Live ‘Ukulele

Off of Brittni’s self-titled new album is Csardas. This is probably the most advanced tab I have done yet. The first section is packed with tremolo. The second is a speed exercise, and the last is a key change to Em. This should be a fairly good challenge for most intermediate-adv. musicians.

There is a video of Brittni performing this song on Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHDPBWc2hcQ

Csardas Tab

~Hippie Guy

Tabs are great, don’t get me wrong. But I think that some people are starting to think that the only way learn a song is to get the tab for it. It is not so! I think that when you learn a song note for note off a record you remember it better and you have more of a chance to “make it yours”. So, here are some ideas to make your tab-free times easier.

• Work on something simple if you are new to figuring stuff out by ear. For instance: Orange World by Jake Shimabukuro would be a bad way to start. Instead try something like E Ku’u Morning Dew.
• Start with the key. Noodle around with different scales until you find one that fits. Sometimes keys sound similar, so be sure to play all of the notes in the scale to make sure you don’t miss anything. Also, most of the time the first chord or note dictates the key.
• Once you get the key, it should be simple to figure out the melody. “Simple” is relative though. It might take a beginner 15 minutes to get the gist of the melody, but somebody more advanced may have it in 5.
• Next I would listen to and figure out the chords. Most of the time all the chords will be relative to the key and on a chart like this: http://www.ezfolk.com/uke/Tutorials/1four5/music-theory/key-chord-chart/key-chord-chart.html. Hawaiian music uses simple chords. Most of the time just 1, 4, 5.
• Now I would add the filler stuff - melody chords and articulations. Melody chords are just chords that use the melody note - usually as the highest note of the chord - and fit over the current chord in the progression (Fmaj7 would fit over F in a progression). These can range from major chords to 6/9 chords, so you are limited by how many chords you know. Articulations are just hammer-ons, slides, and anything else that is used to shape a note. Usually this can help make things smoother.
• Be sure to change things to how you like them. There is no rule saying that you have to play a song like Herb Ohta Jr. does. Herb is Herb, you are not Herb.

If I have missed anything or you have more ideas please drop me a comment.

~Hippie Guy

Herb and Daniel change things up a bit on their new album “2 to Three Feet”. This time they’ve gone for an upbeat approach. 7 of the 11 songs have surf related titles - hence the name of the album. Starting off with “Pahala We Go” Herb and Daniel groove their way through a catchy melody and some sweet bass runs only possible on a D-VI. This song was written during the period of the Kahumoku Music camp #1 which is located in Pahala, HI. The title song is next followed by a slowish song that you might hear in Paris: “Wave“. Herb and Daniel absolutely nail an original rendition of “Bodysurfing” - a song written by Ohta’s dad, Ohta-san. Then comes “Jazz the Glass” and “Surfing Walls” (Walls is a popular bodyboarding spot on Oahu). “Slack Tides” has a more - get this - slack-key guitar sound and more bass runs! Very pretty. The next song - “Nightsurfing” has the very distinct Herb Ohta Jr. and Daniel Ho stamp on it. “Alchemy Hour” is one of the more gentle songs on the CD. Wrapping it up is the fun “Laupahoehoe Hula” (a.k.a The Boy From Laupahoehoe) with more bass runs! It is awesome to watch someone dance (hula) this song ( - especialy if it was Herb or Daniel (laughs)). This album is mastered a bit differently then the other ‘Ukuleles in Paradise albums.

4 Stars

HI Everybody, here are some things that are going in the ‘ukulele world:

Uncle Herb has a new site to replace his old one that wasn’t working! http://www.herbohtajr.com/home/home.html

The Kahumoku ‘Ohana music workshop is coming up on December 7 - 14. Instructors will include: Keoki Kahumoku, Herb Ohta Jr., Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Moses Kahumoku, Dennis Kamakahi, Jeff Peterson, John Keawe, Sonny Lim, “Konabob” Stoffer, Leilehua Yuen, and Darci Baker. http://www.konaweb.com/keoki/

Daniel Ho and Herb Ohta Jr. will be doing their “Two to Three Feet” tour in California from Sep. 3rd - 14th. They will also be doing some workshops. Check out http://www.danielho.com/html/calendar/september.html for more details

Jake Shimabukuro is going to be playing a ton of shows in Japan from August 26 up until November 28 with a couple of dates in the USA: D.C., New York, and San Fransisco. http://www.jakeshimabukuro.com/?t=tour&listtype=FUTURE&tid=

The Wine County ‘Ukulele Fest will be held on October 10-11 in St. Helena, CA. There will be multiple ‘ukulele performances and workshops, a cooking class with Keoki Kahumoku, and a Crazy G face-off! http://www.kani-ka-pila.com/index_files/UkuleleFestival.htm

~Hippie Guy

Wanted: ‘ukulele or music related tips. Please leave your tips in the comment box so that we can grow this page into a resource for players of all levels looking for ideas. If you submit a tip we will give you full credit and link over to your web site.

Learn to read standard music notation. At least well enough so that you can work your way through a piece of simple sheet music.

Don’t hold chords with your thumb curled around or on top of the neck. Instead, place your thumb on the top half the neck-back. If you can get used to playing like this, it makes all of your playing easier. You can also stretch to more frets.

When figuring out a song, find what key it is in first, by noodling around to find what major or minor scale works. From there you can find the chords relative to that key, and use the notes that are in the scale to figure out the majority or all of the song.

Buy a string winder, it will make changing strings much easier.

Harmonize with yourself by playing the melody and the bass note of the current chord. (It helps to hold the chord and play the melody around it.)

