressing into it. To get a better grip, I sometimes lightly lick the side of my index finger and rub it to the thumb right before I grab the pick to play. How to Use a Pick. There is a difference in sound between using a pick and using your fingers. I like to tell my ukulele students that there are no rules for playing the uke. I personally don’t play with a pick, as I’m sure most uke players don’t but when it comes to a musical instrument I think you’ve got to do what feels natural to you. In order to play the ukulele as safely as possible, it’s best to keep loose while strumming. Guide to Strumming a Ukulele Without a Pick: How can you strum your ukulele without damaging your fingers? Because the baritone ukulele has the same tuning as the top 4 strings of a standard 6-string guitar, it can be helpful to start with a baritone ukulele. • Strum without a pick: The most common way to strum your ukulele is with either your thumb, your index finger, or a combination of the two -- like you’re holding an invisible pick. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. The use of picks for playing ukulele can be a hot topic – I think it is a simple matter of personal preference. It is soft and kind of squooshy and much thicker than plastic picks. Down-down-up: This pattern works great for music written in 3/4 time. . Play slowly to begin with, aiming for a steady tempo that keeps the spacing between notes equal. Learn to play chords without looking. It can be distracting to the listener and it is not often very “pretty.”Â. I mean, I know the feeling of … … It might be the pop culture reference, all those “Annie’s Song” covers on YouTube, or simply the relatively easier learning curve linked to this instrument, the ukulele is all the rage right now. The up and down strumming motion can be made with any type of pick. Both of those styles are built around the sound of a strong attack by a pick and the motions and playing style afforded by a pick. Want to know how you can play the ukulele better, minus the pain? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My short answer to the question of “should I use a ukulele pick?” is “no.” Most sounds and styles can be produced with only the fingers, and you can produce certain strums and picking that you cannot produce with a pick. ), You can also learn to pick rapidly with fingers for fast melodic passages by alternating index and middle fingers (check out this example). Plastic on plastic produces a harsh, loud attack – a sort of, noise. Keep reading to discover! The arm’s up and down motion will tire you out much faster. Tightening the muscles make the sounds robotic and tires out the fingers at the same time. In a nutshell, sizes, tone, tonewood types, solid woods vs. laminated, budget, and strings are the … Close your hand into a light fist. It is the only size that uses a different tuning! The neck refers to the thinner, … Before you play the ukulele, make sure your strings are correctly tuned to the correct pitches. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but before I tell you the right reasons to use a pick, let me give you three good reasons to avoid them. I prefer to play with my finger, as the nail hits on the on beat, with the flesh coming back up on the off beat. Play the string without holding any frets if the number on the tab is “0.” A “0” marking tells you to pluck the string without holding your fingers on any frets. Get in the habit of playing without looking at the frets as much as you can. 2. Before you even warm up, you'll need to stretch the fingers on your left hand … There are slight differences to be sure, but the sound produced by the fingers is more suitable for the sound of the ukulele anyway.Â. Start with C, F and G and move on from there. guaranteed, And this is the sweet spot! These are definitely two examples of musical styles that are hard to separate the use of pick from the sound. Get a Brighter Sound Without a Pick How to get that brighter sound that you get with a pick but without using one? Fingerpicking allows more fluid and faster arpeggios easier than picking across strings. Well, except one: never use a pick. Your email address will not be published. To prevent this, make a conscious effort to loosen up the body. Sign up for more information about our private lessons. Some use a plastic thumb pick which adds volume when strumming and picking individual notes. This gives your posture stability and ensure clearer sounds during strumming. You can prevent pain in the fingers while playing a ukulele by developing calluses naturally over time. These are definitely two examples of musical styles that are hard to separate the use of pick from the sound. Point your index finger at your left shoulder while resting the thumb among the finger’s first and second knuckle. With practice, you’ll get more used to it and become better. I can still turn up my ukulele without a tuner by using relative tuning, and I can tune all the other strings to that string any way we’re going to do that is I’ll go with not G string and I’m going to count one two three four five. (one more, The most important consideration for using a pick or not is the sound. As you spend more time practicing on your stringed instrument without a pick, there will likely come a point where you experience a pain in the fingers. It’s crucial to use your dominant hand for strumming purposes on the ukulele. Baritone Ukulele is perhaps less common than the main three, but still widely used, especially within ukulele orchestras. Traditionally, a uke is strummed with the first finger, not entirely unlike Maybelle Carter. Required fields are marked *. When you need to assume the right posture to learn ukulele playing, put the instrument down for a bit. If you decide to play with a pick, then experiment with different shapes, sizes, thicknesses and materials to find the right sound for you.