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@brettboy, that was magical! Your performances are always so funny, even with a song like that, which is pretty impressive. 😂 Still you captured the emotion of that one so beautifully.
@nico_uke, agreed with @gi_gi_ and @Andrew, absolutely amazing take on that! 😊
@grannieannie, very magical take on that one! Really well played! I have a permanent association with that song of the cartoon Yellow Submarine though, and it makes me think of the “blue meanies” and how scared I was of them as a child (and probs still as an adult). 😂 Really beautifully played though! 😊We’re in the home stretch of this challenge, so many crazy good takes of these songs!! So glad to be a part of this community. 😊💕
@grannieannie, so true! If anything, certain standards of perfectionism have amplified with new generations, such as standards for beauty. Partly because of technology creating the illusion of perfection with the photoshops, plural, and filters and things. 😉😂 And social media, where people only share the parts of their lives that make their lives appear to be perfect (which is totally okay on one level; it can definitely swing in the other direction, too, like people creating drama online, lol). I just think those are some modern elements that may affect the way we view things. Of course, technology has brought us amazing things, too, such as the ability to be connected to people we never would have otherwise and share music, like here, and in the ukulele community, which I’m so happy to have been connected to. But still seeing what everyone else is doing can make you feel like you’re not good enough sometimes, but you’re right that the whole point of creating music is to enjoy yourself, have fun, and improve, only judging yourself by the metric of your own personal progress (that’s the goal anyway). 😂 Just some thoughts about that, thank you for sharing your experience! Ha, I follow some of pop culture but I don’t see many new movies. 😂😅💕
Thank you so much, @Andrew! Your feedback and encouragement always means so much. 😊
Have to agree with @shmu88, it’s always so exciting to see what new song or lesson will come out each Friday. I’m so excited to see what it will be now that you’ve said that, Andrew, what kind of different thing y’all have cooked up for July. 😊 I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun with any of my hobbies and that’s really saying something. 😅💕
@gi_gi_ thank you so much, my friend! 💕🥰 I’m so happy that you think I conveyed that feeling through the music. For me, with music, that’s what I want to do the most is convey a certain feeling, so the challenge is always trying to keep the technical aspects of playing music and performance anxiety from hindering that. That’s partly why I like to play simpler or “less scripted” songs because then there is freedom to express “effortlessly,” but it’s also good to learn more challenging songs, like the ones here, so that expressive ability can continue to grow and become freer. That’s my thought on that and rubato, and why I’m so obsessed with that concept. 😅😂 I feel like many of the ladies in this challenge are having an emotional moment over this song, with good reason, I’m sure some of the guys, too, but I find that funny, the contrast there. 😅😂 It’s so true, an idea like that reaches to the core of what it means to be an imperfect person in a imperfect world. And not to be too controversial, but I feel like women feel that pressure especially, to be perfect, and meet a standard of outward beauty. I’m gonna cry too… 😅😂😥
@johanna2509, thank you so much, friend, that really means a lot that you say that! 😊💕 Like I said, that’s what I hope to do the most when I play music, convey a feeling like that. I think you did that too. 😊 When I listened to the original song, I actually did cry. It’s the beauty of the music and Billy Eilish’s ethereal voice, and the meaning behind it. That’s why I had to stop listening to it for a bit. Ya can’t walk around crying all day. 😂😂😉Sorry to write so much about it. This is why I actually didn’t comment before because there’s a lot to say on that subject, and some aspects of it I have strong opinions on. 😂 I think most people can connect to the song’s meaning though. 😊
@leb397, awwww, thank you, friend! It’s so kind that you say that. 😊😂❤️ It’s so true. That’s an ongoing battle in life, is trying not to compare to other people, especially knowing that every single person each has their own struggles, no matter how perfect they seem on the outside. I really appreciate that, though, thank you. 😊 I don’t know about Barbie, man………… I just don’t know. 😂 I think dolls are super creepy now, but I guess she’s nice enough, so I accept her approval! 😂😂😂
