I’ve spent hours and hours examining John King’s arrangements (particularly his Classical Ukulele book) and working out he decided to play things a certain way. I’ll always regret not emailing him and asking him a for an interview (although I’ve recently discovered that emailing your heroes can be a bit disappointing).
I had lengthy discussions with Ken Middleton about the opening run of this tune. I couldn’t believe that John King would play two consective notes on the same string. The only other time he does it in this piece is on the lower reaches of the C string where he doesn’t have a choice. But it is very difficult to get the phrase fluent any other way (and it’s still tricky the way it’s played).
And it’s not the only tricky passage. One part I had big trouble with is bar 28/29. So I play it like this in my version of the tune:
Every week as I’m putting this post together I’m amazed how much talent there is around. And it’s almost always better than the dreck that ends up on the TV and radio. Certainly they are more individual and heartfelt.
This week includes another song from Clare Costa. Last week she was singing in French, this week Italian. She’s obviously pitching for a mention on Ukulele & Languages. Katzenjammer’s ukulele song finally shows up (although the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired). And if Zoe doesn’t win Seeso’s Hip Hop doohicky I’m calling shenanigans. Read the rest of this entry »
Nice bit of floral soundhole work on this Divine ukulele. And the listing refers to both Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam playing Divine ukuleles. I wasn’t aware that McCready was a uker. If anyone knows of any video or photo of him ukeing – I’d love to know.
Spalted mango seems to be the crazy grain of choice for ukes at the moment with Lanikai’s SM range. Seems a bit hit and miss to me. Sometimes looks great, sometimes looks a complete mess.
Gorgeous taropatch, horrible listing. Pick a colour (I hear black has worked pretty well for the last few hundred years) and stick with it.
Also some layout and font issues on this listing. But it’s worth the effort because the story of the Duncan Sisters is fascinating (quick tip: after, “performers can only dream of” read the press cutting).
I’m not a fan of picks on ukes but picks this sexy could defintely change my mind.
Ukulele kitsch of the week: Orca whale, ukulele playing, ship’s captain.
Either I’m hopelessly naive or the person who listed this photo has an over-active imagination because I can’t work out why a girl playing a ukulele on her own would be of particular interest to lesbians.
Here’s a very interesting story from Indonesia (don’t miss the link to the audio). An Indonesian punk band, Marjinal, are giving ukuleles to street kids and teaching them how to make money busking. There’s a similar piece on them in TIME. (Thanks to Charlie)
And another very cool idea. James Hill and the Portland Ukulele Big Band flip the idea of a ukulele group (where everyone plays exactly the same thing) and has everyone playing an individual note which builds up the sound (like a big band). Sounds great.
Sit down a write five lines of verse,
Of a girl who seems slightly perverse.
Reposed on a lion,
Her instrument, Hawaiian,
And a bug sat on her lady purse.
Armelle will be the official Uke Hunt correspondent at this year’s Paris Uke Fest. So if you’re going, leave her a message.
Seems like wherever people congrate, it’s only a matter of time before they form themselves into a ukulele group. Here’s a bunch of ukulele playing photographers.
Elliott Brood’s Tin Type EP has to be one of my favourite EPs of all time. So it’s very gratifying to see them picking up ukuleles for this song. Not that using ukuleles has changed their style. It’s all footstomping, drones and field hollers.
First things first, they’re tuned down a semitone to F#BD#G#.
Although it’s mostly chords, I’ve chosen to tab it rather than write up the chord sheet. The chord changes come in fast in some parts and they have names like Fsus4add9. Making fitting it with the lyrics very tricky. But I have included chord diagrams with the tab, so you should be able to work it out if you’re not tab-literate.
I spent a very pleasurable Saturday at the London Uke Festival and I’m now a world record holder.
