Fingerpicking on `Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style

The two most popular fingerpicking styles - Classical and Travis Picking.

Published: 10 Apr 2012 Updated: 22 Apr 2012Visits: 81Code: ULFP117

INSTRUMENTS: Fingerpicking Main: Ukulele Others: Ukulele
Subjects: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced • Fingerpicking • Strums

Fingerpicking on `Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style


There are two common styles of fingerpicking on ukulele. This series of lessons explores the Alternating Thumb Style. A future series will explore the Thumb and three finger style, the traditional p i m a classical guitar style that we’ll adapt to ukulele.

Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking Style - This is a common thumb and two finger strumming style utilizing the thumb, index and middle fingers. Commonly called "Travis" picking in the guitar world. This series of lessons explores and adapts this style to ukulele. Travis Picking is a finger-style made famous by Merle Travis. This style is commonly played on steel string acoustic guitars. Pattern picking is the use of “preset right-hand pattern[s]” while fingerpicking, with the left hand fingering standard chords.

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Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

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ULFP117

Fingerpicking on `Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style

Updated: 22 Apr 2012

There are two common styles of fingerpicking on ukulele. This series of lessons explores the Alternating Thumb Style. A future series will explore the Thumb and three finger style, the traditional p i m a classical guitar style that we’ll adapt to ukulele.

ULFP117a-CH-1

Alternating Thumb Style, Building a Solid Foundation - The Basics

Updated: 07 Feb 2020

As the subtitle of this Fingerpicking Basics lesson for Ukulele implies, this lesson's focus is on the alternating thumb part of the style. Commonly called Travis Picking on guitar and Scrugg's Style for banjo. For guitar it’s an alternating bass note style with the thumb playing the lower, bass notes.

ULFP117r-CH-18

Alternating Thumb Style, Patterns Summary

Updated: 11 Oct 2019

Summary of the core Alternating Thumb patterns from the Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking for Ukulele book.

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Related Books for Fingerpicking on `Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style.

UKEFP01

Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style

Updated: 07 Aug 2018

Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style, 2nd Edition is a new expanded edition that focuses on the alternating thumb fingerpicking style through a series of graduated lessons-chapters incorporating your index and middle fingers with the alternating thumb.

A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

Books

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition.

Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.

Checkout the Books for ALL available books.

Reference Charts

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4

Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets

Related Assets for Fingerpicking on `Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style.

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Fingerpicking for Ukulele - The Foundation

Updated: 31 Dec 2016

The foundation of the Alternating Thumb Style for Ukulele is - naturally the alternating thumbs. This lesson demonstrates the alternating thumb on string four and three.

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