Jazz Ukulele: Comping

Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capability to relate to music aurally. This includes the ability to recognize melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chord progressions, rhythm, melody, and harmony.

One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming – playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer/songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.

"A strum is the execution of a specific rhythmic pattern, at tempo, in a particular style." A strum can be broken down into its rhythmic syllables. These rhythmic syllables are defined by what particular style is being performed. Basic ukulele strums and variations to get you started.

Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capability to relate to music aurally. This includes the ability to recognize melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chords progressions, rhythm, melody and harmony.

The QUICKSTART Rhythm Section CD contains 24 unique styles designed for contemporary lead guitar. Each track is devoted to a scale covered in the QUICKSTART Scale Fingerings series of books. There are four background tracks for each scale, featuring the chords of the scale. These tracks give you the opportunity to explore the sound of each scale in an improvisational setting.

Develop your ukulele strums vocabulary and sharpen your reading chops with the "Level I, Modular Phonetic Rhythmic Syllables — Pairs Worksheet".

Develop your ukulele strums vocabulary and sharpen your reading chops with the "Level II, Modular Phonetic Rhythmic Syllables — Pairs Worksheet".

"Modular Phonetic Rhythm" by Chuck Anderson represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm. This approach is applicable to all ages and to all styles of music.

For ukulele there are four core, basic strums that will get you started. This is the first of the four core patterns.

For ukulele and guitar there are four core, basic strums that will get you started. This is the second of the four core patterns.

For ukulele there are four core, basic strums that will get you started. This is the third of the four core patterns.

For ukulele, there are four core, basic strums that will get you started. This is the fourth of the four core patterns. This is the famous Island Strum that you will hear a lot in the Ukulele community.

Review of the four core ukulele strums.

Another one of the 72 possible strumming patterns based of the Modular Phonetic Rhythm system level II rhythmic syllables.

Another one of the 72 possible strumming patterns based of the Modular Phonetic Rhythm systems level II rhythmic syllables.

Strums are Inseparably Linked to Rhythm. Any strum can be broken down to its Modular Phonetic rhythmic syllables. Modular Phonetic Rhythm, by Chuck Anderson is a system for learning rhythm. It teaches rhythm phonetically - just as language does. Remember 'Strums ARE rhythm'

Another one of the 72 possible strumming patterns based of the Modular Phonetic Rhythm systems level II rhythmic syllables. A dotted quarter note and one eight note to four eight notes. Basically one rhythmic rhythmic syllable from the Modular Phonetic Rhythm tied to another syllable from the system.

Another one of the 72 possible strumming patterns based of the Modular Phonetic Rhythm systems level II rhythmic syllables. The last pattern in this series with the end of the first rhythmic syllable tied to the beginning of the second rhythmic syllable.

Playing in time is an essential skill that every musician must possess. There are no shortcuts or alternatives when it comes to this aspect of music. Keeping your place while playing is a crucial lesson that focuses on honing your ability to maintain a consistent tempo and rhythm throughout your performance.

Level II Rhythmic Syllables 1 of 6 and 2 of 6 from the Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1 book.

Level II Rhythmic Syllables 3 of 6 from the Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1 book.

Level II Rhythmic Syllables 4 of 6 from the Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1 book.

Level II Rhythmic Syllables 6 of 6 from the Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1 book.

Level II Rhythmic Syllables 5 of 6 from the Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1 book.

Chords and music are organized into bars or measures with the most common number of beats per bar or measure being four. One of the most basic strumming patterns and the foundation for ALL future strumming is the "Quarter Note Strum". As the name implies this strumming pattern is one quarter note per beat.

Building on the basic Quarter Note Strum lessons, here are four variations to get you started.

The Bo Diddley strum is named after Bo Diddley. Bo Diddley is an American R&B vocalist, guitarist, songwriter ( usually as Ellas McDaniel ), and rock and roll pioneer. He introduced more insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged electric guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs, along with African rhythms and a signature beat (a simple five-accent clave rhythm) that remains a cornerstone of rock and pop.

The Ukulele - Reading Music Series uses the "Modular Phonetic Rhythm System" by Chuck Anderson for learning rhythm.

For Lesson Seven we’ll add and build on the lesson and material from lesson six.

This lessons's work will advance rhythm by introducing Ties. Many ukulele players can find the notes on their instrument but can't read rhythm with enough accuracy and speed to be considered "sight readers". Remember that sight reading is just a level of reading. It's not some special and mysterious skill. When you read a book or magazine, you don't have to "work out" the words before you "read" them. You just read them.

Playing "Rhythm by Ear" is all about getting your ear to recognize the sound of rhythms . And just like melodies, train the fingers, and the hands to follow your inner ear and play these rhythms on demand.

The muted strum is executed by relaxing the chord hand during the strum. If the chord is a barre, relaxing the pressure is enough to create the percussive, drum like effect. If holding an open chord, the fingers relax but maintain enough finger pressure to get the muted sound. This is what a few players are calling, The Universal Muted Chord. You're utilizing your ukulele as a percussive instrument and there is no discernible pitch - just like a drum. This chord works on any song just as a drum works with any song and does't care what the key is. This is a great chord to use when learning a new strum.

Level III rhythmic syllable pairs for developing your ukulele strums vocabulary and sharpen your reading chops.

Level IV rhythmic syllable pairs for developing your ukulele strums vocabulary and sharpen your reading chops.

One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer - songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.

There are seven (7) variations of the Basic “Four” beat strum.

A triplet, as the “tri” in the name implies, means three. It’s the subdivision of the beat into three even parts. Notice that I had used the word three for the number 3 in my writing. So, if I’m counting any beat which can be sub divided by three, it’s 1 2 3. No need to use words such as trip-o-let or one triplet, two triplet, etc to count.

Time to chime in and reveal how simple it is to learn to play triplets and triplet based strums. Counting triplets is as simple as counting anything else. Simply use the counting system we all learned early on - use numbers.

The often neglected and taken for granted subject of Rhythm. Music is Melody, Harmony and Rhythm. We are drawn, initially to music by melody at a very early age, with the instrument of our voice. With ukulele you typically learn chords - the harmony and never really dive into learning rhythm. Unless you're a drummer we take rhythm for granted.

One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer - songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.

The Rock Heavy Strum has application in Rock, Hard Rock, and Pop.

The Rock Light Strum has applications in Light Rock, Pop, and Country.

The 12/8 Strum has application in Blues, Broadway, and 50’s Ballads.

The Shuffle Strum has applications in Blues, Jazz, and Country.

The Double Time Strum has application in R&B, Funk, and Disco.

The Gallop Strum has application in Metal, Country, and Tex Mex.

The Ska Strum has applications in Ska, Reggae, and Cut Time.

This worksheet is for exploring the Level II Rhythmic Pairs with a crossbar tie. This is typical for melodies and chords that are anticipated over the barline, a half beat or more early.

Just, what is the Island Strum?

Just what is "Swing". This lesson will have you playing Traditional Swing, Hard Swing. As well as how it applies to various styles.