I kind of expected this to happen at some point. After two decades as a professional drummer, I picked up my first uke about five years ago and became proficient with chords and strumming almost immediately. Since then, I've had tons of fun playing for kids and co-workers and have developed a few licks that make uke players with much more experience than I think that I actually know what I'm doing.
I don't know what I'm doing.
Now, five years later, I find that I'm kind of "stuck," blocked both mentally and physically from improving in the same increments as I did early on. And what's most frustrating is that, as well as I think I play the danged thing, any guitar player that comes along and picks up my uke for the first time instantly makes me look like an amateur.
I never got past the "rhythm" component of the instrument. While I have a better-than-average knack for syncopation that combines open with choked strings, I cannot solo or play melodies on command, which seems like the obvious next step forward. At this point, I don't really think that's going to happen for me, either.
So what can I do to keep my passion for the instrument alive? I find that I'm picking it up less frequently and playing the same things over and over. HELP????
I don't know what I'm doing.
Now, five years later, I find that I'm kind of "stuck," blocked both mentally and physically from improving in the same increments as I did early on. And what's most frustrating is that, as well as I think I play the danged thing, any guitar player that comes along and picks up my uke for the first time instantly makes me look like an amateur.
I never got past the "rhythm" component of the instrument. While I have a better-than-average knack for syncopation that combines open with choked strings, I cannot solo or play melodies on command, which seems like the obvious next step forward. At this point, I don't really think that's going to happen for me, either.
So what can I do to keep my passion for the instrument alive? I find that I'm picking it up less frequently and playing the same things over and over. HELP????