The centrepiece of the day was an attempt to break the world record for largest ukulele ensemble. And it was a success. More than doubling the previous record with a total of 851. If you don’t believe it, here’s a tweet from the editor of the Guinness Book of Records confirming it. And if you don’t believe I was there, look at this picture (both photos on here are by matthewpurves). There I am. Plain as day.
Rather than bore you with the who-snogged-who tittle-tattle, I thought I’d let you in on what I found out from the day.
1. Ukers are good people.
The definite highlight of the festival for me was meeting up with so many fellow ukulelists: YouTubers, emailers, commentors, readers. It was a joy to meet you all. And a big thanks to everyone who came up and said nice things to me. I never know what to say to stuff like that – I don’t get much practice – but I really appreciate it.
2. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain are adored.
No surprises that the UOGB drew the biggest crowd of the day. And the reception they got was incredible.
They’ve obviously been a huge influence on the current revival of ukulele in the UK: big groups, covers, humour, inventiveness, eccentricity. There’s not much arguing with their star status (which will no doubt only increase with their performance at The Proms).
3. Being the soundman in a venue that wasn’t designed for it must be a nightmare task.
The only disappointment of the day* was the sound quality of the main stage. The festival took place in Devonshire Square – which is actually two connected courtyards. The first – which housed the main stage – is very enclosed with six-storey high buildings on all sides and a roof on top. It wasn’t built with ukulele gigs in mind. And the sound was terrible. Echos flying all over the place. Krabbers did a full reccy of the area looking for a spot where the sound was acceptable – he didn’t find it. You can get a good idea what the sound was like from this video.
Early acts like the Bobby McGee’s and The Re-Entrants were impossible to hear. A huge shame. It also made it impossible for most people to follow what was going on during the world record attempt.
The sound did improve later on, but it was still a long way from doing the performers justice.
The second performance area – used for the amatuer acts – was much more open, ukulele-friendly and had a nice, laidback vibe (and overpriced food – but you have to expect some gouging at these events).
This video does a very good job of summing up the feel of being at the event, the two areas and the feeling of seeing people you know but haven’t met yet (including me if you’re exceptionally eagle-eyed).
*Okay, there was one other disappointment: the non-presence of a few acts I would have had down as essential such as GUGUG and The Half Sisters.
4. The world needs to watch out for the Sugarsnap Sisters.
The Uke Festival was the great unveiling of the trio of Tricity Vogue, Cousin Alice and Honey Mink (who does a very funny mock-impressed face). And what an unveiling it was. They’re like the Andrews Sisters with lipstick and Suzi Quattro poses. Not to be missed.
My brother compelled me to tell you that they were his favourite act of the day. And I have to agree with him. Your next chance to catch them is at the Paris Uke Fest.
5. Ian Re-entrant does a bang-on impression of Jimmy McGee
I hope he’s going to be putting it up on YouTube soon.
The Re-Entrants had to dash off to play at a water polo tournament. I should make clear, they were playing ukes there.
6. Trying to chat normally to a Scotsman in full face paint isn’t as disconcerting as you would expect.
I finally got to meet Jimmy of the Bobby McGee’s at the Uke Fest. He wanted me to show him how to play Rockabilly Roustabout which was a bad move as I never bother memorizing my own tunes – seems a waste of brain space.
I got to try out his KoAloha. Very nicely put together piece of kit. But reminded me why I prefer tenors with slightly higher action.
7. The ukulele manufacturers missed a trick.
The only presence from uke sellers was Duke of Uke (which was only a short walk from the venue) and Pete Howlett. With most of England’s ukulele movers and shakers in attendance checking out each other’s ukes, it seems like a missed opportunity for them to have done a handy bit of influencing. Having said that…
8. Ohana did a smart thing hiring Ken Middleton
Although he wasn’t there is in official capacity, Ken was there. He knows his stuff and he’s rightfully respected in the ukulele community
9. It brings joy to my heart to walk around and hear ukes being strummed.
Not seasoned performers pulling out the tricks. Just people plunking away mindlessly. Lovely sound.
