The reggae strum is a fun strum that can be used for almost any song! It will give the song that fun island sound.
The Reggae Strum
Here's how to perform the reggae strum:
After step 2, lay you palm back on the strings to mute them - go back to step 1, continue to repeat this.
Here's how you would strum and count: 1 - rest, 2 - upward strum, 3 - rest, 4 - upward strum
Rest = step 1 above
Upward strum = Step 2 above
- Rest the side of the palm of your hand on the strings with your pointing outward away from the ukulele. Make sure that you hand is muting the strings as it rests on them.
- lift your palm up enough that you will be able to strum a chord and have it ring clearly. strum the strings with an upward motion, using your first finger.
After step 2, lay you palm back on the strings to mute them - go back to step 1, continue to repeat this.
Here's how you would strum and count: 1 - rest, 2 - upward strum, 3 - rest, 4 - upward strum
Rest = step 1 above
Upward strum = Step 2 above
Reggae Strum Variation
After you master it with an upward strum, try it using a downward strum, rather than the upward strum.
Not sure about strumming or how to strum?
Get your copy of the Play Ukulele NOW Method and Songbook!
Click here for a hard copy that will be mailed to you
Click here for the eBook, instant download
Try this first with some of the easy songs you already know, the first songs in the eBook would work great for this, if you don't already have your eBook get it now!
Not sure about strumming or how to strum?
Get your copy of the Play Ukulele NOW Method and Songbook!
Click here for a hard copy that will be mailed to you
Click here for the eBook, instant download
Try this first with some of the easy songs you already know, the first songs in the eBook would work great for this, if you don't already have your eBook get it now!
*The reggae strum will not work for songs in 3/4 time
The Rock Steady and the Ska strum
The Rock steady strum and the ska strum are variations of the reggae strum.
You will need a metronome in order to play them. A metronome helps you keep time, when you strum and count along with a metronome each count is on one of the clicks.
Click here for a free online metronome
As you can see on the page above you can choose between 30 and 330 beats per minute, most music is between 75 and 140 beats per minute.
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor of ska and a precursor to reggae.
The rock steady strum is simply the reggae strum played between 75 and 100 beats per minute.
Take some of the easy songs you already know and set the metronome for a rock steady strum and play along. Try some different numbers in between 75 and 100 beats per minute.
Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae.
The ska strum is simply a reggae strum played between 110 and 140 beats per minute.
Take some of the easy songs you already know and set the metronome for a ska strum and play along. Try some different numbers in between 110 and 140 beats per minute.
You will need a metronome in order to play them. A metronome helps you keep time, when you strum and count along with a metronome each count is on one of the clicks.
Click here for a free online metronome
As you can see on the page above you can choose between 30 and 330 beats per minute, most music is between 75 and 140 beats per minute.
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor of ska and a precursor to reggae.
The rock steady strum is simply the reggae strum played between 75 and 100 beats per minute.
Take some of the easy songs you already know and set the metronome for a rock steady strum and play along. Try some different numbers in between 75 and 100 beats per minute.
Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae.
The ska strum is simply a reggae strum played between 110 and 140 beats per minute.
Take some of the easy songs you already know and set the metronome for a ska strum and play along. Try some different numbers in between 110 and 140 beats per minute.
Fine tuning
GREATNow lets tray another variation, when playing the reggae strum with the up-strums, only strum the top two or three strings. (these would be the strings on the E and A strings or the G, E, and A strings)
Questions on tuning? Click here to see our 3 tricks to tuning a ukulele and to keeping it in tune blog
MORE GREAT LESSONS: Click here for easy video lessons (affiliate - order with this link to help your good friends at Play Ukulele NOW)
Questions on tuning? Click here to see our 3 tricks to tuning a ukulele and to keeping it in tune blog
MORE GREAT LESSONS: Click here for easy video lessons (affiliate - order with this link to help your good friends at Play Ukulele NOW)