Live 'Ukulele

Part of this week’s Slack Key and ‘Ukulele Institue at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea was a kani ka pila (jam) with the instructors (and friends). It was open to all players who wanted to get up on stage and participate, so I went to check it out. The lineup was phenomenal and I had a great time just playing in the back and watching some of Hawai’i’s best musicians. Here are some pictures:

The Ho’opi’is sang wonderful falsetto throughout the show

From left to right (front row): Sonny Lim, Muriel Anderson, Jeff Peterson, Chino Montero, Jake Shimabukuro, Danny, Dennis Kamakahi, Bobby Inago, David Kamakahi, and the Ho’opi’is

Chino Montero and Jake Shimabukuro

David and the Ho’opi’is (Bobby Inago at left)

Here is a nice video put together to give the public a better idea about what Uncle Keoki’s music camp on the Big Island is all about. For more info and registration, click over to Konabob’s webpage.

The “mono strum” is a technique that, while used by many, has become James Hill’s signature sound. It allows the ‘ukulele player to strum all of the strings, but only to sound one (or two) note(s). How this works is: you hold the one note you want to hear and then mute the rest of the strings. Of any technique, this one probably takes the most experimenting. The reason being that every note you play will need different hand positions for muting. Keep in mind that there is no right way to mute the strings.

When you tab out a mono strum for ‘ukulele it will look like this:

A |-X-|-X-|-7-|-X-
E |-3-|-X-|-X-|-X-
C |-X-|-7-|-X-|-X-
G |-X-|-X-|-X-|-5-
>>>Ex1 Ex2 Ex3 Ex4


Start by fretting the note that you want to hear. Now you have to figure out what fingers are going to mute the strings. For Ex1 I would fret the G note with my ring finger, mute the top two strings with the pad of my thumb, and the bottom string with my 3rd (leaned over). For Ex2, again I would fret the note with my 3rd finger, mute the top string with my thumb, and the bottom two with my 3rd (leaned over). Ex3 gets my thumb on the top string, middle and index fingers on 3 and 2, and my third finger holding the E note. For Ex4, I would play the note and mute the rest of the strings with my ring finger (leaned over), using my index and middle as backup “muters”.

The ‘Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Institute at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea on the Big Island is happening from November 5th to 8th. There are a number of workshops and performances spread throughout the four-day event. Teachers include: David Kamakahi covering beginning and Hawaiian style ‘ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro with a master class, and Benny Chong teaching about chords and improvisation. Workshops are filled on a first come first serve basis. More details and registration can be found here: 2009 `Ukulele and Slack Key Institute Brochure

I am going to be attending Jake’s Saturday master class. See you there!

This year, Grammy award winning artist Keoki Kahumoku’s music and Hawaiian lifestyle camp will be happening from November 27th until December 5th. Located in Pahala, Hawai’i, instructors include Herb Ohta Jr. and Brittni Paiva teaching ‘ukulele; Keoki Kahumoku, George Kahumoku, Dennis Kamakahi, John Keawe, and Sonny Lim teaching slack key guitar; along with Konabob Stoffer (steel guitar, bass), Darci Baker (Hawaiian language), and Leilehua Yuen (lei making).

This camp has been an absolute joy every time I’ve attended. There is so much to be be learned in a week. Your head is about going to pop with information by the end. And the food is the bomb. Lodging in Pahala town is an assortment of neat old plantation houses, or if you feeling like driving a little farther to and from the camp, there is a hotel in nearby Punalu’u.

You can find more info and the registration PDF on Konabob’s site.

Here is a good exercise in bends and releases presented by our favorite guitar friend – Jimi Hendrix. All Along the Watchtower is probably my favorite Hendrix song and I finally took the time to figure the intro out. The song is in Cm with the chords going: Bb//>Cm///(rest)Bb//>Ab/// (the “>” means slide or shift smoothly to get a slide feel. Ab only uses the top three strings in this song).

