Tone and Responsibility. No, I’m not revealing a hitherto unknown Jane Austen novel, unfortunately. Rather, I'm broaching a topic I haven’t seen before on this site, how a player’s touch figures in the whole ukulele game. We have endless discussions of the virtues or infelicities of various strings, ukulele sizes, makes and makers but when do we discuss the most important aspect of it all, the magic touch?
I have a close friend, a very successful songwriter, whose name shall remain undisclosed because he cherishes his privacy, who can pick up any guitar or ukulele and pluck its strings in such a way that the most beautiful tones emerge, even if he is playing only a single note or just a simple melodic phrase. It doesn’t matter whether the instrument is expensive or inexpensive, he brings out beautiful sounds that other players can’t produce. He has the magic touch, and I have discovered his secret and wish to pass it on to members of the Ukulele Underground.
His secret in its profundity is rather simple as are most profound secrets:
He listens very carefully.
He touches the strings very gently at first and listens to their sounds when the sounds are almost inaudible. His touch is light at first. Gradually he increases his pressure and begins pulling the sound from the strings. He stops when he has what he wants. It’s almost as though he were saying that fools rush in where angels fear to tread. He listens carefully and you hear the results.
So, a word to the wise: Before you place the responsibility for the sound on the instrument, the maker, the material or the strings, carefully weigh what you bring to the feast. Can you refine your contribution?
I have a close friend, a very successful songwriter, whose name shall remain undisclosed because he cherishes his privacy, who can pick up any guitar or ukulele and pluck its strings in such a way that the most beautiful tones emerge, even if he is playing only a single note or just a simple melodic phrase. It doesn’t matter whether the instrument is expensive or inexpensive, he brings out beautiful sounds that other players can’t produce. He has the magic touch, and I have discovered his secret and wish to pass it on to members of the Ukulele Underground.
His secret in its profundity is rather simple as are most profound secrets:
He listens very carefully.
He touches the strings very gently at first and listens to their sounds when the sounds are almost inaudible. His touch is light at first. Gradually he increases his pressure and begins pulling the sound from the strings. He stops when he has what he wants. It’s almost as though he were saying that fools rush in where angels fear to tread. He listens carefully and you hear the results.
So, a word to the wise: Before you place the responsibility for the sound on the instrument, the maker, the material or the strings, carefully weigh what you bring to the feast. Can you refine your contribution?
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