ZaBeth's Ukulele Journey

[ripock]

Yukio,
I see that you do what I do: efface that damned side marker on the 9th fret and put one on the 10th where it belongs.

 

[ailevin]

We are wrangling two granddaughters today, so no time to practice yet. However, I did find the video that describes the technique I have been using. Check out the section around 4:30 for what I identified as similar to @ripock's heavy hands technique:

 

[ZaBeth]

We are wrangling two granddaughters today, so no time to practice yet. However, I did find the video that describes the technique I have been using. Check out the section around 4:30 for what I identified as similar to @ripock's heavy hands technique:

What I'm finding interesting is that I need to be almost right on top of the frets (as in your GOOD! picture) in order to get the notes to speak clearly. Still working on it, though. I'll play around with @Yukio's video during my practice tomorrow.

I'm learning so much from you guys! Thanks!

 

[Yukio]

We are wrangling two granddaughters today, so no time to practice yet. However, I did find the video that describes the technique I have been using. Check out the section around 4:30 for what I identified as similar to @ripock's heavy hands technique:

These seem like very practical and actionable tips. Very good video.

 

[ZaBeth]

Words of wisdom from the Matt Stead Intermediate course (lesson 5):

You've got the whole of the rest of your life to perfect this stuff; take your time and don't panic.

Heh, heh, heh. It's important to remember that this is supposed to be fun -- and it's very low stakes!

Edited to add that I'm noticing that I have the same challenge with the ukulele that I do with the clarinet: flying fingers. That is, I have the habit of keeping my fingers far away from the strings when they're not pressing down. I'll have to think more consciously about that.

 

[ailevin]

Words of wisdom from the Matt Stead Intermediate course (lesson 5):

Heh, heh, heh. It's important to remember that this is supposed to be fun -- and it's very low stakes!

As you know, I am a big fan of Matt Stead, and he does a good job of keeping the fun in ukulele playing. However, his quote about the whole rest of your life, reminds of the old joke whose punchline is, At my age I don't buy green bananas.

 

[ploverwing]

That is, I have the habit of keeping my fingers far away from the strings when they're not pressing down. I'll have to think more consciously about that.

Yup. Working on that myself.

 

[ZaBeth]

My "linear learning" (that is, sequential progress) has slowed somewhat over the past week. Life: meh. I overslept and missed Matt Stead's live YouTube lesson on Ashokan Farewell, so have been working through the lesson throughout the week in small chunks. I'm enjoying the learning.

I want to ensure that I practice consistently. Perhaps I need to schedule a specific time each day?

 

[ZaBeth]

I'm stuck on Matt Stead's lesson 5 in the Intermediate Ukulele series, but not necessarily in a bad way. I'm mostly just taking my time practicing shifting from one chord to another. (Dm7, I'm looking at you!)

I also discovered difficulties yesterday, during the YouTube kanikapila, in getting from Em to F and back again. Slow practice is needed.

 

[ZaBeth]

By the way, I'm really preferring the Flight NUP310 pineapple soprano to the Honolua Mano concert. The concert just sounds quiet to me and, consequently, isn't as much fun to play. The Flight has a good, punchy voice. Not loving the strings, but won't bother changing them until they wear out.

I really wish I'd spent more time thinking about the Honolua before pulling the trigger on it.

 

[Ms Bean]

I'm stuck on Matt Stead's lesson 5 in the Intermediate Ukulele series, but not necessarily in a bad way. I'm mostly just taking my time practicing shifting from one chord to another. (Dm7, I'm looking at you!)

I also discovered difficulties yesterday, during the YouTube kanikapila, in getting from Em to F and back again. Slow practice is needed.

Most of us play Em in first position as 0432, with the G doubled on the open 4th and the 3 fret on the second string. However, you could double the E instead: 0402, for which you only need two fingers.

The proper form, preferred by many playing low G (D on baritone), is 4432, but that probably doesn't help a transition to an F chord.
How about 9777 to 10 9 8 8 and back? You paid for the whole neck, you might as well use it (Brian Tolentino credits other Hawaiian masterful performers but I've forgotten whom).

