tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9233328463422823292024-03-06T00:47:08.665-08:00Millie's Music NotesMillie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-91063023091114731192016-03-21T11:00:00.002-07:002016-03-22T13:15:31.177-07:00Guitar- What Are the Most Important Alternate Tunings?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpvTBW9xR76L0hOSBIeuuSV1Z1rtpztzCM_OiLAg5_M-bD1A3nFmnzw8Gp2EwqeOUlvqATPYNnySkTFbMbeaQU_NaPomA2uO4unaA62UcLUih01fbMZrTTsC-2a8hc5ymv6P_snjI4p4/s1600/alternatetuning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpvTBW9xR76L0hOSBIeuuSV1Z1rtpztzCM_OiLAg5_M-bD1A3nFmnzw8Gp2EwqeOUlvqATPYNnySkTFbMbeaQU_NaPomA2uO4unaA62UcLUih01fbMZrTTsC-2a8hc5ymv6P_snjI4p4/s320/alternatetuning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Standard tuning on guitar is having the strings tuned to the notes EADGBE.<br />
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Some guitarists go their whole lives never deviating from standard tuning.<br />
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They are missing out on much magic and whole other worlds!<br />
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What are some alternate tunings you could explore?<br />
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There are several different categories of altered tunings, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>Open Tunings</li>
<li>Dropped Tunings</li>
<li>Raised Tunings </li>
<li>Deviations from Standard Tuning<b> </b></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<b>Open Tunings:</b></h3>
These are tunings in which the strings are tuned so that they make a major or minor chord when strummed open.<br />
<br />
Some examples:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Open G ("Spanish Tuning")- DGDGBD, remembered as Dads Give Dogs Great Big Dinners</li>
<li>Open C ("English Tuning")- CGCGCE, (also CEGCEG, and CCGCEG)</li>
<li>Open D ("Vestopol Tuning")- DADF#AD, or DDDADF#</li>
</ul>
The above are the most important and most widely used of the open tunings. However, you can produce an open tuning for any chord. More examples:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Open A- EAC#EAE, or EC#EAC#E, AAEAC#E </li>
<li>Open E- EBEG#BE, EG#BEG#B, EEBEG#B</li>
<li>Open F- CFCFAF, FACFAC, FFCFAC</li>
<li>Open B- BF#BD#BF# (BD#FBD#F)</li>
<li>Open Bb - BbEbAbDbFBb (b indicates flat)<b> </b></li>
</ul>
Besides the fact that these each give a different sound than a player could achieve in Standard Tuning, Open Tunings are valuable for several reasons.<br />
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While strumming them open, without fretting any notes, produces a major chord, the other major chords can be played by simply barring one finger across all strings at different frets.<br />
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Instead of a finger, a slide can be used in the same way.<br />
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This means open tunings can be a breeze to play.<br />
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Open G is recommended for beginner guitarists to get started playing quickly and easily, and is a great choice for starting kids out on guitar. Jessica Baron has excellent, extensive DVD lessons on this, including some wonderful lessons on singing, too, here's the link to this set: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BL3TPN8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BL3TPN8&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=62AGNAROBVEZLIKM">Learn to Play Acoustic Guitar (4-DVD) for beginners</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BL3TPN8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Ron Wood from the Rolling Stones has used Open G extensively, as have many other guitarists.<br />
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Minor Open tunings ("Cross note tunings") are possibly even more useful than open major tunings, as it requires only one finger on usually one string to fret a major chord in these tunings. Playing minor chords in open major tuning is not this easy. <br />
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Lower the third on any open major tuning to get the open minor tuning instead. For example, Open D minor is DADFAD.<br />
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You can also tune the open strings to play a fifth, sixth, or seventh chords, or modal variations. Tuning to open fifths (the "power chord") can be particularly useful on an electric guitar, as you will be able to use heavy distortion or other effects more harmoniously when the third is omitted. <br />
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Some of these tunings require special strings, as deviating far from a strings standard tuning may produce too much tension on your guitar's neck, or in the case of tunings where the string is slackened, it becomes too slack to sound properly. Thicker gauge strings are useful in this case.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Dropped Tunings</b> </h3>
<ul>
<li>Drop D- only the sixth string, the low E, is dropped, to D. DADGBE. This is the easiest alternate tuning to try first, as most chord shapes are the same and those that change require only a one finger change. Try Neil Young's Harvest Moon for a fun song to play in this tuning. If something heavier is more your style, you likely have several favorite songs that use this tuning. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Double Drop D- the first string, the high E,is dropped to D as well. DADGBD. A logical next step from the previous tuning, perhaps equally useful.</li>
</ul>
These are also among the gentlest alternate tunings for your guitar's neck, and getting into and out of them is an easy change not requiring a string change. <br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Drop C- CGCFAD. You'll definitely need heavier strings to try out this tuning. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Detuning- It is fairly common for guitarists to detune a half or even a whole step on all strings, lowering Standard Tuning. This reduces tension on the neck.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Raised Tunings </h3>
