Participate in the June 2020 Member Challenge – LAST CHANCE TO WIN Kanile’a!

[AJ]

Here is everyone on Page 12

morrieuke1 –

This sounds great! Only thing i think would be to watch the dynamics in the first couple of sections. Play with a softer touch and attack, and for the A minor chords at the end of the progression before it repeats, play those with your thumb so it has a very soft attack as well. Those sections always felt very emotional and a bit dark to me, so having that softer touch on the notes can really get that point across so that way when the chorus part kicks in, it’s all bright with sharper dynamics, giving a lot more life to that par. I think you killed it though! Great tone and finger style technique!!

simonalexander –

Great Job!! Obviously this arrangement is more advanced and higher in tempo. I would try to slow it down a little bit and work on all those transitions from chord to chord. It jumped around a lot, and even for me, when I’m playing something like this i tend to miss notes, hit the wrong fret, or hit the right fret but I don’t hit it accurately so the note buzzes. Little things like that. So try to slow it down a bit, get those transitions, and keep focus on that metronome! It’s easy to rush something like this. I know because I do the same thing! Once it’s all locked in with the drums and everything sounds clean and accurate, this arrangement sounds so great. Great Job though! You are basically there already so this should be super quick for you

verity2003 –

Great Job! All i really would say is watch out for the transitions between the melody notes. Sounds like the notes cut off slightly too quick making it sound a bit choppy. You want that smoother transition from note to note that results in a more fluid sounding melody.

b_ukes_101 –

Sounds awesome!! I would recommend playing all the arpeggiated chords with thumb, index, and middle fingers instead of just the thumb. Use the thumb for the rolled strums but using the other fingers for the rest of the arpeggios can smoothen out the sound of it. May be kind’ve a style preference, but that’s how i would go about it. Great job though. Dynamics were spot on!!

mistaken –

Great Job!! All i can say is watch your picking hand. When you pluck the strings, try not to pick up your fingers so high off the string. Keep them very close to the string after you pluck it. The Further your fingers go from the string, the further and quicker you have to get back to it which can cause it to sound a bit choppy. That kind of finger control can make things sound smoother, fluent, and you end up having more dynamic control. It’s natural to pick them up so far. I had to train myself with this same thing too. You sound awesome though!!

wongbrown –

Awesome job!! I would say be aware of tempo! at 2:20 you speed up a good bit from the first half, so keeping that the same as the first will sound more consistent

amandali –

fantastic! I think you nailed it. Just work on the transitions from those chords that climb up the next. They are a little weird at first, but you’ll get that super quick. Great job!

mljordan3 –

Sounds great!! your tempo and feel throughout were awesome. A couple of tiny spots where there were some hesitation between transitioning, so just work on that. Once you have everything fluent then you’ll have this piece down completely!

rufio0 –

great job!! I will say just work on the pull-offs in the melody they are tad bit rushed, so holding it out a tiny bit longer will be more rhythmically accurate and some smoother. Everything else sounds just fine

givingtree89 –

Very nice!! I think you nailed it. Just be careful with some of those buzzy notes higher up the neck towards the end. that chord that climbs up the next before the second half, the very last one at 1:09 im not hearing all the notes. Just the highest and lowest one. So just work on that barre chord and make sure each note can be heard. Thats it!

willymac –

Great Job!! I think you nailed it. finger picking technique looks good and natural, and flows nice. Not much else to say but keep killin it! \m/

[AJ]

Here is everyone on Page 14

bklynsoul –

Great Job! I think you nailed it. I would start working on increasing the tempo gradually until you reach the main tempo. Awesome Job!

cimarronsailor –
Sounds great! Good job on avoiding lots of fret buzz. I can’t see your picking hand, so next time make sure you get that hand in the frame. Sounds awesome!!

emiliano –

killer job!! Very clean, smooth, and consistent sounding. I enjoyed watching you play it too. Looks like you were having fun. That’s awesome!!

ukukelley1 –

Sounds Great!! I would utilize your ring and middle fingers on the picking hand more for the melodies instead of playing it all with the index. When you switch strings and do it all with the index finger, it can actually make it a bit harder. I usually have my thumb on the 4th, index on the 3rd, middle on the 2nd, and ring on the first. Obviously there re exceptions here and there, but that will work for a lot of things and make the piece flow a lot smoother.

