Added: 3 years ago
From: tafkam1
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  • incredibly helpful video!! Thank you!!!!

  • Hey so I'm new to the ukulele and was wondering if you would clear this up for me. So are you playing on a different ukulele (Tenor or Baritone) to have a low G? I have a concert ukulele. Or how do you go about getting a low G? Other than that, the strumming in your video makes MORE sense than anything else I have seen on Youtube.Thanks! :)

  • if you write out one and two and three and four and what is exactly happening?

  • This is great! I might actually be able to do this one day! Thanks so much...

  • hi nice video im still a little confused on the ghost note how do u know hen to strum a ghost note?

  • @imbettadenu1 you do the action of strumming (either up or down) without actually hitting the strings

  • hey tafkam, awesome vid bro thanks heaps my wife bought me a uke for my birthday and this is the first song I wanted to play, so thanks again man good work here.....

  • @SumoNegro82 Awesome!!!

  • Many thks for more technics ^^, it make me decorate my strum !!

  • Thanks for your explanation on this strum pattern-- very nice and clear!

  • very nice uke!!

  • I came to this video specifically for the more complicated strumming but for those who want a simpler way to play it, just do a strumming of D-D-U-U-D-U

  • @s104736 you obviously missed the whole point of the video which was to get away from this meaningless nomenclature of D-D-U-U-D-U etc Feel free to post your own tutorial explaining this

  • @tafkam1 I wasnt trying to degrade your video at all. I appreciate what you taught and you taught it well. I was just pointing out the fact that if its what you taught was too complicated for some(it wasnt for me but for some people it might've been) that the strum I mentioned is easier to grasp. I came to this video specifically for something that was more than D-D-U-U-D-U and you provided that! I wouldnt call it meaningless nomenclature though. Its an easy way to express the general idea

  • That's cool man !!

  • You're a great teacher. What's that around the top of the ukelele? I just got my first one and I have trouble keeping it in tune. Is that something to help that problem? Thanks

  • @LAdelle24 no it's just decoration :) if you have trouble keeping it in tune, you can look into taking it to a repair guy to get it set up better

  • great tutorial! This is my favorite song to play on my uke.. though I still got lot's of practice to do

  • Comment removed

  • nice and easy tutorial for beginners thanks !!!!

    

  • Got my Ukulele yesterday. Can't wait to be able to do this, I suck big time though.

  • hey, i bought a uku 3 days ago, so i dont got a low G. would you still recommend me hitting g on first beat, even if i got a high g string? :D

    Thanks for a great tutorial :D

  • @MrCitrea yes, at least for practice. but to truly emulate his sound you need that low G string. it's easy enough to buy a set that has one

  • great tutorial ... thanks :D .

    

  • My daughter has two ukuleles at home, a small, and a slightly bit larger one. She's letting me learn on the small one. Would I plat the same chords, and same finger positions foe the chords, if I played on the larger ukulele?

  • @Kicks001 Yep! Even if it were a baritone ukulele (which is tuned differently) you can still play the same shapes and still get the same overall sound of the song, albeit in a different key - FYI for all you out there wondering the same thing

  • @tafkam1 Wow! That was a quick reply...even during while I'm rewatching this video! Thanks.

    BTW..this is my daughter (Shannon) playing the ukulele I'm using (her original song): Search "Mr. Kitty Song [ukulele] "

  • @Kicks001 Very cute!

  • So the right sequence is :

    1 Pick LowG

    & Ghost strum

    2 Down

    & Up

    3 Mute strings

    & Up

    4 Down

    & Up

  • @Nous82 Yes! for further authenticity, place an accent (play a little harder) on beats 2 & 4. Once you really get this under your fingers, you should be able to figure out other strums really quickly.

  • Which one of the strings out of the new pack do I use for the low G?

    Please respond. We are doing the Wizard of Oz as a musical and I'm a senior and would like to play this version for everyone at our cast party.

  • @videovader101 you have to buy a set of strings that specifically have that low G included. I use La Bella and Aquila, you can try them or other brands. It'll say on the packaging whether or not it's got that low G.

    Don't try too hard to try to copy his strumming exactly - the singing is the most important thing so focus on supporting that...have fun!

  • Excellent instruction! Great breakdown, start very easy-add one more thing, then another, and finally ending like bro Iz does it. Good job.

  • I am just beginning to learn the ukulele, my first instrument. I only know 2 very simple songs so far and decided I wanted to learn "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". I've searched for good videos explaining how to play it, but *none of them* compare to this video. The way that you broke down the song into "1&2&3&4" changed everything in my brain. And it was so helpful that you played the song at slower speeds, too, and explained everything one step at a time. Seriously, thank you! :)

  • Excellent, Mitch. A nice reminder of that class. Dar and I really miss taking class with you! Any advanced classes planned for the future? Since we saw you last I got a Kala Bass (awsome!) and a Risa solid stick tenor (great for traveling) Love these videos. Keep 'em coming.

