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One way to make your ukulele playing sound better is to attach googly eyes to it, so it serves the dual function of tambourine. 😂 That actually is true on my uke; you can hear the eyes softly rattling sometimes. 😅
Really looking forward to this topic because I’m not always happy with how my playing sounds. How do you make trills sound better? Very specific question. Thank you one hundo percent! 😅😊
@gi_gi_ ohhh that’s so precious! Congrats to Ashley! 😁💕
I really liked her version of that song, too. 😊
I think I’ll probably go with The Office theme just because my sister and her husband are obsessed with that show and then maybe I can eventually play it for them. It may take me longer than a month to learn it well though because it seems pretty tricky. That, or the Game of Thrones theme because that one’s a real bop. 😉😂
Edit: Just went to go look at the lesson and noticed The Office theme includes ghost note strumming. 😶 I’m still going to try it though. 😅
Edit x 2: I tried playing through The Office theme and boy is that satisfying to play. I recommend that one if anyone likes that theme. It’s tricky, but not as impossible as it seems. 😂 Okay, done excessively updating now… 😂🤐
@ruthie-roo, ha not at all. I actually really like when people give that kind of feedback here. I’m also not even remotely an expert, but just get really excited about topics like these obviously. 😂
Haha!! Coming up with silly titles like that is the same kind of enjoyment I get from writing the ridiculous posts in the live lessons here, especially because Matt’s reactions / ratorts are always so funny. 😅😂 Thank you so much for that! That makes me really happy that you think that blending of styles worked! I think I will continue to try things like that, especially trying clawhammer with styles that can be very different genres, like classical. I find it interesting to try to blend things that don’t necessarily naturally go together. 😅😂
That’s interesting that you created your song through noodling. I feel like some people generally like to create songs with a specific chord progression in mind as a starting point, plan out what they want to create more, and for other people, it’s much more spontaneous. I fall into the second category as well for sure. 😂 I love that and find it so exciting to create with no plan in mind. But, it also can be really fun to take a song that you already know as a starting point and modify it until it becomes something else. I like doing that too. I hope you do continue to create, like Andrew said, you’ve got a knack for it! I think he said that. Either way it’s true. 😂 And you should share it here if you do! Thank you for the nice replies!! 😁😂💕
@morrieuke1, congrats!! That’s so awesome! Curious to know which uke you’ll choose! 😁
@jbmills07, I’m so sorry your arm is still bothering you, maybe it might be a good idea to have it looked at, if it’s not getting any better. That’s a lot to deal with, really sorry, friend! 😥 But glad you still got to share this month at least! 😊
@ruthie-roo, that was an epic feedback post, really nice of you to reply to all the originals! 😊 As I told Dianna, I often have trouble containing my enthusiasm and excitement for things I love, which is why I wanted to reply to everyone because I love this topic so much and everyone created such amazing and interesting songs. 😅 And I love to know other’s thought processes behind /approaches to creating. Your original was so, so good, really amazing if that’s the first ever original you ever wrote, but just in general it’s really, really good and perfectly played! It’s actually a fully developed song as well in length. When I try to write songs, I know they can be really short; I should probably work on developing them more like you did. Really lovely work though! 😊 And thank you for your kind words about my song, I had so much fun with that in different ways! I still kind of chuckle at the title which is how I know I “succeeded” in creating quality nonsense in my own mind, if I chuckle to myself like a psycho when I reread it. 😂😅 Anyway thank ye! 😊
@emiliano, that would be so amazing if you tried clawhammer, that makes me so happy that my little tune made you want to try it! I know you’d do great things with it! I hope you continue to make some time for uke, even though you’re busy, clearly you’re so talented with it! 😊 I also want to learn to play your tune. I want to see how much I can figure out just by listening and seeing the shapes you play. 😅Agreed, @Andrew, that the talent in this community is amazing. Thank you for making it possible for everyone here to share this way! This was such a great challenge, I’m actually really sad it’s over. 😅 But the August challenge seems really fun! 😊
@emiliano, absolutely stunning! Along with the beautiful composition, the dynamics you played with captured the scene in the title so beautifully. I actually teared up a bit listening to that. 😂 Well done! 😊
@leb397 already left many lovely comments for everyone, but just wanted to say to a few people:
