Discover What it Takes to Learn to Play Ukulele in the Country & Bluegrass Style
How would it feel to be able to pick up your ukulele and be able to play in different styles?
It’s one thing to know how to play a handful of chords and a few strumming patterns on your ukulele. It’s another thing to take that knowledge and play your ukulele in a musical-sounding way specific to actual styles of music.
My name is Brett McQueen (that’s me on the right) and I’m a life-long ukulele player, author of Ukulele Exercises For Dummies and founder of Ukulele Tricks, a website dedicated to helping thousands of people all around the world to experience the joy of learning to play ukulele.
Let me ask you:
What makes a country song sound “country”?
Why is it that a bluegrass song makes you want to holler out a big ol’ “Yeehawww!”?
How do you change your technique to sound like Johnny Cash in Folsom Prison Blues?
The true mark of a well-versed ukulele player is one that can make any song sound in a certain style. It starts with focusing on learning specific styles of music and mastering the techniques and songs within those styles.
If you’ve always wanted to take a deep dive into specific genres and styles of music, now you can by learning country and bluegrass on the ukulele!
Introducing a Brand New FOCUS Course From Ukulele Tricks – Learn to Play Ukulele In Country and Bluegrass Styles
Just Take Me to the Sign Up – I’m Ready to Enroll Now!
How to Play Country and Bluegrass On Ukulele
One of the biggest challenges for a ukulele player is playing in a musical-sounding way that reflects and expresses a song in a given style.
For example, if we sat down together and I asked you to, “Play me a country-sounding version of Mary Had a Little Lamb,” would you know where to begin?
Would you know how to modify your strumming to make it sound country? Would you know how to adjust your strumming movement to give it that toe-tappin’ feeling?
If you don’t know the answers to those questions, that’s okay! This idea of taking a “regular” song and playing a country bluegrass rendition can throw off a lot of ukulele players.
What I show you in the Country Bluegrass Strummin’ course is that there are certain techniques and ways of playing that make you sound like you’re playing a given style of music. After following along with me, you’ll know how to play a song in the country or bluegrass styles. You’ll discover techniques you can use to come up with country-sounding renditions of songs you already know.
The “Boom-Chicka” Rhythm – the foundation of Country and Bluegrass music
For example, in country and bluegrass styles, the majority of songs are derived from a “Boom-Chicka” rhythm. It’s one thing to know this pattern, but when it comes to playing specific styles on ukulele, it’s about the nuance and the details.
In the case of the “Boom-Chicka” rhythm, there are multiple varieties on this rhythm that create a unique and musically-sounding performance in the style of country and bluegrass. This is just scratching the surface.
Where flagship Ukulele Tricks courses Strumming Tricks and Fingerpicking Tricks taught you the core broad-level aspects to strumming and fingerpicking the ukulele, in this brand new FOCUS course Country Bluegrass Strummin’, we get specific and take a much deeper look at learning techniques and songs in these specific styles.
This course is jam-packed with focused insight and instruction into the techniques required to play actual songs in country and bluegrass.
Here’s What You Learn In Country Bluegrass Strummin’
This course is focused on five main areas showing you the techniques and songs in the specific styles of country and bluegrass.
At the end of the course, you’ll have mastered the skills needed to play songs on your ukulele in country and bluegrass. You’ll have confidence to approach these genres of music and know exactly how to play your ukulele.
1. Master the “Boom-Chicka” Strum
The foundation of country and bluegrass is the “Boom-Chicka” strum, sometimes referred to as the “Railroad Tracks” Rhythm.
It’s one thing to know the pattern, but it’s another thing to know how to position your hands and fingers to strum to get the feeling and expression that makes your listener want to tap their toes or bob their head to the beat.
From this single strum, you look at multiple variations on this strum by combining small amounts of picking.
2. Learn Country Bluegrass Alternating Picking Strums
If the “Boom-Chicka” is the foundation, then, adding in alternating picking to your strumming is a hard and fast way to make your playing sound in the style of country and bluegrass.
I show you multiple alternating picking strums that create a unique, dynamic and stylistic sound.
3. Explore How to Create a “Railroad Tracks” Rhythm with Percussive Mutes
One of the most signature sounds in the country and bluegrass style is the “Railroad Tracks” Rhythm using percussive mutes.