@jgillard, really great take on that one, too! 😊@gi_gi_ I know! Everything Matt creates is amazing, so approachable, interesting, fun, and helpful. He is a great teacher, and so enthusiastic in everything he does. It’s very contagious. He also creates such interesting things, that’s why I follow him around like a disturbed little raccoon, trying to pick up the scraps of whatever he does. 😂😂😂😂 A raccoon might not be the right animal, though… 😂 Maybe if the clawhammer technique turned into a ghost, then started haunting Matt and also Andrew. 😂😂😂
So, right after I recorded What Was I Made For? for the challenge, I recorded a “noodle-y” edition, where I just noodled through what Matt wrote down with different fingerpicking and timing. I partly did this because I actually was feeling frustrated trying to record the song and felt a little better after I did some noodling. It was the first time I noodled through the whole song, so there are pauses and mistakes and things. I hope you like it; I think parts of it sound pretty nice, but other parts could be polished and smoothed out and re-noodled. 😂
Hahaha, also, I forgot my stomach growled like half way through, but I just left it in because I wanted an “honest” take of my first attempt noodling through this. 😂
@shmu88, very lovely take as well! Some of those jumps between chords were really tricky (for me at least) and you were pretty dang smooth about it. Lovely indeed! 😊 But yeah, @marianne’s take on that one on baritone is extra lovely to listen to. 😊
I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER
So, I also picked What Was I Made For? Such a beautiful song and arrangement by Matt. For some reason, I felt especially anxious when trying to record this time and this took multiple tries to get a take even this good. Apparently the whole concept of this song is imperfection, at least in the context of the Barbie movie (which I haven’t seen), so I guess that fits. 😂 I’d say I’m especially an expert on imperfection and not being able to meet certain expectations in life, or as a woman. So, for me the idea of imperfection is not so much an epiphanic “fall from grace,” like a Barbie realizing she doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s being in a position of already knowing too much what it means to be imperfect. Not sure if that makes sense. 😂 This concept is very heavy for me and I’m not even talking about the heaviest stuff, lol. Perhaps TMI, but this song struck me really hard for those reasons and also reasons I can’t mention here.
On a more musical note, 😂 I really tried to capture the rubato-y feel Matt achieved because it’s so beautiful, but I did struggle with some of those chord transitions. The rubato maybe helped? 😂 Thank you so much for these great songs, challenges, words of encouragement, and everything!
Haha, @johanna2509, now that you say that, I remember there being a cut there. I forgot about it immediately though so that should make you feel better. 😂💕 I feel like everyone notices their own mistakes so much more than other people do. Ha, same. Same about the brain thing for me. 😂🥺😅
@gi_gi_ congrats again on your submission being shared! It was a perfect take of that one. 🥰
@leb397, haha, thank you! 😂 I may just have to do that – more noodles!! Yeah!! It’s The Summer of Noodles. 😂😅😂 I know, I love that noodling lesson and Matt is so great. He has helped me understand and harness my own musical abilities in a way I don’t think I would have otherwise, as much as Andrew and my uke friends here. Such genuinely kind and generous people. I’m going to cry, man. 😅💕 All that, and learning the songs here has taught me what makes a great musical arr. But yeah, more noodles, too!! Maybe today!@johanna2509, really beautiful playing, friend! Pretty setting as well! Not really one mistake in there, very impressive! 😅😂💕
@leb397, ha, maybe I’ll have to give those movies a watch! I love JGL, too, he’s a funny character. 😂💕
@annemarie, that’s presh with the pink! I had Barbies growing up. Sometimes I treated them more like the kid from the first Toy Story treated his toys but I had them nonetheless. I probably shouldn’t admit that. 😅😂😂😅@gi_gi_, loved your take on Yellow Submarine! Quite magical!! 😁😂💕 @leb397, really great take on Axel F! I’ve never seen any of those movies but I love the theme song! Sounds super cool! 😁😂😅💕 @annemarie, very lovely take on “What Was I Made For?”! So beautiful. That song falls into the category of songs that I feel are perfect for Matt’s style of arranging/playing. Boy are those chord changes tricky in places though. I’m still working on it, hopefully can record it this weekend! Anyway, very lovely take! And everyone else too so far! 💕🥰😅
