Tips for strumming chords up the neck

[davoravo]

Hi

I am trying to learn an arrangement a friend has written which has me strumming chords up the neck. He is a guitar player who hasn’t played ukulele and is not showing me any mercy for being a beginner. I am barring the 5th fret for F and C and the 7th fret for G chords. We are playing Blue Monday by New Order and he wants a tambourine like effect from me for one section of the song.

The problem I am having is that because of the high string tension I am getting a terrible sound if i use my usual finger nail strum. If I use my thumb to strum I can get a good sound so I think this is a strumming hand not fretting hand problem.

Any tips, or is thumb the appropriate way to play chords up the neck?

[Andrew]

Thumb should produce a warmer tone. Honestly, I’d need to see you playing it to figure out what’s happening. Feel free to post a video, happy to take a look 🙂

[Author]

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