The important part is the picking order of the strings.

C is used just as an example for the tab. You can hold any chord with your left hand as you play these patterns. What follows are some fingerpicking patterns for ukulele in tab format. Learn more $25 10 Ukulele Fingerpicking Patterns:

The corresponding PIMA fingers are as follows: P = thumb, I = index, M = middle, A = ring. The pinky finger is unnecessary for playing ukulele in this style because there are only four strings. PIMA is a notation system that assigns a letter to each picking finger, leaving the pinky out. This allows for more comfortable hand positioning and speed. When you pick the strings in a pattern-like way, it begins to make much more sense to use multiple fingers instead of just the thumb. An arpeggio usually spans many notes in order, not just the ones held in a chord shape. are played according to the pattern, not to the note pitch. The notes of a chord voicing played separately, in any order.Ī picking pattern often contains natural arpeggios, but the notes usually A.

The notes of a chord played one at a time, in order, from low to high. This means you pick the 4th-string, 2nd-string, 3rd-string, then 1st-string, one after another.ĭiscrepancies in musical terms are all too common and one appears here.

Your fretting hand can operate independently of a picking pattern so ANY chord can be heldįor instance, a common pattern is 4231.

Picking Patterns: What are They?Ī picking pattern is a repeating string order that your right hand picks in sequence while holding any chord. The left hand can just hold your favorite chord as you practice picking with the right hand. Let’s focus on just the picking hand for this lesson as we learn some arpeggio patterns. The picking hand controls when they are sounded. The fretting hand controls the notes and harmony (chords). When playing the ukulele, we have two hands doing completely different things on the instrument at the same time. To retain the harmony but play a more mellow part, you can play a fingerpicking pattern.

Sometimes strumming all the strings is more energetic than a song requires. A picking pattern on the ukulele is a clever way of “melting” a chord you already know.

Fingerpicking hallelujah ukulele