How to Strum Really Fast - James Hill Ukulele Tutorial 

you are so talented. I don't know if I'm here for the strumming or to watch you play.

"What you lose in pressure you gain in speed." That is a life quote, my friend. 11:13

I tried learning guitar when I was younger and found I was allergic to metal. dishydritic eczema. I was so mad and sad. then someone told me ukes don't have metal strings. and I was like ya but ukes are a dumb little joke toy guitar thing. and I started looking up videos and found this james guy. and i watched all his videos and then I bought one 2 days later and fell in love with it so hard lol. its only a cheap little $13 dollar one because I am way poor. but I'm learning all the things. I love this guy. and how he teaches. so laid back. and gently shares his brains. instead of jamming knowledge down your throat. even one on one he probably wouldn't give me anxiety. and I have gad.

Your teaching style is so clear. Wish I had seen this at the point of first picking up my ukulele.

Very useful. As a 62 yo, first-time ukulele player, I am enjoying finding my own "sweet spot" and style, aided by the suggestions provided here.

by far the most calm and laid back instructor ive ever seen.Most of them are all smiles (most of which being fake),so i respect how real you are.

R.I.P Fingers

Hi James Hill Because of your teaching......I play like a pro! You are my invisible teacher and I go everywhere I told my supporter you are my teacher!

No one has managed to explain it to me so clearly, your tutorials are amazing and I thank you for that.

As a fellow music educator, I have to say this is the best explanation on the technique of strumming, and I am so thankful that we have you to be able to break down the pedagogy behind strumming so clearly. Kudos.

You explain things so very well. I haven't heard anyone yet explain it like this.

Wow, I needed this a year ago, but better late than never!!!! This is the clearest, best, understandable, most useful strumming tutorial I've seen! Thank you! I will share this with my clubs and anyone I will tutor. Genius!

Oh my goodness I’m a new ukulele player and I’ve been looking so long for a good video to teach me how to strum and this made it so clear and easy to understand

MY MAIN MAN. I was using the doorknob all along and always thought my aim was shit when I missed notes all the time. Turns out I was just using an inferior path! Your advice "flicking off pain" did wonders for my accuracy! Thank you so much.

After a week, I've mastered this skill

Hi James You are my best teacher!

I have had my uke since Christmas and it is by far the best instrument I have learned. this video helps out a lot. thank you so much.

Makes my day when I see these videos, thanks again James!

James. Thank you for this and all of your other videos. After 25 years on the keys, I needed a change. I picked up my first uke 2 months ago and have been working at it for about three hours a day (pat on the back, nod of the hat). My fingers bled for the first week, but they are now all good and calloused up. Hope to see you at the Montreal Jazz Fest in the future. Cheers brother.

So comprehensive. So correct. So simple. So free. You are a really great and generous guy. Subscribed!

how to strum a ukulele really fast: BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF IT 😂

This is so cool. I also joined your website. I'm satisfied having a free membership as of now. It's so educational and totally ad-free. It's so legit and hands down, awesome. Also because you didn't require us to enter a paypal whatever....it's just nice. Thank you very much. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. Salutations from the Philippines! Uke on. 😆🤘🏻

There's no such thing as 'How to strum fast'. It honestly naturally comes to you as you keep practicing.

Hi James Hill Your teaching is fantastic! Clean ...clear....and easy to understand! You are a super technical musician expert!

That intro was the most amazing 11 seconds of my life, thank you!

Thanks so much, James! You are my uke hero and the reason I switched from guitar to uke indefinitely (along with backaches haha). My strumming immediately improved after watching this video.

Fabulous teaching! I will save this to send to my students. James is a superb teacher.

WOW, thank you so much for this tutorial.!!! Have been to lots of sites and James is by far the most complete and understandable when it comes to how to strum. . You rock James Hill😎

I am hooked with your teaching style. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

I was stuck with the good ol' pointer finger thumb combo until I saw this video. This helped me a ton, thank you!

took all of the first 11 seconds to get me to subscribe.

I don't even have a ukulele. I have school tomorrow. What the heck am I doing here

I fret with my three middle fingers and have to strum with my pinky. playing one handed has posed a lot of challenges most players do not have to deal with. I still love how informational your videos are though!

Anyone else have the problem with their finger getting caught when strumming up?

Really interesting tutorial thanks from Italy👍

The intonation on that ukulele may be the best I've ever heard...really nice instrument.

SUPER helpful! Thank you! I'm learning lots.

OML you make those strings sing.