10. I love walking around London. I’d hate to live there.
We took a few breaks from the festival to wander round the city – including a trip to Duke of Uke – and it was great. The architecture in particular. Old, forceful, square-sholdered buildings next to towering glass – there’s no getting around it – phalluses. It’s a pretty obvious sign of the way London big-wigs see themselves having changed over time.
Trite as it may be, it’s always strange to turn a corner and go from wide boulavards and pristine buildings where fortunes are made and – mainly – lost to stinking streets full of run-down shops.
The most magnificent sight of the day was watching a huge pane of glass being accidently dropped to the floor in Shoreditch. Glorious.
But, being a sensitive flower, it’s all a bit much and I was happy to return to my lair and resume attempts to Keyser Soze myself.
Things I already knew:
– I can’t reliably play three chords in the right order. There’s a reason that all my videos are about 1 minute long; it’s because that’s my concentration span. After that my mind wanders onto thoughts of aeroplanes, hats and that cute girl in the sailor suit.
– If I attempt to carry a ukulele through a train station it will be bashed against door frames, pillars and the heads of small children.
I’m slightly concerned this one is going to anger the Indie Gods. Particularly since she’s played it with Jason Mraz a few times. But I’ve had a bunch of requests for it and I took a lot less convincing than I did with the song that won’t be named (henceforth to be known as ‘the Scottish song’).
The chords are pretty simple and ideal for beginners. She does use the less common variations of F and Am (with the A string at the third fret). But if you find that tricky, use the ones you’re familiar with.
Suggested Strumming
Here’s the strumming pattern she uses:
d – d u – u d u
Play it twice for each chord in the verses and once for each chord in the chorus. An exception is in the, “You and I/You and I” where you do d – d u once each for the F and G chords.
If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of Peggy Sue (formerly Peggy Sue and the Pirates). Their song Lover Gone is currently my favourite ukulele song of the year and it’ll take some beating. So I was very excited when Katy Klaw agreed to answer a few questions.
You’ve only started using ukuleles in your music recently. How did you get into them and what appeals to you about them?
My dad bought me a ukulele as a present and we started playing it in the same way we play guitar which is not really knowing how but with great enthusiasm.
When’s your album coming out and what can we expect from it?
Either at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Its got quite a lot of ukulele on it actually. We’ve somehow managed to make the ukulele sound quite sad which I think is no mean feat. You can expect 12 new songs – we’re playing a couple of them live but most of them are brand new – lots of interesting drum beats, vocal harmonies, some acoustic guitars, some electric guitars, a bit of mandoln, a little brass and strings here and there. Its not finished yet but we’re pretty excited about the way its coming along. I think its going to be a goodun.
Are you still using Charlot Webster’s ukulele? Have you got your eye on a replacement? Do you have a name ready for it?
We are indeed still using Charlot’s ukulele which she was kind enough to loan to us for our tour and we took it to New York with us for recording so thats whats going to be on the album which is nice. We haven’t had a chance to buy ourselves one yet – it’s quite a commitment – and no we never name instruments until we’ve met them.
Which three songs does everyone need to hear?
Got me a woman – Levon Helme
While you were sleeping – Elvis Perkins
Single Ladies – Beyonce
What happened to the Pirates?
They said the ukulele was not really instruments so we threw them out
Another adorable ukulele ditty from Kate Micucci’s appearance in Scrubs. The chords for this one are dead easy. The only trouble is that she’s playing in D-tuning. So you’ll have to tune up or face the dreaded E chord.
Suggested Strumming
Also dead easy, go with Strum #1 from the book: all down strums
As I’m currently bopping my ass at the London Ukulele Festival, it’s bit shorter than usual this week. But it does include Katian and Kevin Witchger (whose Five Second Dance Party and Five Second Fight Party you should also check out), Ken Middleton and, huzzah someone singing in French. French is easilly the coolest language to sing in and it’s a shame all the French ukers don’t do it more often.