 

[ZaBeth]

I'm officially going to call myself done withIntermediate Ukulele lesson 5, even though I haven't completed it. I need to move on to the next lesson, give my brain some time to process lesson 5, and then return to it later.

I'm finding fingering my index finger on the first fret of the E string particularly tricky on the Honolua, and am wondering if the action could be taken down even just a little bit lower. I will think on this.

 

[Plonky-tonk]

I'm officially going to call myself done withIntermediate Ukulele lesson 5, even though I haven't completed it. I need to move on to the next lesson, give my brain some time to process lesson 5, and then return to it later.

I'm finding fingering my index finger on the first fret of the E string particularly tricky on the Honolua, and am wondering if the action could be taken down even just a little bit lower. I will think on this.

I’m one lesson behind you! I just started Intermediate Lesson 5.

 

[ZaBeth]

I’m one lesson behind you! I just started Intermediate Lesson 5.

Lesson 6 is a breeze for me compared to lesson 5. Let me know how you get on!

 

[Plonky-tonk]

Lesson 6 is a breeze for me compared to lesson 5. Let me know how you get on!

Finished Lesson 5 a few minutes ago. Now I need a nap! I think I’ll repeat Lesson 5 a couple times before I head to Lesson 6. My fingers need more practice.

I‘m doing the Matt Stead lessons on a high G concert. I’m also working on classical pieces from the Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele book by Jeff Peterson, using a low G tenor. (The pieces in the book have video examples on YouTube, which are enormously helpful.)

When I get frustrated or exhausted with one, I switch to the other.

Jeff Peterson’s book is really satisfying, I’m very pleased with it.

 

[ZaBeth]

I‘m doing the Matt Stead lessons on a high G concert. I’m also working on classical pieces from the Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele book by Jeff Peterson, using a low G tenor. (The pieces in the book have video examples on YouTube, which are enormously helpful.)

Ooo ... I'm considering doing the Classical Ukulele course after I've gone through more Matt Stead lessons.

 

[ploverwing]

I’m also working on classical pieces from the Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele book by Jeff Peterson, using a low G tenor.

There are a few of us here doing same (e.g. @Patty ). It's a great program IMO.

 

[ZaBeth]

Getting ready to delve into the fingerstyle course with Jeff Peterson. In preparation, I've purchased his Graded Repertoire and Practice Routine books, along with Shipway's Music Theory for Ukulele. I figure I can supplement the fingerstyle learning with Matt Stead's kanikapelas (buying Matt copious cups of coffee for his time and expertise, of course!) and get the benefit of two different teachers' styles.

Now I've just got to get over being a cheapskate and buy the course!

 

[ailevin]

Getting ready to delve into the fingerstyle course with Jeff Peterson. In preparation, I've purchased his Graded Repertoire and Practice Routine books, along with Shipway's Music Theory for Ukulele. I figure I can supplement the fingerstyle learning with Matt Stead's kanikapelas (buying Matt copious cups of coffee for his time and expertise, of course!) and get the benefit of two different teachers' styles.

Now I've just got to get over being a cheapskate and buy the course!

I bought those books last week too. It's obviously a well thought out course of study. The Peterson books strike me as a classical guitar curriculum adapted to ukulele, and it looks like a first rate curriculum. I am trying to integrate portions of the practice routines into my own practice, and the repertoire is a nice thing to have. However, I haven't signed up for the course because it doesn't seem that well aligned to the way my wife and I are studying with our current teacher. It seems a little like too many cooks. I can definitely see myself signing up at some point in the future.

Let us know how you like the course and how it fits with the way that Matt Stead teaches. I know that Stead and Peterson have been and are continuing to work together. Yet their teaching approaches seem rather different to me. BTW, of all the online courses I have seen, our current teacher seems most aligned with James Hill in terms of approach and technique.

 

[ZaBeth]

BTW, of all the online courses I have seen, our current teacher seems most aligned with James Hill in terms of approach and technique.

That reminds me that I should take a look at James Hill -- I've heard really good things about him, plus he's Canadian, isn't he?

I'm probably going to learn on my own, which is why I'm exploring online courses. If I take in-person lessons this fall, they'll be for clarinet or, perhaps, flute. This is all contingent on getting my lungs in good working order!