Forewarning, this is more geared for the folk who play or are learning to play an ukulele.
I have mentioned before that I've played guitar for a long time, but only recently began playing the ukulele. One of the things I really struggled with when first learning the uke is trying to find a bar chord, or an easier way to play a chord that I could just hop to instead of looking up the actual chord.
That didn't make sense.
For example, on the guitar, I'm confident there is a chord for C minor, or C# that is not a bar chord. However, I've never learned it. I play the bar chord when I come across a song that requests those. Or B, same story.
This could be my own personal problem, but I've learned to accept who I am.
Transitioning to the uke met certain challenges because I couldn't figure out what the bar chord shortcut was. Guess what folks, it exists!
Play an F. Then move up. That's all. Play an A, then move up. Play a D and move up (or down).
Just remember FAD, which is what the current ukulele crowd denies they are (including myself).
Starting an ukulele is the first step to enjoying the qualities it inevitably will bring you. No, that's not right. The first step is to buy an ukulele. Go here, "Liana Soprano Ukulele LU132", and buy a quality instrument for under $100! Yep, in my opinion, you shouldn't spend more than that until you know you'll love it.
Now that you have an uke, welcome to the party. The one thing I was really excited about when I first bought an ukulele was how "simple" it was. That statement underestimates this instrument, but in all fairness, it doesn't take much to get started fooling around with one of these things.
Prior to learning any chords, I loved the sound of strumming the muted strings. Like a half-effort chuck. The sound of the muted strings resonating in the tiny body of the uke sounds so great to me. Every time I pick it up, I can't help but strum the muted strings just to get a feel once again.
The first chords I learned are the chords I play nearly every time I pick the thing up. C major, G major, A minor and F major. By learning those four chords, you can play almost all songs known in the current music industry. Here's a list of 10 VERY popular songs with the progression of those four chords:
1) Hey soul sister - Train
2) Dammit - Blink 182
3) Can you feel the love tonight - Elton John
4) I'm yours - Jason Mraz
5) Somewhere over the rainbow - IZ Kamakawiwo'ole
6) Love the way you hold me - Jamie Grace
7) Let it be - The Beatles
8) Under the bridge - Red hot chili peppers
9) Jesus of Suburbia - Green day
10) Four chords - Axis of Awesome - This one lists the rest of the songs not included in my list.
Of course, I couldn't help but write my own ukulele song in tribute of the four chord staple, so here it is.
Okay, you have a starting place. Learn those four chords and then the songs they are in. Don't forget to buy an ukulele. "Liana Soprano Ukulele LU132"
This doesn't quite fit my typical post on this blog, but wanted to share anyway. As posted a few days ago, I've been a little obsessed with writing songs lately. Here's the most recently added:
I love to hear any comments, etc. Thanks for watching.
Oh, and as always, though entirely unrelated, it's never too late to buy a ukulele. It's the most affordable and relaxing instrument you're going to find. Ready, GO! --> "Liana Soprano Ukulele LU132"
For anyone aspiring to become a good ukulele player, the biggest piece of advice I can offer is play with others! You can only go so far by watching other people play songs on Youtube, or taking video lessons, etc. In my opinion which is based on personal experience, the best way to learn and improve is to sit down with someone else and play. You seriously don't know what you're missing until you do it, and then you'll know.
However, if you're like me and don't have someone to play with on a regular basis, your next best option is to play with yourself.
Crap, this is beginning to sound like something very different than a music lesson.
Since I've been wanting to play a duet lately, but don't have the "du", I've had to clone myself. Here's my imperfect version of "It ain't me babe", originally written by Bob Dylan. My version is closer to Johnny Cash's take on the song.
G C G D G
Go 'way from my window leave at your own chosen speed
G C G D G
I'm not the one you want, Babe, I'm not the one you need.