You can hear an example of this in Johnny Cash’s famous song Folsom Prison Blues.
I show you how to perform this signature rhythm and how to coordinate your strumming hand and fretting hand to create fast, uptempo mutes.
4. See How to Speed Up Muted Rhythms to Play Fast Uptempo Strums
Not all country is played at a fast tempo, but a lot of bluegrass is.
In this course, you gain the confidence to speed up the rhythm. You make it easier by making small modifications to your strumming technique.
5. Apply Your Skills and Learn to Play Well-Known Country Bluegrass Songs
The best way to learn a style of music is to play songs in that style!
That’s exactly what you do in this course. This course is about making music in the country bluegrass style and I show you exactly how.
You apply the above skills to play famous songs in the genre like Billy Boy, Red River Valley, Take This Hammer, Wayfaring Stranger, Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad, and On the Beach at Waikiki. And yes, you may have noticed a Hawaiian song. Interestingly enough, a lot of Hawaiian music borrows techniques from the country bluegrass style.
Here’s What You Get In the Course
Upon purchase, you register your very own Ukulele Tricks member account (previous members may log in to their existing account upon sign up). This special member account gives you complete access to all online course contents in a private, members-only area of Ukulele Tricks.
Go at your own pace and access the course anywhere and anytime from your computer or mobile device. All you need is an internet connection.
Note: For your benefit, the course never expires and there are absolutely no renewal fees.
Once you’re a member, you’re always a member… for life!
In the course, you get:
60+ Minutes of High-Definition Video Lessons
This course includes a total of 18 videos where every video lesson is shot in high-definition, so you can see exactly what’s going on. Watch the lessons in full screen to get an even better picture. All videos are compatible with your computer or mobile device.
30+ Pages Printer-Friendly Lesson Worksheets
There is a lot of content jam-packed in the course! Rest assured–everything is organized in a very easy-to-follow, step-by-step way. For each lesson, there’s a printer-friendly worksheet with charts, diagrams, pictures, practice objectives, helpful instruction, and much more.
Supportive Lesson Discussion Area (For Each Course)
Interact with other students and receive support. For every lesson, there is a place to post your questions and comments that might come up during the lesson. This area is often just as valuable as the lesson itself where you can get additional tips, tricks and encouragement from other students or me your teacher.
An UNBEATABLE Guarantee: Try the Course For a Full 30 Days, 100% Risk-Free
I promise you if you follow along with each lesson and put in the practice you will become a better ukulele player with Country Bluegrass Strummin’. So much so that I back the course with a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee.
This means, if for whatever reason you try the course and don’t LOVE it, I want you to email me and I will give you all your money back.
This guarantee lasts 30 days which means you can try the WHOLE course and then decide if it’s right for you. Join the program and try it for yourself. It’s as simple as that. You have nothing to lose.
Join Country Bluegrass Strummin’ Now and Learn Country and Bluegrass On Ukulele In Minutes
To get started, click the “Get Instant Access” button below to register your Ukulele Tricks account and begin the Country Bluegrass Strummin’ course. You’re just minutes from taking your skills to the next level.
Get Started Now For a One-Time Price of $47
If you have any questions or concerns about the songbook, send us an email. We’re happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
“What happens when I buy the course?”
Once you complete your purchase, you’ll be redirected to the Ukulele Tricks Member Area where you can access all the course contents. Existing students will have the option to sign in to their account upon sign up.
“Can I use my iPad, iPhone/Android, mobile device or tablet?”
Yes, both courses are compatible with mobile devices.
“Do you ship anything to me?”
No. All course contents are accessible from the Ukulele Tricks Member Area upon purchase.
“How long do I have to access the course? Does it expire?”
You have unlimited access to the course. Your membership never expires.
“Can you ship me a physical DVD or book in the mail?”
No, the course is not available in a physical DVD or book format.
“I’ve never played ukulele before in my life. Is this course a good place to start?”
This course is designed for ukulele players who already grasp the basics. If you’ve never played the ukulele, we recommend starting with the Strumming Tricks course.
For any other questions, we’re here to help. Send us an email.