This video was extremely helpful as I have been learning to play “Aloha Hawai’i” from your Step by Step: Single String ebook. I have listened to many versions of this song repeatedly on YouTube to learn the phrasing, timing, and pronunciation of the Hawaiian words. But watching you perform your tab version in the same key has taken it one step further for me. Thanks again.
Joan BibbensMay 18, 2022
I’m enjoying the challenge of playing Hawai’i Aloha by ear. I am also working on playing it on each of the four strings (in the keys of C, F, A and D). Using the 3 Finger Windows really helps. Thank you. This is a great lesson.
Brad BordessaMay 18, 2022
Glad to hear you’re trying it by ear, Joan!
Mark TroyJul 8, 2022
This was challenging, but very rewarding as the pieces fell together. I hope you have more like this coming up because I feel that it is somewhat liberating to not rely on the tabs. Also, the side bar about learning by ear was fun and enlightening. I got “Saints Go Marching In” and now I’m trying other tunes. And I got 26 on the tone quiz.
Brad BordessaJul 8, 2022
Glad to hear it, Mark! There is only one more single string song in the course, but you can (and should!) learn everything else by ear too. There’s no reason you can’t figure the rest of the songs out on a single string by ear before learning it the “right way” that the lesson presents.
Traditional tunes are the best place to start playing by ear. “Saints Go Marching In” is a great choice!
Peck CarolineJan 15, 2023
I don’t know if one of your objectives in using this song was that we would all fall in love with Hawaii and move there but if it was, then it worked. What a beautiful song!The lyrics are amazing and the versions you gave us were brilliant. I am loving your course and always look forward to the next lesson. You have simplified so much for me and made playing so much easier. Thank you. I consider myself an advanced player but from the first lesson I have learned something new and applicable. Amazing. Good job Brad.
Brad BordessaJan 16, 2023
Awesome to hear that as an advanced player you find the earlier lessons useful! That is exactly what I strive for. Thank you so much.
SuzymaskaMar 4, 2023
Brad, thanks so much for inspiring me to jump in and learn to play by ear! I had resisted this for a long time, and I’m really learning the fretboard better by doing this. I’m starting to make more theory connections, and I’m happy I’m working toward to playing songs without sheet music. Thanks!!
Brad BordessaMar 4, 2023
You’re welcome! I love hearing that my material has helped someone improve their understanding of music via ear. That’s one of the biggest breakthroughs to make.
Susan MurryAug 7, 2023
Yikes was my first thought to playing this by ear.
Once getting over my fear I needed to learn the Hawaiian words.
It became easier by singing the words and breaking it into “chunks”.
After a few days and a lot of singing while mowing the lawns, it
was easy.
As a piano player I find myself first thinking of the piano keys first
followed by the uke strings.
After a few weeks my mind now hears the Uke strings first.
Thank you Brad for this exercise.
It got me out of my comfort zone of the piano into a new comfort
zone of the ukulele.
Brad BordessaAug 7, 2023
So happy to hear it, Susan! I learn Hawaiian songs by repetition of chucks and have certainly worked on some while mowing. :-)
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This video was extremely helpful as I have been learning to play “Aloha Hawai’i” from your Step by Step: Single String ebook. I have listened to many versions of this song repeatedly on YouTube to learn the phrasing, timing, and pronunciation of the Hawaiian words. But watching you perform your tab version in the same key has taken it one step further for me. Thanks again.
I’m enjoying the challenge of playing Hawai’i Aloha by ear. I am also working on playing it on each of the four strings (in the keys of C, F, A and D). Using the 3 Finger Windows really helps. Thank you. This is a great lesson.
Glad to hear you’re trying it by ear, Joan!
This was challenging, but very rewarding as the pieces fell together. I hope you have more like this coming up because I feel that it is somewhat liberating to not rely on the tabs. Also, the side bar about learning by ear was fun and enlightening. I got “Saints Go Marching In” and now I’m trying other tunes. And I got 26 on the tone quiz.
Glad to hear it, Mark! There is only one more single string song in the course, but you can (and should!) learn everything else by ear too. There’s no reason you can’t figure the rest of the songs out on a single string by ear before learning it the “right way” that the lesson presents.
If you want a few more single string songs to play (TABs), check out my ebook about the subject: https://liveukulele.com/store/step-by-step-picking/.
Traditional tunes are the best place to start playing by ear. “Saints Go Marching In” is a great choice!
I don’t know if one of your objectives in using this song was that we would all fall in love with Hawaii and move there but if it was, then it worked. What a beautiful song!The lyrics are amazing and the versions you gave us were brilliant. I am loving your course and always look forward to the next lesson. You have simplified so much for me and made playing so much easier. Thank you. I consider myself an advanced player but from the first lesson I have learned something new and applicable. Amazing. Good job Brad.
Awesome to hear that as an advanced player you find the earlier lessons useful! That is exactly what I strive for. Thank you so much.
Brad, thanks so much for inspiring me to jump in and learn to play by ear! I had resisted this for a long time, and I’m really learning the fretboard better by doing this. I’m starting to make more theory connections, and I’m happy I’m working toward to playing songs without sheet music. Thanks!!
You’re welcome! I love hearing that my material has helped someone improve their understanding of music via ear. That’s one of the biggest breakthroughs to make.
Yikes was my first thought to playing this by ear.
Once getting over my fear I needed to learn the Hawaiian words.
It became easier by singing the words and breaking it into “chunks”.
After a few days and a lot of singing while mowing the lawns, it
was easy.
As a piano player I find myself first thinking of the piano keys first
followed by the uke strings.
After a few weeks my mind now hears the Uke strings first.
Thank you Brad for this exercise.
It got me out of my comfort zone of the piano into a new comfort
zone of the ukulele.
So happy to hear it, Susan! I learn Hawaiian songs by repetition of chucks and have certainly worked on some while mowing. :-)