Participate in the December 2024 Member Challenge – WIN $3,100 Kanile’a

[Andrew]

@chantmt – Beautifully played, Michael, and an excellent first post! I do have one tip for you: try to keep your finger pressure held down for the full duration of the notes. Sometimes I hear you play a note and lift up right away to move to the next, which can make it sound slightly staccato.

For example, listen to your performance from 37 to 41 seconds. That phrase has a beautiful sustain because each note is held for its entire duration. Now compare that to the double stop phrase in the next 10 seconds and you’ll notice those notes don’t ring into each other as seamlessly.

For the double stops, try not to lift your fingers entirely as you move between notes. Instead, aim to keep your index finger held down throughout while moving up and down the neck. That’ll help increase sustain.

Here’s a video where I demonstrate the difference. The first time, I lift my fingers between notes, and the second time, I sustain them. You’ll hear how much smoother the second approach sounds.

@johanna2509 – Beautifully played Johanna! How do the melody notes on the A string sound in real life? I can hear that some of them, mostly in the chorus, are low in the mix. If that’s the same in real life, I’d try to pluck those louder to bring them to the forefront. If it’s not, try positioning the mic closer to the sound hole. Keep experimenting with EQ/compression, it’s def a balancing act until you get the right settings dialed in.

@brettboy – Excellent playing as always, Brett! I really like the rhythm changes you added, they bring a nice touch of creativity! 😊

@coffeemug – Lovely performance, Mary! My only suggestion would be to focus on maintaining steady timing throughout. Try practicing one section at a time; once you’ve perfected it, move on to the next, then go back and practice combining both sections together. Keep up the great work!

@joe150 – That was awesome Joe! Great job on the melody, rhythm, and timing! Fantastic work this month 👏

@abster – Bravo! Such a beautiful solo and duet! Y’all are so talented! I loved it ❤️

@smlarson – Hi Steven, your video is set to private, can you make it public? Here’s instructions on how to do that.

@ukulelee – Beautiful performance Leone! I think it just might be my favorite of yours to date! For that tap, try just hitting the strings, as softly as possible. Or, you can omit it. That would be fine too.

@rickgrant2025 – Fantastic playing Rick! Couple suggestions. For bar 7, which is all open strings, watch out for the rhythm there. Two of those notes are quarter notes. And for the Chorus, I would recommend playing along with Steven in the tab player. Try looping 4 bars at a time. Work on matching his playing and keeping the timing steady. Once you’ve perfected it, move on to the next 4, then go back and practice combining both sections together. You’ve mostly got it down, this tip will help smooth it out more 🙂

[Andrew]

@smlarson – Thank you for making it public! You played it beautifully! The only mistake I noticed is in measure 11, you played one melody note differently than written. I’d also recommend using the exact fingering Matt suggests for that measure; it’ll make it easier to play and provide the best sustain. Here’s the time stamp where that part of the lesson begins. 😊

[The_Bumble_Bard]

Really, really amazing work by all, as always! Just wanted to comment on a few. 😊

From earlier:

@leb397: Wow @the_bumble_bard thank you for the encouragement and positive vibes !
So fun to listen to the entries and let this community know how great they are. After being a member for five years (pretty sure) we’ve gotten to know so many and see improvement. You have really expanded your range. I like your free-style. I don’t feel as comfortable but trying … hence my bonus track 😁
Have an amazing holiday music penpal 🎄🎼🎼🎁

Thank you so, so much, friend! 🥰 What you say is so true. Even in the time I’ve been here, I’ve seen people here go from amazing players, to impossibly more amazing players! 😉😂 Thank you, I love to play music that way, freely and (I guess the way to say it is) with curiosity, and I love that you’re doing that, too! I think you did really amazingly with that. I hope you have lovely holidays as well, ukulele pen pal! 😉😂😅🎄🎀❤️💚❄️

Let’s see if I can remember the rest in order:

@katazumiri, truly magical! You always take songs to another level. It’s super impressive that you kept that body percussion going that whole time perfectly. 😂 Sounded so good, all together! 😊💕

To @grannieannie from earlier, thank you so much! To me playing uke is all about having fun, so I never want to lose that feeling. I still haven’t really at all, if anything it gets much more fun with time. 😊 I didn’t see your entry, I hope you get one in! 😅😊

@dianna, really lovely job with that one, Steven’s arrangements are so tricky! I think I only ever learned Lacrimosa and the one from Spirited Away he did, but those were soooooooon flippin’ difficult. 😂 I kind of want to revisit those now though. Anyway, really beautifully played and I love your festive video! That elf is in quite a Grecian pose there… 😅😂😳🎄🎀❤️

@brettboy, your performances are always so funny with your level of enthusiasm and of course perfectly played! Also what was that critter at the end, a furby? Those things frighten me… 😂

@johanna2509, so so beautiful! You always have such an elegant sound to your playing, bring out the beauty of songs even more. I think the sound quality seemed really good but then that is my greatest struggle in this world so I’m not one to talk. 😂 But very beautiful! 😊💕

Everyone did amazingly well, agreed with everyone who said this community is the most special uke community, being full of such kind, incredibly talented, supportive people. Rock Class 101 is my comfort uke community. 😂 It’s because @Andrew sets the example and creates a place where everyone can learn, grow, and share and know they’ll be supported by everyone else here. It makes me a bit emotional because I know I wouldn’t be where I am on my uke journey without all the lovely people here – students and teachers alike. So thank you so much and Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! 😊💕❤️💚🎀🎄❄️🍪🥓

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by The_Bumble_Bard.

