learn to play the ukulele

which I liked a lot :) It’s pretty similar to the guitar, so once I learned the tuning I could pretty much figure out the rest. Will have to get myself one some day :)

I’ve learned the basic chords! Right now, I’m learning to play “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Bruddah Iz =) But I’m not that good at strumming or changing chords smoothly yet. Still need a lot more practice.

Always loved music, especially island music.

I bought a ukulele and I’m going to practice everyday! It’s harder than I thought it would be, but I won’t give up.

Since I’m done with my comprehensive exams and the end of the semester grading rush, I can return to the ukulele. I’ll have to start over again, I think, because I didn’t get far enough before having to take a break, but I also have developed some specific goals.

One of the things I’m going to plan on doing is working up to learning and playing a specific song. I have a list of possibilities. I just have to choose one and go for it.

Once I’m comfortable enough with the instrument to play a song or two, I’ll consider this goal basically accomplished (though obviously I’ll still want to keep improving).

I finally found the Uke training DVD that I got from my mom. I need to start popping that sucker in on a regular basis!

My daughter her ukulele her “guitar” because it it about the size of one on her. She is only seven. I have a strong background in piano so I’m hoping I can learn this well enough to play a few songs and teach them to my daughter so that she gets my music bug too. Wish me luck.

I was making good progress, but I had to put the ukulele on hold to study for my comprehensive exams. Ph.D. before fun instruments, I suppose.

But after I pass my comps, I’ll go back to practicing and learning.

So I’ve been spending a fair amount of time at Ukulele Underground. I’ve been lurking at the forums there for a while and the site inspired me to try my hand at posting my first ukulele video there. I did a cover of New Slang by The Shins. It’s nothing to write home about I guess, but I think it’s a pretty decent first effort.

Good times. Check it out, comment if you want. Just remember I’m a newbie at this, so be gentle. :)

Hope people enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQNCpvWFt0I

My ukulele arrived yesterday. I’ve been practicing between things that I absolutely have to do. I am really enjoying it. I think I need to get some better strings for now and if I keep playing I will eventually want to buy a much better instrument, but I am pleased with the beginning stage and how it’s going.

Signs I’m making progress:
1. My fingers hurt.
2. I have at least two chords that I can strum and switch between without a complete stop. Very easy chords, but still.
3. The logic of the strings is starting to make sense to me. As a singer and pianist, I’m used to a different musical logic, but I think I’ll get used to this quickly enough.