It’s dang tricky singing and strumming at the same time. But you can do it — here’s how!
How to Sing and Strum at the Same Time for Ukulele Players
How to SING and STRUM at the same time
This is a question I hear A LOT.
It's not your lack of coordination. In my ukulele classes I've seen people who literally walk into walls able to get the knack.
Prerequisite: it may sound obvious, but you have to be familiar with the song!
Yep, I've had people ask me, "How do I strum and sing at the same time?" Only to learn they didn't know the song well enough to sing it at all.
Basically your sequence is: first strum alone, then sing alone, then add them together.
If you can't sing it, then you definitely can't sing it and strum it. I'm sure there's a Latin expression that would sum this up… something something ergo something.
NOTICE: The following is an official red-hot tip. Please don't discount it because it's only a few sentences long.
- Think of your strumming hand as just emulating your tapping foot. It's just up and down, right? Can you sing the song while tapping your foot?
- Well, now try singing the song while strumming–do it with muted strings–don't worry about changing chords.
- Your strumming hand is just keeping the beat. (You can complicate it later)
- Once you clear that hurdle, take it nice and slow, and try it with actual chord changes.
The keys is FAMILIARITY.
Make sure you've strummed through several times so the chord changes happen automatically before adding singing.
your ever-lovin' uke pal,
You may also want to check out my complete Strumming Mastery workshop, which is a workshop that, um, helps you master, you know, strumming. It's part of the upcoming Weekly Workshops —