Bm Am Bm Am
You say you're looking for someone never weak but always strong
Bm Am Bm Am
To protect you and defend you whether you are right or wrong
C D
Someone to open each and every door
G
But it ain't me, Babe,
C D G
No, no, no, it ain't me, Babe,
C D G
It ain't me you're looking for, Babe.
Go lightly from the ledge, Babe, go lightly on the ground,
I'm not the one you want, Babe, I will only let you down.
You say you're looking for someone
who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you, someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more
But it ain't me, Babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, Babe,
It ain't me you're looking for, Babe.
Go melt back in the night, Babe,
everything inside is made of stone,
There's nothing in here moving and anyway I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
Who'll pick you up each time you fall,
To gather flowers constantly and to come each time you call
A love of your life and nothing more
But it ain't me, Babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, Babe,
It ain't me you're looking for, Babe.
Throughout my life, I've always had a journal relatively handy. Though I may not write it one regularly, writing my thoughts translates into a form of meditation for my brain.
Tragically, I do not journal very often, and personally I don't count blogging as journaling. Whether I'm not allowing myself the time to do it, or I'm spending more time watching TV than trying to exercise my brain, I don't know. But there's always a part of me that wants to write a poem, or try to sort out the gobbly goop of random slop in my brain.
Earlier this year I embarked on a goal to learn 100 songs in 100 days on the guitar. It was fun because it gave me something to work on every day, but what I soon discovered after starting the goal was how uncomplicated so many songs actually are. I couldn't help wondering why I didn't write more songs myself. I had the capacity to write poems, as well as play the guitar. Why not just slap the two together?
Unfortunately I couldn't justify learning my own songs as a part of my 100 song in 100 day goal. No one would care, and I didn't have much time to devote to an unknown black hole.
But now those 100 days are over and the goal is officially complete. Here I am with a renewed energy for my creative capacity, but I'm still disengaged from sitting down and writing. Crap. Now what? It's not like I have tons of spare time in the day, and can just sit down and write whenever inspiration strikes.
But then I remembered one of my daily goals earlier this year; getting words on paper, every day. You don't know when creativity will strike, but you won't recognize it when it does if you're not writing anything down at all.
Two days ago, I found my most creative time of the day, and it happens to last about 10 minutes in the morning. I drive my wife to work and then come back home. I unbuckle my daughter out of her carseat and she spends the next 10 minutes using the inside of our car as a jungle gym. Meanwhile, I listen to NPR and drink my coffee. Lately though, I've pulled out my phone and have begun writing in the notepad app. Once the toddler is finished, I email my notes to myself and boom, words on paper.
Here is the song I wrote yesterday.
So for anyone out there who has a desire to write, but can't find the time, all you need to do is make it happen, maybe 10 minutes in the morning. If inspiration strikes, you're going to find you have a lot more time in the day than you thought.
I have a respectable number of young nieces and nephews, in addition to a very young daughter.
Among the age group, I have found the most commonly requested song is "Twinkle, twinkle little star". It's a tough one (sarcasm).
A funny revelation I had was that twinkle twinkle sounds EXACTLY the same as the ABC song. It's like a Weird Al Yankovich thing. In case you were not aware of this, please take a moment to sing both of those songs. It should take less than 60 seconds, unless you're belting it out for the bleachers.
Here is a very quick tutorial of, as I like to call it, "Twinkle twinkle, ABCs".
The progression in C:
C - G - F - C -
Twinkle twinkle little star
F - C - G - C
How I wonder what you are
C - F - C - G -
Up above the world so high
C - F - C - G
Like a diamond in the sky
C - G - F - C -
Twinkle twinkle little star
F - C - G - C
How I wonder what you are
If this is not the right pitch for you, try the progression in G:
G - D - C - G -
C - G - D - G
G - C - G - D
G - C - G - D
G - D - C - G -
C - G - D - G
For other pitches, just ask. Whatever your voice is willing to do, there is a pitch for that.
I hope these songs successfully enter your home and get your kids bouncing around before bedtime! Enjoy.