@morrieuke1, that was a really lovely composition and so sweet that you wrote it with your son! It’s pretty special to start out musical endeavors early on like that and to work on things together. 😊
@jbmills07, really good to see you pop in here, friend! Along with orange kitty and secret, left-justified shadow kitty. 😅 I remember you mentioned the other kitties besides Ziggy’s names but I can’t remember which were which now. 😂😅 I know one was Rock Steady. Anyway really sorry your arm is still bothering you, but hope you heal up very soon and your playing was still very beautiful! 😊
@johanna2509 very beautifully played, friend! 😊 I hope at some point you do get a chance to share an orig, I’m sure it’d be very lovely indeed! 😊💕@dianna, aww, thank you so much! I really appreciate that! 😊😅💕 I try to harness the enthusiasm in a constructive direction, but sometimes (cough, often) it gets away from me. 😉😳😂
@akukes73, thank you so much! It means a lot that you liked it and think I was successful in what I was trying to do. 😁💕 I am very interested in seeing the different ways clawhammer can be used, with different genres of music and different sounds/approaches to the technique itself. I think it’s so cool that certain musicians “invent” different techniques and push the boundaries of what already exists, not that I’m going to do that, but it’s still fun to experiment nonetheless. You still try to be like the great people you admire, at least. 😂
@grannieannie, that is sooooo cute, I loved reading about your little animal friends! Especially your tuxedo kitty. True dat, cats are *always* in charge of the house. 😂💕
@leb397, agreed, such an amazing challenge! One of the most amazing yet. 😊💕@dianna, I couldn’t agree more! That’s so true. It’s amazing how different people can take the same chords or notes and each create something completely different. It’s such a beautiful and personal thing and highlights the uniqueness of each person and their experiences with music. Ha so true, it’s so easy to get immersed in something you’re working on and lose track of time, or want to play uke for hours. I have done that a few times… 😂😅🤐😶 Ha thank you, I got carried away once again imagining the possibilities with what you created, but as it is it’s very, very creative and clever. 😂💕
@akukes73, that was so lovely, a very sweet and beautiful first piece! Looking forward to seeing what Andrew says about it. 😊@kittycatlin, you were right with your tag, but you just forgot the second “_” in @gi_gi_ 😅
Then I messed up your name and just had to fix it. Whoops. 😂
@dianna, haha, YES! Clawhammer sisters, we are!! 😂💕 Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all of that; it’s so interesting to learn of others’ thought processes when they create and their different approaches to creating.
These are just my thoughts and of course please take them with a grain of salt. 😂 For me when I create music it’s 90% about the sound, figuring things out by ear, trial and error, because of my trouble with learning theory. 😂 For some people, it’s hard to be freer when they play, or to play by ear; for me, it’s very hard for me to grasp theory for whatever reason, especially with chord names and things like that. Anyway, just with that preface, here are my thoughts:
I think all the 7 chords (except the g7 in the major part) do give both parts a bluesy sound. Nothing wrong with that but it may mean there isn’t as much contrast between the parts since they both sound bluesy with those chords. Playing through both parts repeatedly, that’s what I gathered (playing them with and without those 7 chords). I think if you wanted to make the minor sound “more minor,” maybe you could add an A minor chord and/or a B minor chord and/or remove the c7 chord from the minor part. I tried doing those things and I think it increased the “minor-ness.” 😅 I think the major part sounds pretty major even with the bluesy F7 chord and if you slightly modified the minor part by the previous suggestions (or maybe try other minor chords, those are just what I found by googling “minor chords that go with the key of E minor” 😂). TBH, I really love your song as it is, these are just my thoughts if you did want to create even more contrast between the parts, from a listener’s perspective, as you pointed out. 😂 That is another interesting element of creation is “outside perspectives” and how that can sometimes be very different from your intentions. One other thing is that maybe you could make one part strumming only and one part clawhammer only if you wanted to create even more contrast. If it were me, I’d make the dog part clawhammer because that technique is more upbeat and goofier like a dog. 😂 Again, these are only my thoughts and it’s your creation, but it’s fun and helpful for me to think through these things and I really love talking about this subject, obviously. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I hope it’s okay that I told you what I think about it. I’m way better at critiquing poetry than music. 😂😊
