Published:
2013-02-21
Updated:
2019-10-11
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Alternating Thumb Style, Patterns Summary
Summary of the core Alternating Thumb patterns from the Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking for Ukulele book.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: ULFP117r-CH-18
Main Category: Fingerpicking Main Instrument: Ukulele
Categories: Chords, Fingerpicking, Technique
2026-08-23
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Number of Pages: 6
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Summary of the core Alternating Thumb patterns from the Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking for Ukulele book.
At the heart of all fingerpicking patterns, whether you call it _Travis Picking_ or _Scruggs Style_ or banjo rolls - it's all just a different execution of specific rhythmic patterns in a particular style.
Here are the core fingerpicking patterns from my book Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style
. These are the same patterns I use for all private students, regardless of the instrument.
After the foundation of the alternating thumb is established the fingerpicking patterns are organized into levels according the number of fingers involved with the alternating thumb. For the basic style it's the index ( i ) and middle ( m ) fingers only and the number of times within a pattern the finger is used.
More Alternating Thumb Style, Patterns Summary
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More Alternating Thumb Style, Patterns Summary
Ukulele
For UKulele the adjacent four strings sets are:
Guitar
Called "Travis Picking" on Banjo, the Alternating Thumbstyle techniques from this series of lessons and the Fingerpicking for Ukulele, Alternating Thumb Style can be applied to the guitar as well.
As the ukulele has only one set of four adjacent strings, the Guitar has three sets of four adjacent strings. This means the same principles are directly applicable to the guitar. And can be adapted to the guitar's adjacent string sets.
For Guitar there are four adjacent four strings sets are:
Banjo
Called Scruggs Style
on Banjo the Alternating Thumbstyle techniques from this series of lessons and the Fingerpicking for Ukulele, Alternating Thumb Style can be applied.
For Banjo there are two adjacent four strings sets are:
However with the standard 5-string banjo has a high string five that you'll mostly use the top (towards your toes) strings for the Banjo Rolls all five strings are used.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style, 2nd Edition
Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style, 2nd Edition is an new expanded edition which focuses on the alternating thumb fingerpicking style through a series of graduated lessons-chapters incorporating your index and middle fingers with the alternating thumb.
Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking on Ukulele
This is the common alternating thumb and two finger strumming style utilizing the thumb, index and middle fingers. Commonly called “Travis” picking in the guitar world. This series of lessons explores and adapts this style to ukulele. Travis Picking is a finger-style made famous by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. This style is commonly played on steel string acoustic guitars.