Thank you so much for this! I’ve been trying to combine chucking and the island strum but I kept loosing the beat. Following this tutorial I got the point where I can keep it going for a couple of minutes, so there’s hope!!
This is fabulous John, Thank You! I have been hoping this would be something that you would be covering soon and was just about to get around to asking.
Well done. A great a explaination. Now I understand the chunk. Have been doing what I think a lot of beginners might be doing just strumming a chunk with my palm. Thanks for the guidance.
Thanks, all the tutorials I have followed regarding the chunk 'strum' don't mention ''fanning" the strumming hand fingers. When I try to use the chunk stroke it sounds a bit abbreviated, now I know why. Thanks again.
Thanks commenting, much appreciated! :-) Yes, I've often wondered why other people don't mention it. It makes perfect sense that it's much easy to mute with your palm when your hand is open. I think I probably have a tendency to dive much deeper into analysing these things than other people. That and having done most of my teaching in group classes, where I get instant feedback and see all the different ways people struggle with things like this.
Great video! More info than others. I've put the ukulele aside for now as I just can't seem to curl my left-hand fingers enough to avoid hitting other strings, and even though my nails are as short as I can get them, the fingertips are so soft that they squash down. Therefore, my nails hit the fretboard before I can fret the strings. I wonder if any of your students have this problem and how they overcame it.
Thank you! 🙂 Curling your fingers enough to not hit the strings below is definitely a common problem. Maybe think about your thumb position and place it on the back of the neck (behind the chord), which means your fingers will be able to reach further. I cover this a bit in some of my 'Chord Tips for Beginners' videos. I have not really come across the fingertips being so soft that short fingernails stop you from being able to fret the strings. I can only really suggest you try to experiment with fretting with different parts of your fingertips (from the very tip, or more towards the fingerprint) and see if that helps you find a more comfortable position. Fingertips will obviously harden a little with playing, but you need to be able to fret the strings in the first place. I hope that helps a little? John
@@johncaudrey-music - Thank you for the tips. My thumb can't seem to stay in place behind the neck, and it hurts trying to hold it tightly. Maybe some arthritis there. I'll experiment with different parts of my fingertips on the strings. And I will watch your beginner videos to see what else can help me play better.
It's a Kiwaya KTS7, built in Japan. It's a very lovely uke and I bought mine secondhand and have had it for around 10 years now. They are not cheap though. In the UK they are around £1200.00 sterling new.
Thank you so much for this! I’ve been trying to combine chucking and the island strum but I kept loosing the beat. Following this tutorial I got the point where I can keep it going for a couple of minutes, so there’s hope!!
You're very welcome, I remember having those same issues myself many years back. Keep up the practice, it does get easier.
The best strumming tutorials I have tried. Thank you
That's great to hear! Thank you.
Thanks for explaining and demonstrating chunks! I've been battling them for weeks.
You are most welcome, I hope it helped,
Really great lesson. So helpful and clear. You have a very good teaching style.
Thank you Lisa, that is very kind! 🙂
This is fabulous John, Thank You!
I have been hoping this would be something that you would be covering soon and was just about to get around to asking.
You're very welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.
Lovely tutorial, thank you, very thorough and great explanations.
Thank you, you're very welcome!
Well done. A great a explaination. Now I understand the chunk. Have been doing what I think a lot of beginners might be doing just strumming a chunk with my palm. Thanks for the guidance.
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Really lovely, clear explanations, thank you!❤
Thank you! You’re welcome 😊
Love it … practical and useful ! Many thanks
You are most welcome! :-)
Very good and useful lesson
Thank you! 😃
Thanks, all the tutorials I have followed regarding the chunk 'strum' don't mention ''fanning" the strumming hand fingers. When I try to use the chunk stroke it sounds a bit abbreviated, now I know why.
Thanks again.
Thanks commenting, much appreciated! :-)
Yes, I've often wondered why other people don't mention it. It makes perfect sense that it's much easy to mute with your palm when your hand is open.
I think I probably have a tendency to dive much deeper into analysing these things than other people. That and having done most of my teaching in group classes, where I get instant feedback and see all the different ways people struggle with things like this.
Thanks a lot 🎉👍👍👍🎶
You are welcome!
Great video! More info than others. I've put the ukulele aside for now as I just can't seem to curl my left-hand fingers enough to avoid hitting other strings, and even though my nails are as short as I can get them, the fingertips are so soft that they squash down. Therefore, my nails hit the fretboard before I can fret the strings. I wonder if any of your students have this problem and how they overcame it.
Thank you! 🙂 Curling your fingers enough to not hit the strings below is definitely a common problem. Maybe think about your thumb position and place it on the back of the neck (behind the chord), which means your fingers will be able to reach further. I cover this a bit in some of my 'Chord Tips for Beginners' videos.
I have not really come across the fingertips being so soft that short fingernails stop you from being able to fret the strings. I can only really suggest you try to experiment with fretting with different parts of your fingertips (from the very tip, or more towards the fingerprint) and see if that helps you find a more comfortable position.
Fingertips will obviously harden a little with playing, but you need to be able to fret the strings in the first place.
I hope that helps a little?
John
@@johncaudrey-music - Thank you for the tips. My thumb can't seem to stay in place behind the neck, and it hurts trying to hold it tightly. Maybe some arthritis there. I'll experiment with different parts of my fingertips on the strings. And I will watch your beginner videos to see what else can help me play better.
@@e.castlerock8454 - I hope you find a solution.
Brilliant videos John, although I have been playing for sometime now, I always gain something from watching your videos.
That is great to hear Chris! I hope life is still treating you well.
May I know what brand are you playing and how much. I want to get a nice wooden Ukulele.
Thank you so much
It's a Kiwaya KTS7, built in Japan. It's a very lovely uke and I bought mine secondhand and have had it for around 10 years now. They are not cheap though. In the UK they are around £1200.00 sterling new.