@kelsey91, that was so sweet and lovely! Beautiful singing and playing! 😁😊This is my favorite challenge so far. Sorry I also wrote so much. I just get so excited because this my favorite subject when it comes to music, original music. Thanks for everyone who shared again, really amazing stuff! 😊
@dianna, that was so magical! I love everything about that, the style, the techniques (o’ course, I lorve the clawrhammer), and the story, very magical. 😊😅 It also has an almost bluesy sound to the harmony. I listened to it a few times and I had a hard time telling which parts were minor or major; I couldn’t tell them apart. To me overall it had a bluesy sound throughout but maybe you or Andrew can explain why that is. 😂😅 The theory side of music is by far my weakest point.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what a musical cliché is or if there is anything wrong with that because talking to Matt about this, he’s always said that there is no music that’s fully original. Maybe there are some things that if used are so obvious or so simple that they’re boring, they can get boring if too predictable, but as long as it’s interesting and “sounds good, you’re doing it right,” again quoting Matt. 😅 I really agree with his philosophy about music which is why I’m referencing that right now. But I also think that some of the best music ever created is just a directly modified version or reimagining of something that already exists. Sorry I have a lot of thoughts about this topic and the concept of creating music which is why I wrote more than even usual in this challenge but it’s just so exciting to see what everyone created and to ponder. Anyway thank so much, Dianna, that was lovely! 😊😅
@Andrew, thank you so much! 😊 It always means so much and makes me so happy when you like a tune I try to create. It’s like an extra special stamp of approval. 😂 I’m really happy that you liked the blending of clawhammer and fingerpicking; for some reason I really like the idea of trying to do that, but it can be tricky to switch mid-song without it seeming abrupt, which is why I tried to modify the clawhammer pattern so it sounds more like fingerpicking and emulates other patterns to make that transition smoother. The original melody was inspired by some of your tunes and “melodic movements” (?) you like to use in your songs that I’ve noticed. Thank you again so much! 😊🤍
@leb397, those lyrics are so magical and so cute! 😁😅 I’m so happy you decided to put yourself out there. That can be so scary especially when it’s something like singing. But you did beautifully! 😊💕@dianna, hahaha!! Yes, those are perfect examples of exactly what I mean! Thank you! 😂😊 Very specific and sometimes pungent imagery. 😂 I feel like something like “Grasshopper Sittin’ on a Sweet Potato Vine” is pretty goofy, but also poetic in its sound and flow, and of course follows the clawhammer rhythm, even with that title. Hahaha those examples definitely illustrate some of the interesting cultural implications of clawhammer tunes; it’s true, you have to wonder, how many of these things actually happened? Probably more than you’d maybe want to believe… But that’s what makes them so interesting, fun, and unique. 😅😂🤢😉😂💕
And thank you so much for your kind words, I really appreciate that! It really means a lot. I’m so happy that you and others here appreciate the silliness and that the feelings I hope to convey somehow do, but I’m not always sure how. That’s part of what makes music, and the ukulele, so magical. 😊💕
@leb397, that was so magical, so cute, I loved that! You had some real bluesy style with that tune. 😂😎 I loved the ukulele grandma part, agreed with @annemarie. Fantastic my friend! The only thing I was a little sad about was that I couldn’t hear all the lyrics more because some of them were hard to hear, but still loved all that I could hear. 😊😅 Thank you for sharing that! 😊💕
@karenj, that was really lovely, you captured that tune perfectly! 😊 @swissconsinboy, that was quite magical, loved the sound of that one a lot, a different sounding tune/technique! Really cool! 😊@gi_gi_ haha!!! Get ready. I think I’m going to share an explanation of the title in separate thread because it’s so ridiculously elaborate now. 😂😅😂 Thank you so much for your kind words about the song, that means so much! 😊💕
Oh yeah, I also was wondering about @emiliano. Hopefully he’s alright. The last he shared here it was right before a hurricane where he was… 🥺
@rebeca, that’s so beautiful, your description, thank you so much! 😊 I really like the idea of a more softened, melodic approach to playing clawhammer since it is normally rather percussive and harsher in its sound (which I also love about it, but am interested in experimenting with the technique). James Hill played a song using what he called “melodic clawhammer” (which I need to look into more, his exact approach to that) but that deepened my curiosity to playing clawhammer that way, softer, less percussive-sounding. I love the word “bucolic,” excellent word choice! 😅 Thank you for explaining your approach to songwriting on the other page, really appreciate that and your kind words so much! 😊💕