  • thank you so much x

  • thank you so much for this video! great explanation and helps me a lot! :)

  • What is your Ukulele called?

  • that was remarkably helpful,

    thanks alot

  • Thanks Mitch. This video helped me heaps! I thought it a bit hard at the beginning thinking of the strumming pattern using ghost strokes through 1-and-2-and... instead of down, down, up, up, down, up. In the end though, it worked really well and the timing is easier. Cheers!

  • hey do you need to buy a new string to change it to a low g? or can you change the g string itself to a low g?

  • @rcorl987 You have to buy it. If you tuned a regular G string down an octave, you'd end up with a rubber band

  • @tafkam1 How to buy it? Can I use a G string from a guitar (classical acoustic guitar) ?

  • @mmmmmmmau go to the store and ask for a pack of strings with the low G. I've never tried using guitar strings on my ukulele

  • I am planning on buying a new Ukulele and i dont know what is a really good one that i can buy for around $180-$200. I was looking at the Kala KASC Solid Spruce Concert, its $180 do you think its a good buy? or what would you guys recommend. Thank you in advance

  • @xiAresx Soprano = best :))

  • In the what a wonderful world part, it sounds like he changes his strumming pattern, can you give a brief explanation to what he's doing different?

  • Fantastic step by step lesson. Thanks man!

  • BEST strum video is right! thanks man!

  • I play the guitar for 7 years or so, and only now have I finally learned how to do raggae strumming AND how to mute the strings in a rhytmic way. Thanks abunch!

  • uncle iz is my uncle and we miss him very much especially aunty cesliane i love to c his music living on keep on playing x]

  • Sorry if I already asked this, but do you have any tips for muting?

  • The best lesson out there for this song!

  • amazing!!!!

  • Aloha! This is great! I just have to work on muting a lot. by the way this is 'Alika from taro patch!

  • what kind of ukulele is that?

  • Thanks!

  • Hi

    Wich Uke do you play in this vid ? Is it a tenor ? Can you tell me please the brand of it and where do you bought it ?

    Thanks in advance m8te !

  • Your videos are the best! Fairly easy, but REALLY informative, well-paced, interesting and FUN! And you seem like such a nice and patient guy! (And if your shirt no lie, and you're a fellow Cal grad, even bettah!) Mahalo!

  • nice uke,what is the brand?

  • @robert0380 I never said yukaleli (I don't think I even said yuke) but in any case people say yuke all the time in Hawaii. How do I know? Because I'm from Hawaii which tells me you are probably not.

    Lesson 1: How to buy a plane ticket to get to Hawaii...coming soon

  • @tafkam1

    I learned the proper way to say the word in Hawaii. I should have said that the video was good though. Nice lesson. At the time, I posted my response to it, I was annoyed with the mis-pronunciation of the word.

  • @robert0380 dude yukaleli is how you say it in english stupid.oo koo le le is for hawaiian

  • @MangoKid1000

    It's a Hawaiian word. There is no "English" version of the word. It's just wrong. Accepted but wrong.

  • @robert0380 Ever heard of an accent?

  • There is a difference between and accent and saying a word all wrong.

  • @robert0380

    "u·ku·le·le [yoo-kuh-ley-lee; Hawaiian. oo-koo-ley-ley]

    –noun

    a small, guitarlike musical instrument associated chiefly with Hawaiian music."

    I'm not pronouncing a word in Hawaiian, I'm pronouncing an American English borrowed word. Not that Websters is infallibly right, I just trust it more than some random person on the internet.

  • @theclinger i don't live in Hawaii anymore but it was pretty funny when people pronounced it like yoo-kuh-ley-lee.... naturally either yuke or oo-koo-le-le was how it worked.

  • @robert0380 damn you are sooooooo cool :D:D:D

  • @robert0380 wat a fucking douchebag shit. why dont U post videos

  • @coconut4g

    I hope calling me that made you feel better about yourself.

  • @robert0380 it did feel good calling u a douchebag HAHAHA

  • is it ok if i use the C string as my bass one instead of changing the g to a low g

  • @gugabool1 Sure, but it won't have the EXACT same sound as Iz's recording....but who says it has to be anyway, right? Do what's comfortable for you and what sounds good to you

  • Awesome, thank you!

  • hm ill have to change my g chord to an low g chord, wont this mess up on other songs?

  • @silvergeneration No, not at all - a G is a G. To mimic this particular strum you do need that low G string though.

