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.
Access to the sheet music
- These strum and fingerpick exercises are laid out on two pages. The pdfs will be e-mailed to all those who registered and paid for the 8-week Ukulele Winter 2025 course. See the Classes Webpage for further details.
- Annual subscribers to 3 Chord Thursday 2025 may request and receive these new arrangements as part of their package, for supporting the thematic song sessions for 2025.
- In due course, these arrangements will be available for purchase.
Notification of new and updated work
There is no ONE way to find out. The best way is ALL the ways.
- Sign up for the celebrated Ukulele Enthusiast e-blast (newsletter) to get on the mailing list for notification of such new arrangements. Use the Google Form.
- Subscribe to this website to get instant notification of these daily tabs. Use the form at the top right hand corner of any webpage.
- Subscribe to the YouTube Channel to get notification of new livestreams and uploads. It’s my intention to record my new work within a week of publishing on this website.
Catalog of new music by Anne Ku
Below is what I know and have done so far and what I plan to do for this week. Each piece is followed by exercises to prepare and support that piece.
| Day | Title / Topic | Keys | Type | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensleeves / What Child Is This | Em, Fm, Gm, Am | Lead Sheet Chord Melody | sample score, video |
| 2 | Andalusian Cadence | Am, Gm | Arpeggio Accompaniment | sample score |
| 3 | Auld Lang Syne for high G ukulele | F, G | Lead Sheet Chord Melody | sample score, playalong video |
| 4 | Left Hand Techniques | G | Lead Sheet | definition, sample score |
| 5 | On Top of Spaghetti | C | Chord Melody | playalong video |
| 6 | Auld Lang Syne in F for low G ukulele | F, C | Chord Melody | playalong video |
| 7 | Feed the Birds | Em, Am | Lead Sheet, Chord Melody | sample scores |
| 8 | Accompaniment in 3/4 Time | Am | High G ukulele | sample scores |
| 9 | Accompaniment exercises in 3/4 Time | Am | Low G ukulele | sample scores |
| 10 | Strum & Fingerpick Exercise in 3/4 Time | C | high or low G ukulele | sample scores |
| 11 | Exercise for Waltz Accompniment | C | high or low G ukulele | sample scores |