Â. Using a pick is also ingrained into certain styles and sounds (Bluegrass or rock), whereas using fingers is ingrained into other styles (Latin, Flamenco, folk, Blues, etc.). Fingerpicking allows more fluid and faster arpeggios easier than picking across strings. My goal is to show you how to master the fundamental skills of guitar in order to play in any style and ultimately create your own music. Quarter Note – Eighth-Note Mix. Depending on the rhythm of the song, you can strum slow or fast, and this easy pattern allows you enough time to shift chords with song changes. You Can Learn Your First Song in Less Than 3 minutes. This next approach switches to only using your index finger. Also Read: Teach a Child to Play the Ukulele: Everything You Should Know. Larger ukuleles vary in this department. This type of pickup only picks up the vibrations of the ukulele’s strings, so a lot of the warmth and richness from your uke’s tonewood is lost in translation. Practice makes perfect – so give it your best (and consistent) shot! Holding a Ukulele Orient the ukulele so the neck is in your left hand. In practice, you can play with any digit you like. Here’s an easy way to assume the right posture to play the ukulele. (For reference, check out rasgueado techniques used by Flamenco and Latin styles. If your fingers hurt due to strumming, maybe you aren’t doing it right. For example, producing more rapid strums and rhythmic variations is possible using different fingers to strum and are impossible to reproduce with just a pick. In order to play the ukulele as safely as possible, it’s best to keep loose while strumming. The Baritone ukulele is the largest size in the ukulele family. Teach a Child to Play the Ukulele: Everything You Should Know. One of the most common (and easiest) ways of learning to play songs on the ukulele is by reading tablature. Doing these exercises ensures strengthening of fingers alongside improving flexibility. Holding the pick this way, make a nice and loose wrist and shake your hand up and down, while making sure that the pick stays in the same place between your thumb and index finger. Many great ukulele artists continue using this technique without nails. The best way to be sure is to experiment and check out which sounds the best without exerting too much strain. Another may be the flatpicking stylings of Bluegrass picking. May I reference part of this on my blog if I include a link to this webpage? One more thing to follow is to always use the wrist to strum, not the arm. However, when your strumming speed becomes faster or slows down, be sure, people will notice it. Ukulele for Guitar Players. 1. Strumming without a pick may seem daunting because you run the risk of hurting your fingers, but once you get used to it, you will be able to play some melodious tunes on your instrument without doubt. ), You can also learn to pick rapidly with fingers for fast melodic passages by alternating index and middle fingers (check out this, ). Put your thumb and first finger together as if you're holding a pick between them. In ukulele tablature, this pattern is notated as D-U-D-U-D-U-D-U. Honestly playing regular ukes only with fingers forced me to Improve fingerpicking, strumming techniques and learn techniques in relation to the genre of music i was playing, which was a really Big improvement. You can also use a pick to strum the ukulele. Starting from standard guitar pick to a felt ukulele pick. I can also adapt a stronger fingerpicking technique that allows me to play faster, fluid melodies. Using your fingers to strum and pick allows for more versatility in your playing and style choices. (one more video to demonstrate), The most important consideration for using a pick or not is the sound. Sometimes, even at the beginning of the play, there’s a stiffness. Every ukulele comes with its own spots where the best sounds will be produced from. Certain styles are more conducive to picking than others and other styles work better with just fingers and no pick. It’s the place where your chest and stomach meet. This is the area where the neck of the ukulele meets its body. You can also strum using the pads and nails of all four of your fingers. If … Only you can decide whether or not to use a pick. Refrain from pressing down on any string excessively hard. Ukuleles can provide a good example for how to strum a guitar without a pick. Although learning how to play a ukulele is easier, perfecting is another story – it’s tougher that mastering a classic guitar. All this may take some practice, but it will pay off in the end because you will be able to pick up your ukulele and play – even when walking around – without messing about first. Of course, the biggest advantage with fingers is applying fingerpicking patterns for arpeggios to chords. Put the ukulele down for a second and try positioning your strumming hand before the middle of your body. How to Pick a Ukulele – Final Words. The standard up-down strum can be performed rhythmically to the beat of the music, producing about any strumming effect imaginable. This tires the body out, causing the fingers to hurt even more. When you are standing up, you can hold it against your chest and keep it there with your strumming arm. The softness of the felt allows you to pick the strings without the string attack while still allowing you to play with a pick. Starting out without nails will produce a warm tone and will allow you to focus on the motion of the fingers as you develop coordination, control, and relaxation in the right hand. personalized lessons. While learning to play with fingers leads to a more versatile player, it does have a longer learning curve to get some of the more advanced techniques. Simply use your playing hand or a pick to make the string vibrate. When you strum this way, your nail hits both the up and down strums, mimicking the sound of the pick. Position the instrument in such a way that your index finger remains right over the G-string. Ball the hand up into a … Start with stretching. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Whether or not you choose to use a pick is dependent on a few things: the style and sound you want to achieve, your experience with or without a pick on other instruments, and the type of ukulele you play.Â. It can be distracting to the listener and it is not often very “pretty.”Â, There are some styles that do require that sort of strong attack and picking may be appropriate, but most styles are better suited for the sounds of the fingers for strumming and picking and you can often reproduce a stronger attack with the fingers as a substitute for the pick.