Common Strum Patterns
Once down and up strokes feel natural on their own, string them together into patterns. Start with the most famous one of all: "My Dog Has Fleas."
The "My Dog Has Fleas" pattern
The single most widely-taught ukulele strum pattern is Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up. It's often introduced with the six-syllable mnemonic "My Dog Has Fleas" — one syllable, one strum:
Common questions
What is the most common ukulele strum pattern?
Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up is one of the most widely taught ukulele strum patterns, often remembered with the "My Dog Has Fleas" mnemonic matching its six strums.
What does "My Dog Has Fleas" mean in ukulele?
It's a mnemonic phrase with six syllables that map onto the six strums of the classic Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up pattern, one syllable per strum.
Do you strum every beat in a strum pattern?
Not always — some strums in a pattern are "ghost strums" where your hand keeps moving but barely touches the strings, keeping the motion continuous without over-accenting every beat.
Should I always play the same strum pattern?
No. Different songs and feels call for different patterns. Learning a few common patterns gives you options to match the mood of whatever you're playing.
Build your own strum patterns
Melody Monkey lets you build, loop, and hear custom strum patterns against any chord progression.
Open the free app →Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about Common Strum Patterns →