Rhythm

Rhythm & Timing

Rhythm is the pattern of sounds and silences in time. It's what makes music feel like it's moving and gives it a groove you can tap your foot to. Rhythm is built from beats — steady pulses grouped into measures (usually groups of 4 in popular music).

On ukulele, rhythm comes from your strumming patterns, the timing of chord changes, and the use of accents and muting. A simple song and a great-sounding song often use the same chords — the difference is entirely in the rhythm.

The most important rhythm skill is keeping steady time. Practice with a metronome or drum beat, starting slow and gradually increasing tempo. It's better to play a simple pattern in perfect time than a complex pattern that speeds up and slows down.