I've been strumming with 4 fingers for a year. I'm so happy I watched this video

Playing drums before ukelele really helped with this, its a similar wrist motion to drumming

I’ve been looking everywhere to find how to strum because my fingers keep getting caught on the strings... You showed me how to strum properly and the method is brilliant!!!!!!!!! Thank you soooooooo much!!!

Thanks so much James! You're a great teacher!

I’m learning how to play the ukulele fingerstyle! Thanks for this!

What a great lesson. James you reveal the secrets to mastery here. The concepts apply to any instrument too. Apply these ideas to the snare drum?... Yup it works! thank you.

Thank you so much. You explain everything so well.

Omg!! I definitely learned some techniques I’m going to practice tomorrow!! Thank you!! Followed!!

This helped sooooo much! I can already tell a better difference when trying this technique.

Supersonic strumming sir!

This is so helpful! Thank you

Excellent videos! Thanks for sharing.

Fabulous lesson. I learned so much. Thank you!

I think this guy is a magician i couldnt strum like i couldnt combine Up an down and now i can

Best video I’ve found on strumming. Thank you!

I didn’t know what a great teacher you are!

Great explanation! Thank you!

Thank you so much! I’m just learning to play the Ukulele, and you have helped so much!!!

Amazing video very clear, I’ve seen other videos and this is the most detailed.

glad and thankful I found this tutorial

That helped this beginner so much. Thank you!

You showed me so many new techniques，That‘s awesome！Thanks so much！

Great. A very clear and well-reasoned tutorial video!

Brilliant lesson, man. Thanks

I am just learning. I really thought strumming was with the thumb...glad you made a vid to clear that up!

Thanks dude moved up a bit with the location i was strumming and it fixed a few small catches i was getting, helped heaps have liked and subscribed

Just picked up a ukulele, super helpful video thanks for sharing!

This is so helpful. Thank You!

THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH THANK YOU

This helped very much for a beginner like me Thank you so much

Your such a good uke player and your lessons are very helpfull

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

Extremely clear explanation.

i've alwaysstruggle with this problem that my strums always sound kinda muddy or not as even and i've been looking up and down for ways to fix it when i stumbled on your videos and it helped me a lot! thanks!

great tutorial thanks

you helped so much!! thank you!!!👍😃

Wow. This was such a helpful video! Thanks!!!!!!

QUE MAESTROOOO!!!! GRANDEEEE CAMPEON!

I’d like to go to one of his workshops Someday , but I haven’t learned to read music as of yet ... that Uke is gorgeous

Thanks so much for this video.

Great job!

I have a 5th P for this lesson. Perfect. Thanks James. Hope you and the fam are super well.

man! you're awesome!

Thank you so much James this was really helpful I strum a little different to you and the way I do it I really like. I strum with my middle finger nail down and my thumb nail up. Also I play the ukulele left handed and have a slight deformity in my thumb that makes my thumb unable to bend properly at the knuckle. It isn't serious at all and I can still function normally. Just wanted to share that with you. Keep up the awesome work!

Very helpful, thank you!

Thanks James - I'm always so excited to see your videos. For me most of the things you have been covering is something I learned / picked up way behind - but your videos give me such a great opportunity to rethink the technique and take a few steps forward. I also just enjoy watching you play in simple explained context. I would be super interested in a video like this on the 'drum strum' also known as 'Billie Jean strum'. As far as I can see, you use that in Voodoo child and Kashmir also.

Good lesson. And he's easy on the eyes too.

Playing behind the sound hole, or closer to it, can be very useful if you want to play softer and keep a balanced tone quality. As we play softer the tone gets more mellow, By playing a little farther back it will make up for this and balance the tone. I find that if you play higher notes on the ukulele it will also balance the sound if you move your right hand back a little as you go higher with the left hand.

You are my most favorite player! I want you to make a tutorial of sounds like drum. Just like when you play Billy Jean. And I hope you'll come to Japan!! pleease!

you are a genius

Thanks for the advice Mr. Hill, Im starting a ukulele club this new year and this will help using the 4 P's with all and I do like to say I do so much admire your play and the love of this fine little instrument we call ukulele, Happy New Year!

Thanks James.

great lesson

thank you

Great tutorial.

Good Advice, thanks!

huge fan :D your amazing !!!!!!

Thank you 🎸

holy shit i'm strummign so good with the paint on the finger technique :D

Great lesson, very helpful. Btw, you look like Stefan Lessard from Dave Matthews Band ;)

My personal favorite "posture" as a very beginner is "the claw" that The Ukulele Teacher shows in his strumming tutorial.

Thanks for this awesome tutorial. :-)