Uncle Rod Higuchi
Well-known member
I just put this together as a FREE giveaway. It's a FREE Songbook with a little basic instruction. Unfortunately it exceeds the limits for posting. If you want a copy (about 6 printed sheets), check out Posts # 5, 7, 9, and 27 for download links and more info. I also explain how to use the Transposing Chart in another Post, page 3, #28. You'll find this link there: http://www.4shared.com/file/126325725/6ef2d760/Uncle_Rod's_Lament.html
NOTE: After clicking the link and getting to my "4shared.com" page, click on my email address next to my picture to access all my shared files including the FREE Song/Instruction Book, my MP3s, and some individual, chorded-song files. Also NOTE that you may need to readjust the margins of the chorded-song sheets to spread out the lyrics so that the chords settle over the proper word or syllable.
I believe beginners need a strategy to divide and conquer the skills needed to learn to play the ukulele. (see last page of Booklet)
I recommend that beginners 'prepare themselves' to play the uke by focusing FIRST on learning chords and practicing chord changes to a uniform rhythm. After all, playing the uke, to accompany singing, is really just a matter of playing the chords of a song in the proper sequence without interrupting your strumming (by looking up unfamiliar chords or looking at your chord-forming fingers).
The "divide and conquer strategy" may seem a bit more tedious at first, since most of us are impatient to start playing songs even before we know how to make musical sounds with the ukulele. It's like trying to play golf without first learning how to use the various clubs to hit the ball. It makes sense to me to spend a day at the practice range to get the feel of a new set of golf clubs BEFORE going out the NEXT day and using those clubs to actually play a game. So my suggestion is this: Learn to make 'musical sounds' (chords) with your ukulele FIRST (and practice making smooth chord changes as you strum each chord 4 times, then 3, then 2), then use your ukulele to play 'songs' (made up of those sounds).
If beginners will learn to create and master a few Practice Sheets, like the example on page 3 for "Blowin in the Wind", BEFORE they actually try to play the song, I believe they'd make a lot more progress and more quickly as well.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. It's FREE, so please feel free to print it out and pass it along.
8/19/09 - Mahalo Everyone. The response has been overwhelming with over 150 downloads to date.
If you want to see anything else added to the FREE Booklet (other than chords, since I don't have a program to do that, and there are other very good threads - see 'pocket chord chart' under Tabs and Chords) please let me know and I will try to incorporate them into the booklet, or do another one.
NOTE: After clicking the link and getting to my "4shared.com" page, click on my email address next to my picture to access all my shared files including the FREE Song/Instruction Book, my MP3s, and some individual, chorded-song files. Also NOTE that you may need to readjust the margins of the chorded-song sheets to spread out the lyrics so that the chords settle over the proper word or syllable.
I believe beginners need a strategy to divide and conquer the skills needed to learn to play the ukulele. (see last page of Booklet)
I recommend that beginners 'prepare themselves' to play the uke by focusing FIRST on learning chords and practicing chord changes to a uniform rhythm. After all, playing the uke, to accompany singing, is really just a matter of playing the chords of a song in the proper sequence without interrupting your strumming (by looking up unfamiliar chords or looking at your chord-forming fingers).
The "divide and conquer strategy" may seem a bit more tedious at first, since most of us are impatient to start playing songs even before we know how to make musical sounds with the ukulele. It's like trying to play golf without first learning how to use the various clubs to hit the ball. It makes sense to me to spend a day at the practice range to get the feel of a new set of golf clubs BEFORE going out the NEXT day and using those clubs to actually play a game. So my suggestion is this: Learn to make 'musical sounds' (chords) with your ukulele FIRST (and practice making smooth chord changes as you strum each chord 4 times, then 3, then 2), then use your ukulele to play 'songs' (made up of those sounds).
If beginners will learn to create and master a few Practice Sheets, like the example on page 3 for "Blowin in the Wind", BEFORE they actually try to play the song, I believe they'd make a lot more progress and more quickly as well.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. It's FREE, so please feel free to print it out and pass it along.
8/19/09 - Mahalo Everyone. The response has been overwhelming with over 150 downloads to date.
If you want to see anything else added to the FREE Booklet (other than chords, since I don't have a program to do that, and there are other very good threads - see 'pocket chord chart' under Tabs and Chords) please let me know and I will try to incorporate them into the booklet, or do another one.
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