rustypal –

Very nice!! Everything sounds very clear and even. I would say just get that higher rendition of the verse a little cleaner, but other than that I think it sounds great!

jinajupiter –

this is awesome!! Love the recording and the different instruments too. Very cool. For the arpeggios on the ukulele, try using a different fingers to make the arpeggios sound a bit smoother. I usually do thumb on the 4th, index on the 3rd, middle on the 2nd, and ring on the first string. That’s a common method and it can be done other ways of coarse, but that works well for me so definitely give it a shot. I really love this video!!

maryjanew –

not horrible at all!! Everything sounds great, just keep playing it and practicing it so you can work with those transitions and other things like that. Do it slowly and take your time. You sound great though so keep rockin it!

kirpuff –

very nice!! Just work on the timing a little bit and get those changes and everything locked into the groove. There’s a tendency to rush when playing with a backing track or a drum groove. I know because i do the same thing. haha! So that would be the main thing i would work on. Great job though!!

[AJ]

here is everyone on page 13

udreyrozowykwiatlucie –

awesome!! This arrangement can be a bit tough at first, so one thing I would try is to use your first, middle, and ring fingers on the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st string, and keep your thumb on the 4th string. Utilizing different fingers for each string can very quickly smoothen out everything and even help you increase the tempo! It can feel a bit weird at first, but stick with it and you’ll see what i mean! It was unnatural for me at first, but now it’s second nature and it helps with so many things. You sound great though! Your notes very strong and clear which is also super important. Great Job!

lisa-k –

Fantastic!! Great feel and tempo throughout the whole piece. Just watch out for those buzzy notes! Make sure sure your finger is properly on the string with enough pressure. That’s really it. I would also adjust your picking hand a bit so that your fingers are closer to the strings so you can minimize the extra movement. great job though!


santai –

Sounds awesome!! Main thing is make sure the lower strings sounds clear and strong. All the other strings are fine, it’s mainly the low notes on the 3rd string that sound a bit choked. Be careful for buzzy notes on the higher frets for that mid section. I struggle with that too! So just aware of these couple of things. Everything else sounds great!

karenj –

Great job!! I would utilize your middle finger more for the first string notes on the melody for the fingerpicking in the verse sections. It can really clean up the sound and make it sound smoother since hat finger isn’t jumping back and froth from string to string

jkulele –

Very nice!! Try slowing it down the first section a bit. I think you have that part down so slowing it down will sound more like the song. Just keep working on the rest slowly accurately like you already are and you’ll be super fluent in this arrangement in no time!!


ronnieg –

Great Job!! Only Thing is be careful with how hard you pluck the strings. At a few parts it sounds like you were pulling the string a little too much which makes the attack of the note very sharp. So just watch out for that. You sounded great though!!

gardn_gnome –

Awesome job! Keep practicing it like you are. Slow and steady. That’s a great way to make sure you’re not making mistakes that can turn into bad habits. Watch your picking hand and make sure your fingers stay close to the strings after you pluck. I also wouldn’t anchor your fingers on the end of the body. Keeping your fingers near the strings will make everything so much easier once you speed it up. They will always be right where you need them to be instead of having to do all extra movements to bring them back so you can pluck them

sticks366 –

sounds great! Keep rockin’!

timolnz –

Great Job!! Try slowing it down a bit and play with a softer dynamic for the verse sections. When the strumming chorus comes in, you can use a slightly louder dynamic. For this song, The soft dynamic for the verses sounds so great!!

Joannetala –

Awesome Job! just watch out for some at that fret buzz on the higher frets. Other than that I think you sound great!

iyers408 –

Great Job!! I would say make sure the melody notes right out without any buzz here and there. Some of the notes would get cut off slightly to early but that’s normal. I still have the problem a lot too. Just comes with a lot of practice!!

[AJ]

riley_ukulele –

Forgot to add yours to the original post, so my bad!!
This sounds great! I think the only parts to work with are those climbing chords at 0:57 as well as the higher octave of the melody. Other than that i think you sounded awesome!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by AJ.

[Andrew]

We did it! We crushed the Spring Challenges!

