Is it easy to switch from strumming to fingerpicking? Here’s an exercise that will get you to do both. When we strum, we are referring to block chords. However, it’s also possible to fingerpick a block chord. Similarly, it’s possible to strum a broken chord. Curious? Read on.
Strumming and fingerpicking are the basic elements of accompanying. Given a chord, what do you do with it?
These exercises make use of the four chords used in the chorus section of “Feed the Birds” and span seven sections, marked by letters A, B, C, … to G, and laid out on two pages.
The strum and fingerpicking patterns in this exercise works for both high and low G ukuleles, though for the purposes of notation and tablature, I had to choose one or the other.
Block chords
A block chord refers to notes of a chord that are intended to sound (be played) simultaneously. The only way to do it accurately is to use your four fingers to fingerpick each string at the same time, for a four-note chord. However, it’s possible to use one sweeping motion to strum down or up.
Section A consists of block chords. You can play each chord using four individual fingers of your strumming or fingerpicking hand, which is your right hand for most people. This is represented by the letters p, i, m, a, or pima fingering.
Most people interpret block chords as strum destinations. When you see a block chord, you instinctively want to strum the four strings with your right index figner, thumb, or other finger in one direction.
Representing D as accented downstroke and small d as unaccented downstroke, and the letter u for upstroke, the above passage can be rewritten as follows, corresponding to the counts (beats) in each measure.
Broken chords
The second way to express harmony is to break up a chord, thus called broken chord. There are many ways to break up a chord. One is to start with the lowest note and move upwards in pitch to sound like a harp. The Italian term arpeggio means harp-like.
There are any number of ways to permutate the notes in a chord.
Practice suggestions
Make sure you accent the first beat. In other words, emphasize whatever you play on the first count. The subsequent second and third counts are softer.
These measures are intended to be repeated. Practice at different tempos (tempi). Repeat each section.
More information
Get access to the sheet music, notification of new work, and table of contents of this Daily Music Writing Project.
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