Tapping a Backbeat Plus Playing a Melody on Ukulele

Helpful Tips

This lesson will provide 8 exercises to help you learn how to tap a backbeat while you play a melody simultaneously. The two most common types of rhythmic backbeat percussive accompaniment are taps and slaps. Taps and slaps differ from one another. A tap is when you pick a note and use your thumb to tap on the ukulele’s body (above the strings) at the same time. A slap is when you use the palm of your hand or thumb to slap above or directly onto the strings. A slap is performed without playing a note simultaneously. I would recommend you master slapping before you attempt tapping.

Here is the lesson on Chucking/Chunking: How to add a backbeat – Rhythm Playing Lesson

Lesson Video