Confession time. I originally started arranging this on the assumption it was a good hundred years or so old and would go in my How to Play Classical Ukulele ebook. Only after hours slaving over it did it occur to me to check. 1935.
But it’s such a hilariously pompous tune I couldn’t resist finishing off a version for the ‘umble ukulele. The piece is so over the top it’s almost always used tongue-in-cheek. The only people who don’t get the joke are those putting on displays of Aryan superiority.
Main tip for playing: after the big intro, keep the first part as quiet as possible to give you somewhere to go later. I’m quite tempted to redo this video with my Sceptre because the Ohana version needs more volume towards the end.
Top of the crop this week are two videos from Mathias ‘The Burning Hell‘ Kom’s Spring Breakup. Also up is a stunning Tongan send-off, Bartt and Ukulollo ripping it up, a band that bears a passing resemblence to The Folksmen and, horror of horrors, a football song.
I’ve never read a convincing justification for slotted headstocks. The best I’ve heard is that they reduce wind resistance when you spin round on stage. Jake Shimabukuro discussed it when he appeared at the Corktown Jam. He says that a thicker headstock gives you a fatter tone but the slots are required to stop it getting too heavy. I’m still not entirely convinced but he has some interesting things to say in that video.
Kala have fancied up their bicote ukuleles and they’ve emerged as butterflies. I still don’t like that grain though.
In the comments: reckons Martin ukuleles are over-priced: “I will still look for martins, but i refuse to pay a ridiculous amount of money for one. In reality the only reason they are so expensive is because they are very popular and vintage.”
The focus is on tunes that you’ll have fun playing and that people will recognise and be impressed by. The focus isn’t on good classical technique or faithful recreations of the original works (in some of them I’ve sythed out the less famous sections).
You get individual pdf files of each of the tabs along with an ebook (fancied up by Ben Lew) with my usual blathering and a few general pointers on playing. It’s not a full on guide to classical technique, more along the lines of the stuff that usually accompanies tabs on here. It’s all delivered digitally. Check out FAQ for more info.
I’ve decided just to go with the YouTube videos this time round. It cuts down on download size and technical problems. So there are no videos or MP3s included in the download. Just links to the YouTubes.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy It
In the spirit of bad marketing, you might not want to buy it if:
– You’ve never done any fingerpicking. There’s a variety of difficultly but none of them are suitable for beginners.
– You’re looking to develop classical technique.
– If you play soprano only: Some of the tunes use frets above the 12th.
What If I Get It And It Sucks?
As with all my stuff, if you don’t like it let me know within 7 days (with the email address you used to pay with) and I’ll send you full refund. No questions asked or seething resentment.
I Can Now Look Past Your Ugly Face and Repugnant Personality. How Do I Buy It?
Usually when I’m arranging for the uke I try to spread things across the strings, campanella style, so you’re not playing the same string many times in succession.
But there are times when that doesn’t work out. It’s then I bust out the running man:
You pick the string (the E-string in the case) alternately with your index and middle finger. That dramatically increases the speed you can play things at.
Here’s what the technique looks like when you have to swap between strings:
When you really have to bust out the speed, you can bring your ring finger in for support.
UPDATE: You can now buy the chords for this song (and other Bess Rogers songs) on Abatabs.
Bess Rogers is obviously a bit hit with the sensitive girl types who are fans of her cohorts Ingrid Michaelson and April Smith. I’ve had a bunch of requests to write up one of her songs.
Favourite video this week is a short and sour song from Savannah Smith. There’s only 1 minute and 13 seconds of it so I highly recommend listening to it five times in a row. Credit goes to Bossa for turning me onto Savannah and helping me to convince her to do a video for this song.
Also this a reet-petiting good time from Paolo Nutini, a Daniel Johnston cover with belated ukulele from Mates of State, Tift Merritt’s drummer and plenty more besides.
I’m a big enough man to admit this. I was wrong and Noel Edmonds was right. Last week I cosmically ordered a Koaloha Sceptre. This week my dealer of choice put up a Sceptre for the first time. I shall never doubt the Edmonds again. He is my new Jesus.
A few DeVine Ukuleles up this week from guitar and uke maker Eric DeVine. He has an impressive client list including Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready, and Kimo Hussey.
