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Great tips, awesomestrings! I’d like to add that the pinky is generally our weakest finger, so you would want to work on developing strength in it. In our second lightning round video, I highlighted a great exercise for doing just that. I’ll link the video below (starting at that question). You can go a step further with that exercise and incorporate hammer-ons and pull-offs.
In regards to that bar, make sure that you have proper left hand form, which is highlighted as form 3 (barre chords). And last but not least, if you need to review the fundamentals of hammer-ons and pull-offs, check out this lesson.
Give these a shot and let us know how it goes. If you still have issues, feel free to post a video and I’d be happy to further help.
Hi Kate, I’d encourage you to speak with a doctor or PT. PT has been very helpful with my repetitive strain and nerve issues.
Welcome! Let me know if you need any help on the challenge tune. Looking forward to watching your performance! 🙂
Okay, so I totally recognized that uke by the sound of the tap on the body. Stephen bought that same uke from Uke Republic and I got to play it. It’s an awesome sounding uke!
ukulelelady, again, I am super impressed with your performance! It really is incredible to see where you are at this early in your playing. You’ve got a bright future 🙂
So I was curious on a couple of things. First, can you tell us what your practice schedule was like for this tune? Also, how did you decide on a two finger approach for picking? Last, what kind of uke/model is that? Is it a Kala? (I’ll tell you why I’m asking this last question after we find out the model.)
awesomestrings, excellent playing on the first song! Fantastic feel and interpretation! So for the second song, the first and second theme have a nice flow to them. The third theme gets a bit choppy, so I’d keep working on that one to make it match the feel of the others. And watch the timing a little bit, most notably when you go to the variation on the second melody.
Lisa, here is a video with some tips for you 🙂
Very cool, love the variations. These can be applied to our arrangement, if anyone wants to spice it up 🙂
Check out these awesome photos Alyce took at the Portland Ukulele Wednesday’s group. She won the autographed Jake Shimabukuro ukulele from our 2nd Lightning Round video!
Big thanks from myself and Mike to Alyce for participating and asking a great ukulele question!
It’s so awesome to see entries in so early in the month 🙂
Brett, wonderful playing! Again, this is another piece in which I love your interpretation. To those that are reading this comment, I’d encourage you to watch my performance and then Brett’s. Both takes have a completely different feel. Mine is more brisk and on the beat, while Brett’s is relaxed and laid-back. It’s a great example of how the interpretation of the piece is always up to the performer. Feel free to take it and make it your own 🙂
Jake, super impressive! Not even 12 hours after the song was released, you’ve got it down! Bravo! The only critique I have is to watch a couple spots where you played the wrong fret(s). But I’m really impressed, keep up the great work!
Welcome! You guys should try this song out as a duet. One can strum the chords, the other plays the melody – and then alternate. 🙂
Amazing job to everyone who participated this month! Overall we had 20 members participate, and again, I was blown away by everyone’s performances 🙂
So the prize for this month was super cool! A custom-designed leather strap from Sofawares! So without further ado, the winner is…
Our June challenge is live! It is classical themed, and again we have a super cool prize! Check out the new challenge HERE.
Also, bellow I have left feedback for everyone that I hadn’t yet. Thanks again to everyone who participated!
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gahanby – I thought your tempo/timing was pretty good! I think the big thing that I would work on, if I was you, is cleaning up your playing. So it just comes down to breaking the piece into sections, looping them, and getting it precise and clean before moving on. I know you can do it, because you did it in the last challenge for “Daydreaming“, you played that song super clean! But a really good job overall, keep up the good work!
kellyblackburn – great feel in your playing! I think that form is totally fine to use. There really is no right or wrong, and I used a similar form in which I stuck my middle finger out as if it was a pick to play “Johnny B Goode“. Keep rocking!
ultramom – great job! Here is a video with a quick pointer. Also, I think I forgot to mention it in the video – but try not to keep the side of your arm (by elbow) hugged to the side of your body. The position of your arm during song 3 is much better.
surfpimp9er – nicely played! You have a good feel to your playing! Keep working on the timing in bars 12 to 16, which is something I’ve noticed a few members struggle with, as it’s tough to keep the tempo steady with a big pause (rest). Try to tap and count that section out loud, that should help. Also, don’t forget to tune before you record 🙂
wongbrown – Sheila, awesome job on the first two! I think the third one just comes down to practicing more. As it’s tricky, break it into chunks and master a section at a time before trying to tackle everything.
marni11 – great job! I’d encourage you to memorize the piece, as it will allow you to focus more on the performance and how you are playing it. Check out this lesson to learn more about why this is important.
cyberloh – great feel on the first two! So I noticed you played the third one with a swung feel, kind of cool – I dig it! I think the big thing that you need to work on for the 3rd song is left hand form. Here is a video with tips to help your form. Also, check out this lesson to dive deeper into proper left hand form.
smartinuk – wow, amazing job on Brahms Lullaby! I can tell that you put a ton of work into it. Really great job, the only thing I would say is watch the timing on the last couple bars. So it definitely sounds to me that you spent the most time working on that tune over the others. The others are fine, but the feel could be improved. They sound a little rushed, and when we think of how a lullaby should be played, it should be more relaxed and laid-back. Which is how you played the first one. So I’d work on making the other 2 sound like the first one 🙂
zukulele – wonderful playing! I love the way you ended Brahms Lullaby, you executed a Perfectly Natural sounding ritardando, absolutely beautiful! My only critique would be to play the first piece at a bit of a slower tempo. But very impressive playing overall, keep up the great work Zion!
ukuleleloo – Lucinda, glad to hear you are still working on the other piece 🙂 this performance was awesome! I tell you all the time that I love your feel, and your groove on this one was great – nice and laid-back, love it!
ukukelley1 – wonderful job Sheryl! Playing sounds great, try and play it without the music in front of you. You’ll be surprised by how much you have memorized, which I’d guess is probably over 90%. That will help to eliminate some of the few pauses you had before going into the next section(s).
mayaqatsi – Wohoo! I think you were the only one who used a pick 🙂 sounds great overall! Only suggestion I have (and this is where a lot of people struggled on) is to watch the timing on bars 12 to 16. Try to tap and count that section out loud, that should help.