321 members participated in our last 3 challenges and I have been blown away by everyone’s performances! Thanks to each and everyone of you who participated.

We are going live at 12 PM EST (check your local time zone) on July 4th to announce the winner of the $1,370 Pineapple Kanile’a Ukulele. The live stream link is below:

—-

Here is everyone who participated this month. Please let me know if there are any discrepancies.

rebeca
lisadmh
lisadmh
planetfink
planetfink
turkgoose
turkgoose
tim0721
tim0721
mark1256
mark1256
peiching
tric_o_tronic
tric_o_tronic
janett75
janett75
ccwuke
ccwuke
barbecueblack
barbecueblack
nickyg
nickyg
johanna2509
johanna2509
cncamacho
cncamacho
shmu88
shmu88
funtime2018
funtime2018
lhamilton
lhamilton
flaaaaaame
flaaaaaame
brettboy
brettboy
nathalie
nathalie
debb1985
debb1985
lyndallk
lyndallk
surrealflea
surrealflea
surfnrz
surfnrz
cyukug
cyukug
schaap123
schaap123
yooki-h
yooki-h
kkaszuba
kkaszuba
lisamcc
lisamcc
kellyblackburn
kellyblackburn
elealong12
andrewvh
andrewvh
rockmyuke
rockmyuke
holly1
holly1
nthibode
nthibode
marianne
rickeymike
rickeymike
katazumiri
laurasil
robinboyd
robinboyd
eszti5mail
eszti5mail
coffeemug
coffeemug
brightwing
kaidunc
kaidunc
stianukulele
stianukulele
smudge
smudge
sir_anzalot
sir_anzalot
morrieuke1
morrieuke1
simonalexander
simonalexander
verity2003
verity2003
b_ukes_101
b_ukes_101
miztaken
miztaken
riley_ukulele
riley_ukulele
wongbrown
wongbrown
amandali
amandali
mljordan3
mljordan3
rufio0
rufio0
givingtree89
givingtree89
willymac
willymac
bklynsoul
bklynsoul
cimarronsailor
cimarronsailor
emiliano
emiliano
ukukelley1
ukukelley1
rustypal
rustypal
jinajupiter
maryjanew
maryjanew
kirpuff
kirpuff
audreyrozowykwiatlucie
audreyrozowykwiatlucie
lisa-k
lisa-k
santai
santai
karenj
karenj
jkulele
jkulele
ronnieg
ronnieg
gardn_gnome
gardn_gnome
sticks366
sticks366
timolnz
timolnz
joannetala
joannetala
iyers408
iyers408

[jinajupiter]

Thanks for the feedback AJ 🙂
About the list, I had two submissions, not one,
Bodysurfing in cha cha
and Stairway with recorder.
Thanks

[b_ukes_101]

Thank you, AJ! I was rewatching the video and thought the same thing so I jumped right over to the fingerpicking course. Looks like you got me Andrew. Fingers crossed!

[morrieuke1]

Thanks for the feedback, AJ!! Happy 4th of July, and good luck everyone!!

[humerosa]

@jinajupiter Thank you for your reply =) Risa sounds nice, especially for a Trekkie 😉

One more possible uke on the list…

[miztaken]

Thanks for the feedback @AJ (you are way too kind).
I had been studying YOUR hands and at least managed to get rid of my usual extravagant and awkward hand flourishes… now to work on those picking flourishes… one more step forward.

BTW… AWESOME arrangement (and even my “other” music teacher thought it was a great arrangement).

[bklynsoul]

@AJ TY for feedback. It will take a while to get to tempo but I’ll keep working at it and smoothing out the rough spots. Cheers.

[kirpuff]

Thanks for the feedback, AJ!

Yes as soon as I hit record, I couldn’t stop rushing to save my life! I’ve been practicing with the track this week, hoping to get a better take just so I have it haha!

[marygrace]

Fun Andrew – Thank You! Congratulations Lolitto!

[lisotta]

I am thrilled!!! Thank you for these challenges, I am learning so much from participating and from rockclass101. Winning this pineapple uke is a dream come true! Please let me know what steps I need to take to have it shipped to me. Thank you! Thank you!

[lisadmh]

Congratulations lisotta!

[Author]

Posts