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Awe…..thank-you so much @Andrew – you said ‘keep it simple’…..so I did. Looking for inspiration, they were right there…..as they always are…. inspiring me.
@The_Bumble_Bard….Wow! Thank-you so much for listening and sharing your thoughts……it means a lot to me….especially from my clawhammer sister😁…..Also, I’m impressed that you have taken the time and effort to listen and review so many others here….I have no doubt it is greatly appreciated.It did occur to me that someone listening to the whole piece may hear something totally different than what I was trying to convey………I think that when you put something out in the world, that ‘thing’ than takes on a life of its own, and then ‘meaning’ comes from the one engaged with it rather than the one who created it. It may also mean that I didn’t differentiate the voices enough🤪……..
Anyway, the task I created for myself was to present two ‘distinct’ (maybe not so distinct) voices coexisting harmoniously in the same tune………Cat and Dog. I kept it very simple…..mostly by ear….not theory. So here goes:
Cat: Em C7 B7
Dog: C F7 G7Intro: Cat – should sound like a cat on the prowl…..clawhammered in 1st position
Dog – should sound easy and laid back……again clawhammered in 1st positionBody: Cat – strummed in 1st position, then clawhammered up the neck
Dog – clawhammered in 1st position, then strummed in 1st position, then clawhammered up the neckConclusion: Both voices – strummed between C and Em chord up the neck culminating in a C (which makes me think this is actually in the key of C – but not entirely sure)
This can be played on high G uke too, more traditionally clawhammer.
I’m guessing all those 7th chords must give it a bluesy sound. As far as ‘cliche’, I think when you listen to the snippets individually they sound very, very familiar.
@gi_gi_ thank-you for your kind words. Also, thank-you for sharing your recording set—up….so cool and inspiring…….I use my I-pad or phone, and I’m usually very frustrated with the sound…so you have given me food for thought. Your original piece is beautiful….it sounds like a tune from the heart….’On The Mend,’…..love it…..I hope your friend is doing well🙏🏼Sorry for the dissertation…..I’m sure everyone here could probably write one on their own creative process….which would be interesting and educational….learning from each other’s experience.
……and one more thing🤪……I agree with @misterbones…….(by the way, loved your ‘original’)….my ‘original’ medley sounds like cliched snippets glued together…..so maybe it’s just best to call it a first attempt😁
My first original piece is called “A Medley of Minor and Major Distraction” (or The Abner and Lelee Song)…..inspired by my 72 (people years) year old cat – who fancies himself the James Bond of cats (and takes his prowling and mousing duties very seriously)…..and my 100 year old dog who whiles away her days seeking out sun puddles to lay her weary bones and dream her dog dreams.
These 2 have been with me for years….always in the background of my life…..a constant, lovely distraction with their sweet antics……they are pure love ❤️I was attempting to create 2 voices that co-existed in the same tune. The cat is represented by an E minor voice and the Dog is C major. I used Miko’s suggestion of finding melody in the picking pattern of the chords….but rather than using Travis picking, I used clawhammer-style on a low-G uke. Then I included a strumming pattern that helped to pull it all together establishing melody, harmony and rhythm. Tune structure is circular and repetitive toggling between the two voices, with the Em Cat voice first, and the Cmajor Dog voice second until the end where the 2 voices merge.
One more thing……timing……it is supposed to start slow and build up speed a bit as the tune progresses………
there are a few flubs…..had the same issues recording…..not perfect, but it was time to post…..
Finally, what a great challenge…..Thank-you @Andrew! I am so impressed with the creativity and talent within our group……so much fun! Uke-On♥️.
Please do not include me in the draw this month.
Awe….@The_Bumble_Bard I did read all of it…..I love that in a way, you are giving homage to the roots of clawhammer……and also that in all of its ‘silliness’ there is so much thought and feeling behind it…….oh, and also a full story! It makes me wonder what the creators of some of those old-time tunes were actually thinking: “Grasshopper Sittin’ on a Sweet Potato Vine,”….”Shove another pig’s foot on the fire….” Or this one….’Nail that Catfish to the Tree’ (Yikes!)…
Wow! Congratulations @Emiliano…..what a gorgeous baritone!
Congratulations to Nat-uke also!😁
@deadbuggy…..Wow! Great job…..do you have tabs written out?
@the_bumble_bard this challenge is right up your alley!…….and I’m loving what you have shared so far and looking forward to watching your progress. I agree with @gi_gi_ your noodling thread has been inspiring…..as a result, I have tried a little noodling and can see that it is a really cool way to explore musical parameters and embrace the creative process. Fun (and maybe a litte intimidating)….Thanks for the challenge @Andrew!
Stay safe @emiliano
This may have been my favorite ‘Live Lesson’ yet……it was inspiring….thank-you Matt…..Also, where can I find that ukulele rendition of 5 foot 2?
Wow – Thank-you so much Andrew! It was an interesting challenge…..in my mind, because it was a ‘beginners’ piece, I thought….no problem, this will be easy…….was I wrong! It was easy to memorize because I know and love this tune…..Technically, I didn’t find it too bad (I like bar chords), but did have a challenge with my thumb. But, Wow! What a great challenge for tempo and mood and nuance! Kudos to Matt for creating this cool, understated arrangement!
My take away……..none of these pieces are “easy”……there is a challenge in all of them from beginners to advanced.
I posted earlier this month, but continued working on Dream a Little Dream. Andrew had recommended working with a clicker/metronome which I did. Then a couple days ago, I grabbed a backing track from U-tube to help keep tempo consistent. I don’t usually play with my thumb so that felt a little awkward……still not perfect….and the backing track was faster than I was used to…..so probably could keep on improving….
Great month…..impressive submissions…..also, I loved all the songs thanks Rock Class 101.
Thanks Andrew, I will continue practicing using the metronome and play-along video and try to re-post before the end of the month😁