  • @tafkam1 in new does that mean i just tune my g string an octave lower? thanks,

  • @jimmybobyellow no you have to buy the specific string tuned to the low G. if you try to tune your high G down that low, it'll be like a rubber band

  • i love your ukulele it has such a beautiful full sound

  • Best tutorial ever!! great job!!!

    thanks a loooooot!

    you just helped me to win my girl's heart!!!

  • @rg2d AWESOME!!!

  • awesome uke!

  • your accent pwns

  • this was the most helpful vid so far thanks so much

  • This is not the strum Iz does

  • can you write down what it is? like up down up whatever...? thank you!

  • Great job of breaking it down, Mitch.

  • im having trubble hitting the strings i want. is it cuz i dont grow my nails out eanof and im only using the skin of my thumb? pluse i think im stumming realy loud up but not down. help?

  • What are the strings or chords called ?

  • two words : thank you my friend....you are a big help to us newbie ^____^

  • What is the difference between a low or high G. Is it an adjustment or a different string altogether?

  • Very clear and helpfull, merci beaucoup!

  • can you use a pick...I play guitar and have never even held a ukulele. I got interested a few minutes ago. I will buy one.

  • Excellent instruction. Thank you!

  • This seriously has helped me a lot. THANKS. 

  • Wow, I've never really had to pay attention to getting the strum patterns down before. The majority of the time, when I hear a song, I just immediately know the pattern they use. I guess I've never really given it much thought before till I saw this video :S

  • thank u so much for posting this ive been looking everywhere for help and this video helped me the most. mucho gracias!

  • when you go down on the first second dont you need to hit the C instead of the G? that sounds better

    or im just playing it wrong;)

    anyway great video helped me a lot

  • @joostolv it sounds "better" because you are then going to be hitting the root of the chord....but that's not how he does it. Check out my website (in the info box) for a more in-depth strumming lesson

  • i just get real messed up wit the ghost strum part?

  • @postitflower Hi - I now have a lesson on strumming uploaded to my new website (see link in info box) if you want to give that a try. It's very good, have had many positive comments on it. Hope it helps!

  • @tafkam1 alrright, i will check it out...thx

  • good job mate no matter what anyone says there will always be detractors.

  • This is an excellent tutorial; clear, concise with excellent results. I'm new to the uke so this is going to take some practice but I'd like to extend my gratitude!

  • can't get the rhythm going...

  • i still dont get gow to emulate songs... i learn chords just fine, but when it comes to actually playing a song i cant do it... ive tried just winging it. but it sounds more like a dying cat, i wanna learn so bad, help? )=

  • Sorry I seriously think you don't get it right

  • will it still sound good with a high g?

  • how much was that ukulele

  • awesome lesson

  • This is definitely the best ukelele lesson I've found on youtube. Thanks!

  • wow this was suuper helpful :)

  • thank you so much!

    this helped me out ALOT! (:

  • You might want to listen closer to Israel's version. You seem to know about music, but you still don't have it right. You should listen to Jesse Tinsley cover. I think he has done a better job in his interpretation. He is here on youtube.

  • @mannymack nope, I got it right and so did Jesse who has a nice singing voice too : )

  • @tafkam1 Just can not accept this answer, only one is "right" you can't both be right because there "are" differences in the two. I might argue that you are both wrong but his sounds closer to Iz's. original. I love Izrael's unique cover of the two songs, I can remember exactly where I was when I heard it for the first time. "Kay this one's for Gabby", then the strumming, then the OOOOO OOOOO; still brings me chills, and a slight tear to my eyes. Only one is right and it has to be Iz. : )

  • @mannymack down... down up... up down up. one... two and... and four and.

    He has it right. Iz's ghost strokes are more audible than tafkam's, and his accents a bit more pronounced, but tafcam is making the accents loud and ghost strokes completely silent to make it very clear. Good tutorial mate!

  • @Gruuvin1 If they are "ghost stroke" then they should not be audible, right? If his accents are a off then fix the issue, that is why I said "listen closer".I just think if you label something "The BEST Strum Lesson - play like Bruddah Iz!" then you should be able to play like him. Ghost strokes and all. To me it sounds off and I stick to my first comment. Jessey Tinsley's strumming is better!

  • @mannymack -- you're wrong

  • Oh, man. Thanks a lot for this explanation. You gave me the keys to being able to figure out strumming patterns with much more accuracy.

  • which uke is that?

  • thats is a beautiful uke...what make and size is it?

  • it's a Lanikai tenor

  • sick uke man

  • Thank you for such a great video!

  • Nice! Thanks for the help! Silencing the stings makes all the difference!

  • Thanks man great lesson! : ]

  • Comment removed

  • What's the string you play individually on Em???? I jus't can get that bass sound on the second chord!

