Below is the lesson for “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran.

Helpful Tips

A popular request on Rock Class 101, this arrangement features various techniques and a percussive backbeat. I have divided the arrangement into 4 parts:

Verse (Part 1)
Verse (Part 2)
Pre-Chorus
Chorus

Throughout this arrangement, we will be adding a backbeat tap or slap on beats 2 and 4. 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 have created two separate lessons to help you get both of these techniques down.

Slap Technique: Adding a Backbeat
Tap Technique: Playing a Backbeat Plus Melody Together

If you would like to make the arrangement easier, remove the slaps and/or taps and just play the melody notes/chords. Have fun, this is a wonderful song!