@emiliano, haha yes, I did know about that because there is a monthly song/lesson vote on Matt’s Patreon and “noodling” was one of the options and it won (it’s that lesson you linked)! So I was eagerly awaiting that specific lesson. 😂😅 I’m not sure if he looks at the forum here much. He had the option for a “noodling” lesson for a while, but it’s mostly happenstance that it came into existence right after this thread did. 😅😂 Agreed, such a great lesson!! 😊
@leb397, that is so magical and sweet! So cool you got to meet him! 😁💖💕 Haha is he a “short king,” like @gi_gi_ mentioned? 😅😂 I am definitely pro-short-king. 😅😂
@gi_gi_ haha!! Oh my yes I love those mini ukes! @johanna2509 sent those to me, then I added to googly eyes! They are amazing!! 😅😂💕💖I bought a ticket to see J-Shims near me here in August, but then realized it’s not possible due to my many anxieties and also practical reasons, so that’s awkward. 😅😂😳
@emiliano, ohhhh, I see, well, that’s definitely what I do, too, when I want a song to sound / be a certain way: I’ll spend time turning a song from a “regular” song into a clawhammer version, for example. For you, is it basically trial and error, testing different notes to see what sounds good, or more based in theory, or both?
I have different approaches to making things up. 😂 I don’t really know many of the notes on ukulele but I know some chords and often times, like what Mika said in that video, you can improvise just by fingerpicking different chords and playing notes around those chords. That’s basically what I do. Or I just try different techniques or fingerpicking patterns over songs I already know.
Oh my, that would be so, so amazing if Rock Class 101 had an improvising / noodling course! I know for a fact many people here would love that. 😁
I can’t wait to hear what you’re cooking up!! Cooking up some extra spicy noodling!! 😂
I know, I absolutely love that song! That may be one of my favorite guitar songs. I love Brandon Acker because he plays classical music on guitar so incredibly – and also plays old instruments as well, such as the lute. 😂 I do think flamenco is really cool sounding but I don’t know many techniques involved in playing it.
I’ll add more noodling pretty soon too, looking forward to hearing yours!! 😊
Edit: I’m sorry it’s a force of habit to add too many emojis. My family and I send many emojis when texting. I sometimes forget, then send a bunch of heart emojis to someone I barely know. 😅😂😳
@jbmills07, that is sooooo exciting and cool and also adorable!! 😂😅💕 J-Shims seems like such a kind, humble, and genuine person; I remember that coming across during the Meals For Maui live charity event last year (?). That is so cool that you got to meet him and he signed your uke! I mean, writing (calligraphy) is definitely a form of art, but don’t get me started on that. 😂 Really nice that you popped in to share that, thank you, friend! I hope you heal up ASAP! How much are you able to play uke or not much at all? So sorry for that but thank you for sharing! 😊
Agreed with @leb397, this experience is kitty-approved! 😂💕
@gi_gi_ haha we both had to let him know about the video game music here, but he already knew and we were preaching to the choir. 😅😂
@emiliano, that version of Silent Night is so beautiful with that technique! I love that sound so much. Matt from here also plays that technique very beautifully. One of my favorite instances of it is Brandon Acker playing Los Recuerdos de la Alhambra on guitar:Maybe I’ll have to try that Silent Night, thank you for sharing that. I don’t love all Christmas music but that one is one of my favorites year round too. 😅😂
That song by Michelle Heafy is really beautiful, too! It seems like you’ve really developed your skills and are a really good player if you’re attempting to do things like that. 😂 Just based on what I’ve seen you share on the forum, you’ve got mad skillz. How much do you have to think about it to play songs in an “alternative” way? Like with What Was I Made For? in the challenge? Can you just take a song you’ve learned and immediately noodle over it? I do that to a degree but it’s definitely not as refined as what you did there, though I do think I know how to make things sound “pretty.” 😂
Thank you for all you’ve shared here, very insightful! I look forward to your noodling samples whenever you can get to it!! I’ll add more pretty soon too. 😊😅