When you are performing a song, don’t stop. Even if you forget the song or make a mistake, don’t stop. If you don’t stop, only musicians will know you goofed when you do. If you stop, everyone will.

When you are playing plugged-in at home, be sure to close your bedroom door so family members don’t go insane. ~Hippie Mom

Remember that music is fun. If you aren’t having fun playing, sell your ‘ukulele(s).

Learn songs by ear as well as learning them from tabs.

Be sure to keep your fingers arched over the fretboard instead of pushing down at an angle. Everything you play will sound cleaner.

Using lots of effects all the time does not make you cool. (In my eyes)

Using lots of effects all the time doesn’t make you better at the ‘ukulele.

The more fingers you can use for picking, the easier it will be to play.

Don’t give up (unless you aren’t having fun - see above) ~Hippie Dad

Tremolo is the picking of one note in rapid secession. You can use the nail on ether your thumb or your index finger (or any other finger that works) to produce tremolo.

On sheet music tremolo looks like this:

To create tremolo with your index finger or thumb, first anchor any number of your right hand fingers to the soundboard below the sound hole. Use these fingers as a pivot point. Place your thumb(nail) or index finger on the string (you can brace your thumb with your index finger and vice-versa) and then pick down. Do this without bending your thumb or index finger - instead rock your whole hand forward on the “pivot fingers”. Picking up is just opposite. Practice picking down and up consistently, speeding up, slowing down, changing strings.

A more advanced way to produce tremolo is with a roll of your fingers. Start by picking up with your middle finger,and then with your index. Follow those two with a down stroke of your thumb. This technique is hard to do on any string but the bottom. Start slowly and as you get the hang of it speed up. Bryan Tolentino uses this kind of tremolo in “G minor fleas” that he did with Herb Ohta Jr.

I got this tab straight from Mr. Ohta a couple of minutes ago.

Sand Castles is the first song off of Herb’s new album ‘Ukulele Journey. It is sweet and simple, so even beginners should give it a look. Some of the chord voicings are probably the most difficult part of this song, so beware.

Sand Castles tab

Thanks Uncle Herb,

~Hippie Guy

DOB: November 12, 1980

Hometown: Honolulu

‘Ukulele: Koaloha Custom Tenor w/Cut-away

Strings: Worth Clear Heavy Polymer Low-G

Pickup: Fishman Prefix Pro Onboard

(Effects: Boss DD-6)

Playing Since: age 15

Album: Pa’ani (2004)

David Kamakahi entered the world of music in kind of an odd way; when he first started teaching himself ‘ukulele he hid the fact from his dad (Rev. Dennis Kamakahi). He kept practicing in secret for about five months, then one day Uncle Dennis needed an ‘ukulele player for one of his gigs. David got the job, and he ripped it up. Now years later, David is one accomplished guy. He has been recorded on numerous albums and was featured on the movie “Lilo & Stitch 2″ in the song “Always”. He is also a 1st Dan black belt and a member of the International Karate Federation.

An octave is a grip (chord shape) of two notes. A main note, and the note an octave above (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8). Octaves can be used to make a single note sound bigger without playing an actual chord. Jimi Hendrix used octaves a lot - in songs like Villanova Junction. I have also seen Jake Shimabukuro use octaves on his “Play Loud ‘Ukulele” DVD in the song Europa.

I have seen people play octaves in three different shapes:

1. 2X5X
2. X2X5
3. 5XX3

I find that it is easiest to play the first two shapes with the index and pinky fingers of my left hand. The third seems to work best with the index and ring fingers of my left hand. The two strings that don’t sound are muted by any fingers you can use. Then you can strum just like you were playing a chord. Or you can just pick the two notes in a pincer movement with the thumb and index finger of your right hand.

Both notes are the root, so just move the shape around until you land on the note you are looking for. So a C octave would be X0X3 or 5X8X or 5XX3. A G octave would be 0X3X or X7X10 or 12XX10. (Etc.)

Try playing Jake’s Europa break. (In octaves): D E F E F A G F E E (or something close to that. Watch the video for the whole idea).

~Hippie Guy

This one was a request from jgkuuipo. Thank you! This is one of Jack’s best songs and I probably should have made a sheet for it earlier.

The strum is just a simple DU pattern, but I like to hammer-on and pull-off as many of the chords as I can to give everything a smoother feel.

• Better Together song sheet

~Hippie Guy

Anyone can learn to play as fast as Jake Shimabukuro. Anyone can practice playing clean to try to sound like Herb Ohta Jr. Anyone can learn pentatonic scales so he can play funky solos like David Kamakahi. But how many people can learn to let their soul come out of their ‘ukulele and play with enough feeling to make the crowd cry? Not many.

Pick up your ‘ukulele and play a note. Did you just make that note count, or did you play that note just because I told you to? Play that note again, and this time let your heart flow into that note. Add whatever you need to add to make that note express your soul. Playing notes is fine, but to make music that counts you must play with feeling. Not many people are going to remember “the guy who played a bunch of notes”. Your music should be special.

• Listen to a song by Jake, maybe “Dragon“. What feelings do you hear?
• Listen to a song or even just a solo by Carlos Santana, maybe “Love of my Life“. What feelings do you hear?

This whole idea might be lost to a beginner. That’s okay, they are learning the basic chords and focusing on implementing them in songs. They are not thinking about making each note count. More advanced players however should think about playing with feeling (a lot). I know too many players who are pretty good, but are just worried about playing fast like Jake. It is not important to them to play with feeling.

Playing with soul is not something that can be taught. I believe that it is a destination that you arrive at after lots of soul searching and self discovery. May the force be with you…

~Hippie Guy