A rendition of something like Crazy G

Uncle Rod Higuchi

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OK, the time has come for me to make a video of my rendition of something like Crazy G.

I have been teaching this to STRUM ( Seattle's Totally-Relaxed Ukulele
Musicians ) and to my Ukulele Classes and it's time to post something
for them to help them practice and learn this chorded melody.

This is NOT a definitive rendition of Crazy G. Just about every rendition
I've listened to is different from every other rendition. I don't know the
history of this tune/melody, or if something like it has ever been titled,
Crazy G :)

Oh, well... here's my story:

while at college in Chicago in the mid 60's i was visited by a fellow Hawaiian
of Japanese ancestry, Eddie Sakoda, who was attending a neighboring college.

During our visit he played a tune on his uke (Martin Concert if I
remember correctly). I was intrigued, so I asked him what it was.
That was the first time I heard the title 'Crazy G'. Anyway, after Eddie left
I tried to remember what I thought I had heard him play. That was about 50 years ago!

Since that time I have been playing, for myself, a rendition I made up of some of
the progressions I thought I had heard. and eventually, I put together
something like what I think I remember hearing "that fateful day" :)

I embellished it a bit so that it now comprises an Intro, 3 sections (A, B, C)
and an abbreviated 'Outro'. I will be explaining all of that on the video
(most likely posted on YouTube) which my friend Eddie Sams will help me create, possibly today!

I'm telling you all of this because I don't want to explain all of this
in the video and take valuable time from the actual performance
and instruction.

love you all,

keep uke'in',

and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
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There will be once we video it :)

Lord willing, I'll be heading up to Edmonds, WA to do the video today.

depending on what Eddie wants to do (any editing) it may be delayed a bit
before being posted to YouTube.

check tomorrow, Friday the 22nd by searching YT for 'Uncle Rod Crazy G'.
I hope it will be up by then :)

thanks for the interest,

keep uke'in',
 
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OK, it's now up on YouTube, search for "uncle Rod crazy g".

I hope it makes sense to you.

I'm doing this so that those who put in the time and effort will have something to share when they are requested to
"Play something on your uke".

Not everyone feels comfortable singing and playing, but I believe that if you have a rendition of Crazy G and can
Play it 'from your hip pocket' as it were, it would both impress your audience and contribute to your enjoyment
With your uke.

Have fun with this and feel free to ask me any questions.

Keep uke'in',
 
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Just watched,and can't wait to learn that one! Thanks Rod for putting that together. As you said, that's a great one to have in your back pocket, for when someone asks you to play a song. Reminds me a bit of some of those fast strummer Smeck songs. What is the uke you are playing in the video?
 
Great to see your smiling face, Rod! And anxious to learn this one! Merry Xmas!!!
 
Mahalo, Bill1, for posting the link!

The uke is a gift from a local, Lynnwood luthier, Kerry Bannister.
Kerry created a 'Frankenstein-Martin' soprano by taking the usable
Soprano neck and fretboard and attaching it to a koa-body. It works
Great and has been my go-to uke for a while now.

However that is not the uke I'm using in the video. The uke is a longneck
Soprano that Kerry presented to me as a Birthday present along with...
Wait for it... A Rubber Duck Mascot! :) Notice the vinyl rubber duck sticker on the uke head :)

Keep uke'in', everyone,
 
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Hey Rod!

Love the video! This rendition is a bit different from the one in the STRUM songbook I think. Is there somewhere I can get one to print out?

Gordon
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0o6id06c06lwgsq/Crazy G 5 and 6 page TAB.pdf?dl=0

Yikes! I hope this is a good link to the hard copies (.pdf) for my rendition of Crazy G.

if you guys can access this, the first 5 pages display the demo/performance from the YouTube video,
( uncle rod crazy g ).

the next 6 pages really contain the same info but organized and presented in a slightly different manner.

I'm sharing both the 5 and 6 page versions in case one is clearer than the other. You know, 'different
strokes...' and all that :)

Have fun! :)

keep uke'in',
 
Thanks Uncle Rod!
I had to open in a new tab before downloading. When I tried directly, it said the file was invalid. Not really an issue.
'Can't wait to get started. Thanks again!!
 
NOTE: pages 4 and 5 on the pdf in Dropbox will give you a strum by strum, diagram by diagram,
breakdown of Sections A and B with the First and Second endings.

the bracketed sections on pages 1 and 2 of the pdf is a shorthand version I used, in order to
get Sections A and B onto just one page.

PS pages 1 and 2 can be performed as "Crazy G" without using Section C, which leads to the
'faster' segment that some performers use. Section C can also be played without recourse to
the 'faster' option - ie, it can be played at a uniform tempo instead of being sped up :)
this way, all 3 sections may be played at an even tempo - still impressive, indeed!

keep uke'in',
 
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