Tune your ‘ukulele with a low G:

A |--------------------------------------
E |----6-8-8b10-8b10-8b10-10r8-6---------
C |-/5---------------------------7-5-5-5-
G |--------------------------------------

A |------------------------------------
E |---------------------------------/8-
C |----3-5-5b7r-5b7-7r5-3---7h9p7------
G |-/5--------------------5-------8----

“There must be some kind of way out of here….”

The break:

A |-3-3-5p3-x-|-1-1-3p1-x-|-----------------
E |-3-3-3---x-|-1-1-1---x-|-4-4-2-2-4-4-2-2-
C |-3-3-3---x-|-2-2-2---x-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-
G |-5-5-5---x-|-3-3-3---x-|-5-4-5-5-5-5-5-5-

Brittni Paiva’s fourth album is due to be released October 27th. You can pre-order it through her site’s music store: http://www.brittnipaiva.com/MUSIC_STORE.html.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Tamacun
2. Cruisin’ on 7
3. Sunday Morning
4. Acelerou
5. Hour of the Lamps
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
7. Made for Me
8. Europa
9. Fusion: West
10. Fusion: East

Brittni’s website has also been updated with a cleaner and cooler look.

dnewton2! This is the second album he has won from Live ‘Ukulele – weird. Thanks to everyone who entered, especially Daniel who has been a regular reader for quite some time now.

I’m going to be without my own computer for 3 or so weeks while our stuff is shipped to Hawai’i, so it’s probably going to be kind of slow here.

~Hippie Guy

A copy of Jake’s newest album is up for grabs! Annon features two beautiful songs – “Annon” written for the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i, and “Ichigoichie”. Check out my review for more info.

To win: just leave a comment on this post. I will be collecting entries until September 30th at midnight. Contest rules.

If you feel like it, give me some input about the site, become a fan on Facebook, or Stumbleupon any pages you like on Live ‘Ukulele.

Good luck,

~Hippie Guy

The file surface is the cloudy end

While everybody else seems to think of this as one of the crazier sides of playing the ‘ukulele, we of course know that it is very important. I’m talking about fingernail care.

My favorite nail files up to this point had been the fat foam centered emery boards decorated with hula dancers, flowers, etc. My main qualm with the foam emery boards is that the sandpaper covering them slowly chips and falls off. A few months ago one of my students who just got back from Hawai’i brought me a better file.

95 and Sunny makes glass nail files. The fine grit is ground into the glass and supposedly never wears out (in my experience it certainly seems true). Even though the grit is tiny, you still remove quite a bit of nail in a short amount of time.  The one I received was part of the “Hawaiian Collection” with a palm tree painted on it. Kudos to 95 and Sunny.

Duane! I’ll contact you via email for a mailing address.

Thank you to everybody who entered. Look for a chance to win Jake’s new EP “Annon” in the near future.

~Hippie Guy

Note: Enter to win a copy of Annon here: Annon Giveaway.

Jake Shimabukuro has released a new two-song EP entitled Annon. I think the title track is one of Jake’s most beautiful pieces yet. Composed for the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i, the song features a very Japanese sound with plenty of Jake’s “koto” dissonance. The second song “Ichigoichie” goes for the full band effect – piano, guitar, strings, etc.

From the press release:

Shinran Shonin?s 750th Memorial Service will take place at Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Nishi Hongwanji from April 2011 to January 2012. Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii will observe Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial Service in September 2009 in conjunction with its 120th Anniversary of the Mission with 35 Hongwanji temples. To mark the occasion, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii asked Jake Shimabukuro to compose the song Annon, which means May Peace and Tranquility prevail throughout the world. This phrase found in the letter written by Shinran Shonin, who lived during social turmoil of medieval Japan, reveals the path which Nembutsu followers should follow. It was Shinran Shonin’s wish to let the Buddha’s teaching spread and peace and tranquility prevail throughout the world. Hence, to echo his wish, the song, Annon was produced, which will heal people all over the world with sounds of the ukulele.

The other tune on this mini-EP is “Ichigoichie” (Itchy-go Itchy-ei) which means “once in a lifetime” and is Jake’s favorite Japanese word.

The EP can be bought through Jake’s site, Amazon, or itunes.