  • @Quir0z1 me neither :-(

  • Got it... the G string is not a regular "high" G, is a Low G, a thicker string that can be tuned to G but an octave lower... we'll never get it with the standar string set :o(

  • Well done, Thankyou. Very easy to understand; now it's just getting old fingers topick up the concept. Cheers

  • I'm learning this song soon and now I'm happy I know how to strum like IZ. I'll go give this a try.

  • great tutorial bruddah, mahalos!

    check out great IZ tribute by big island Andrew Kekoa Minda, i learned the strum from watching him before I found this. same version sing and playing. He's so good too and respectful. Aloha nui loa!

  • speek so quick !!!! my god

  • Beautiful. The best tutorial of a very complicated strum. Thank you!!

  • 6:40 sounds like 'imyours' by jason marz

  • dude can you make a cover of somewhwere over the rainbow? i really like the way you play!

  • great lesson, i usually play the intro in c, g, am, f

  • can't find ANY low G ukulele tuners online. can anyone help?

  • It's not a Low G tuner, but a different size string.

  • This is fantastic!!!! It's been driving me crazy that I couldn't figure out what he was doing - and it's actually not that hard! I've watched your other videos too and want to say a biiiigggg mahalo for posting!! Love the vamp post - I'm familiar with V/V/I from music theory but it never occurred to me to apply the V7/V7/I for a vamp. duuuh!! thanks!

  • Excellent!!! Very visual and extremelly helpful!!! Thanks!!!!!!

  • Looooooooooove it. So helpful thanks!

  • can someone tell me what the chords are?

  • Thanks alot man, 23/10

  • Thank you so much (:

    Now I can play it right! I love the song <3

  • thank you this is awsome i know the chords and stuff i just couldent figure the strumming out

  • That was awesome! Great lesson!

  • Thank you very much for the help.  Counting out the beat of the strum really cleared things up. Thanks!

  • Very good video.

    I'm gonna run out and get a ukelele and try it!

  • how do you get a low-G sound?? please help! i want the distinct sound please

  • you gotta buy it - i got a set of Aquila strings and you can choose the pack that's got a low G along with the high G

  • NICE UKE BRA!!

  • yes i JUST put a Low G on my Uke and WOW! what a difference it makes. and i agree awesome teacher! thanks bra! Do you sing ? that would be cool if you put a video with you singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

  • wow.......you are the best uke teacher on youtube.....sub.you sounded exactly like brotha iz

  • Brah- great GREAT lesson! So clear and easy to understand. MAHAOLO! RIP IZ!

  • yes man, what a good lesson! thank you very much!!!

  • Awesome!

  • acttually you played it very musical.i think.:D 1 and two and thre and four..lol

    jkjk brah

    rip bruddah IZ

    aloha

  • This is awesome!

    Thanks a lot man!

  • for anyone reading this and knows anything about it.

    what uke should i get (eg baritone etc)

  • I am not an expert, but personally I would get a tennor. It has a richer and louder sound than a soprano. They also have more of a range and can deal with bass sounds better. overall it comes out less plucky and just sounds better to me. Baratones are much more expensive and i believe that they have a different tuning.

  • plus, in my opinion, one of the fun things about the ukulele is how much further you can stretch your fingers over the fretboard compared to a guitar. Baritone starts to get a little too close to a small guitar so it kind of takes the fun away for me

  • Tenor uke!

  • the most versatile is def. the tenor. that's what everyone plays. they sound beautiful and allow you to play Hawaiian stuff and rock and blues etc. that's what the dude in the video is rockin... as well as almost every video on youtube.

  • Iz used a soprano

    julia nunes uses a concert

    jake s uses a tenor

    not many use baritone

    so just search them and see what you like

  • Iz used a Low-G tenor

  • awesome.. im runnin' to buy the ukelele xD

  • This is a great tutorial brah, very well done.

    There's a really good and respectful tribute to IZ by Kekoa Minda you may like and may help others learn the strum by watching. Mahalo nui loa bruddah.

  • greaat!!!

  • Thanks for that amazing tutorial.

  • You are an AMAZING tutor! Even though I've had the hang of playing/switching between chords for a while, I've always had problems with my strumming. Your explanation of ghost chords was exactly what I needed! Thank you so much!

  • What kind of Uke are you playing? Is that a Concert or a Tenor Uke?

    What are the best sounding strings I can buy for a Uke?

  • You have been blessed with a talent for clear explaination and teaching.

  • "if that makes sense"! wahhhh! I'm french, just starting with this instrument, and your lesson is a master's one, so clear, and easily understandable ( even if I had to watch it sooooooooooooo many times...!) But now it's ok, or almost, I just have to get a few pounds to really look like Iz, and it will be ok! thanks for your teaching skills and for this time of yours spent for others like me! go on...