[johanna2509]

@Andrew Thank you so much! Here is the original recording with my smartphone and I think the melody notes are more audible in that version actually. 😅
In my entry I used the pick up of the ukulele and it feels like the high notes get picked up differently than the low notes. I can adjust tone and volume on the uke itself, but I can’t hear any difference when turning the tone setting completely up or down. That’s a bit strange. I’ll keep experimenting with EQ and compression though!

@The_Bumble_Bard Thank you! 😊💕 Now that I’ve had a closer listen to the smartphone version, I think it actually sounds a bit better. 😅 I like the audio effects on the pick up version a lot though, so I’ll try to experiment more in the future. 😊
When listening to your entry, I was smiling constantly because of that (emotional support?) reindeer penguin 😊😅 (I love plushies so much, no matter how much older I get, haha 😂). I was sick at the time, lying in bed, and it just brightened up my day! And the clawhammer version was great too, you always come up with so much creativity. ❤️

[darktoto]

[leb397]

@grannieannie that’s a great story about your sister having a banjo ukulele that you had limited access too.😊 reminds of my older sisters record collection and it was usually “hands off” 😁
I love the banjo and folk music in general so it’s the closest I’ll get to creating that sound.
Once again @the_bumble_bard Merry Christmas friend. Look forward to more sharing in 2025!

Great entries for FELIZ NAVIDAD. so impressed. It really was a tough one to tackle… maybe I’ll try it sometime. @marianne sold me on Oh Come All Ye, early on so stuck with that.
Good luck everyone 🎄👍🎼🕎

[alanaw]

Happy Holidays!

Here is my attempt at O Come All Ye Faithful.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by alanaw.

[mmoynihan]

Come All Ye Faithful

RC101 December submission

I am a premium member

I donated to the ukes for kids charity. Great cause! Happy Holidays to all!

[anikali]

I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER

Season’s Greetings. I made an attempt at Hanukkah O Hanukkah, had a few hiccups with transitions since I didn’t have the entire song memorized, lost my place here and there, but found my way to the finish. Cheers to smoother transitions in the New Year!

[laurakarr12]

I am a Premium Member
O Come, All Ye Faithful

[lynnzo]

I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER.

Happy Holidays Everyone.
This is my submission of Feliz Navidad.
It’s probably above my play level but I thought it looked like a fun song to play so I gave it a whirl.

[Andrew]

@The_Bumble_Bard – Merry Christmas Rachael!

@johanna2509 – I can def hear the diff. Maybe it’s the pickup? If you have another uke w/ a diff pickup, that would be a good A/B test to run to see how it compares with those notes.

@darktoto – Beautifully played, well done Thomas!

@alanaw – Great job, Alana! A few of the single notes and double stops sound a bit strong in the mix, try giving them a gentler pluck for a softer touch. I shared some tips on this in this video a while back for another member working on this song. Don’t worry about the left-hand tips in the video, just focus on the plucking advice. 😊

@mmoynihan – Beautifully played Matt! Great feel and nice pacing. TY so much for the donation! When you get a chance, please email me the amount so I can update our tally.

@anikali – Loved the harmonics at the beginning, the rhythm/strumming changes you threw in, and the mashup at the end. Very creative and beautifully performed Joan!

@laurakarr12 – Very beautifully played, Laura! I only have one suggestion. For the double stops, try strumming through just a touch faster so they don’t sound as arpeggiated.

@lynnzo – Great job Lynn! You played it wonderfully! Love seeing y’all push beyond your comfort zone by trying challenging pieces. That’s a great way to grow as musicians and players. Keep up the great work!

[Andrew]

Friendly Reminder – The deadline for receiving feedback and an entry into the giveaway is tonight at 11:59 PM ET (check your local time zone).

[bibilele]

I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER

Hi everyone,
Here is my video of Feliz Navidad. Playing it for the biggest part of the month really brought me into Christmas mood. 🎅 Thanks for the beautiful arrangement!
Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year! 🎉

I donated 25 $ to the UKC. I hope they will receive a bunch of joy. 🎸

[Andrew]

@bibilele – Beautifully played, Bianca! And I loved your outfit and backdrop 🙂

TY so much for the donation! ❤️

[Author]

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