Uke Whisperer
Well-known member
Playing a song? How is that defined?
I’ve noticed on YouTube and other sites that what is considered “playing a song” seems to range from unidentifiable strumming, to singing and strumming, to picking a melody, to mixing strumming and picking with and without singing and so on…...
One of the few times I can remember it being defined was in John’s instruction sheet for his Olde Time Religion Ukulele Hymn Contest. The following from his instructions:
“May be sung or a recognizable instrumental. I emphasize "recognizable" because a chord progression is not a song (Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain illustrates this brilliantly with their mashups). I've seen videos where people say, "I'm going to play..." and then proceed to play nothing but the chord progression and the song is unrecognizable even if you know it well. When a performance includes vocals singing the melody, you have a song. When a performance includes instruments either playing the melody or recognizably suggesting the melody (as in jazz) you have a song. When all you have is a chord progression.”
What do you consider “playing a song”?
I was thinking about different abilities that could contribute to successfully “playing a song”. The list kept getting longer and longer and when I realized it would continue to do so, I just stopped. I marked those listed as far as those abilities that I do have and those I don’t. The lack of short term memory and fact that I can’t sing are surely my worst enemies. I’m going to have to figure out how to improve those and those related. My instructor feels that my singing range is about one octave and in the Key of G. I will work and see what I can do there.
Ability of picking the melody notes using musical notation? yes
Ability of picking the melody by memory? limited
Ability of strumming the chords from sheet music? yes
Ability of strumming the chords from memory? limited
Ability of “playing by ear” / “perfect pitch”? no
Ability to mix picking and strumming? limited to somewhat
Ability to sing? no
Ability to sing and accompany yourself? no
Ability of accompanying someone else singing? yes
Ability to utilize many different strumming patterns fast and slow? yes
Ability to utilize syncopation of strums and different picking techniques? yes
Ability to utilize tablatures? limited
Ability of good timing and overall rhythm? yes
Ability of fast transition? somewhat to yes
I’ve noticed on YouTube and other sites that what is considered “playing a song” seems to range from unidentifiable strumming, to singing and strumming, to picking a melody, to mixing strumming and picking with and without singing and so on…...
One of the few times I can remember it being defined was in John’s instruction sheet for his Olde Time Religion Ukulele Hymn Contest. The following from his instructions:
“May be sung or a recognizable instrumental. I emphasize "recognizable" because a chord progression is not a song (Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain illustrates this brilliantly with their mashups). I've seen videos where people say, "I'm going to play..." and then proceed to play nothing but the chord progression and the song is unrecognizable even if you know it well. When a performance includes vocals singing the melody, you have a song. When a performance includes instruments either playing the melody or recognizably suggesting the melody (as in jazz) you have a song. When all you have is a chord progression.”
What do you consider “playing a song”?
I was thinking about different abilities that could contribute to successfully “playing a song”. The list kept getting longer and longer and when I realized it would continue to do so, I just stopped. I marked those listed as far as those abilities that I do have and those I don’t. The lack of short term memory and fact that I can’t sing are surely my worst enemies. I’m going to have to figure out how to improve those and those related. My instructor feels that my singing range is about one octave and in the Key of G. I will work and see what I can do there.
Ability of picking the melody notes using musical notation? yes
Ability of picking the melody by memory? limited
Ability of strumming the chords from sheet music? yes
Ability of strumming the chords from memory? limited
Ability of “playing by ear” / “perfect pitch”? no
Ability to mix picking and strumming? limited to somewhat
Ability to sing? no
Ability to sing and accompany yourself? no
Ability of accompanying someone else singing? yes
Ability to utilize many different strumming patterns fast and slow? yes
Ability to utilize syncopation of strums and different picking techniques? yes
Ability to utilize tablatures? limited
Ability of good timing and overall rhythm? yes
Ability of fast transition? somewhat to yes