Opposite from detuning, strings can be raised a half step or more above standard tuning. Be careful with these tunings, as tightening strings increases neck tension and strings can break! Thinner gauge strings will be helpful here. Safer and easier is to just use a capo on a guitar in standard tuning at the first or second fret to raise the pitch a tone or semitone! <br />
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A fun raised tuning that I do recommend you try, however, is:<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Nashville Tuning aka High Stringing</h3>
This is not exactly an altered tuning; most often a high strung guitar uses standard tuning of EADGBE.<br />
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Instead, Nashville Tuning has the strings span two rather than three octaves. It is the equivalent of using the higher strings of a twelve string guitar. <br />
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You can buy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=guitar%20strings%20nashville%20tuning&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=7GCW76JGVQS64KIY" target="_blank">Nashville tuning string sets</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, or you can buy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=12%20string%20guitar%20strings&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=6TCHKJYQRMUAT3H7" target="_blank">a set of 12 strings</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and divide them into one standard set and a high strung set.<br />
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When high strung, the low strings, the E,A, D, and G are an octave higher than they would be in standard tuning. The B and E strings are the same as in standard tuning. This takes a little getting used to but offers new possibilities.<br />
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It is often a smart option to have one guitar high strung when two acoustic guitars are playing together. This thickens the sound and adds the shimmering effect of a twelve string guitar, but with an even fuller sound. Try this and you may find that these harmonically pleasing effects greatly improve your songs.<br />
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The G string becomes the highest pitch and finest in diameter string. In fact, these are the thinnest possible guitar strings, and because they are generally meant to run in course with a thicker G string (on a twelve stringed guitar), they easily break.<br />
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For this reason, I would issue these three tips for using Nashville tuning:<br />
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1. Use a lighter pick than you normally choose, or use less force if using fingers. Use caution when strumming forcefully!<br />
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2. Be careful with further altering this tuning. Down tuning may work fine. I certainly wouldn't recommend raising the pitch of the tiny g string!<br />
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3. Buy some extra G strings to avoid having to waste the rest of the set when the little G string inevitably breaks!<br />
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<h3>
Other Deviations from Standard Tuning: </h3>
There are lots of these you could try. There are many ways to tune based on modes, for example.<br />
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<h3>
DADGAD </h3>
Perhaps the most important, and one I strongly recommend you try is DADGAD tuning. This produces a Dsus4 chord when strummed open. It produces a distinctive and rich sound with the repetitive D notes. The lowest string is fun to use a drone.<br />
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It is super easy to learn to play DADGAD tuning in the key of D, and rewarding to learn to use it for playing in other keys, too. Learning DADGAD has been the best thing to happen to spice up my songwriting. Try it and you will find it will open up many possibilities unavailable in standard tuning. I love this tuning so much that I have a "DADGAD guitar" which is nearly always kept in this tuning. I will write a post with my favorite DADGAD songs soon.<br />
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There is a fair amount of info on DADGAD online. I used John Sherman's nice chord chart for this tuning, which includes key changes achieved with a capo. I printed this out and put it in my songbook. You can find it at the bottom of <a href="http://jjshermanmusic.com/dadgad_tutorial/" target="_blank">this page</a>. <br />
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Sometimes I change this to DADDAD instead. This tuning is nicknamed "papa papa" and is another alternate tuning that is immensely fun to play in. It's nice for heavier songs and also for some folk tunes. John Butler has used this quite a bit and it is also popular with dobro players.<br />
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<h3>
Tuning To The Day?</h3>
Several well known players have made alternate tunings a big part of their work. Neil Young, David Crosby, Steven Stills, Ron Wood, Jimmy Page are a few who you probably know. Pierre Bensusan, Bert Jansch, David Wilcox, and even Rory Gallagher are a few of my favorites who make wide use of alternate tunings, and whose work you should check out for massive inspiration.<br />
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Of course, no one has used and recorded in alternate tunings more than Joni Mitchell. She has recorded songs in scores of alternate tunings, including many she invented. She said, in a magazine article that I read long ago, that sometimes she tunes according"to the day," by matching a string to the call of a bird or some other sound of the day and arranging the other strings to be in harmony with that. I haven't tried this myself but it is an interesting idea.<br />
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If you do invent your own tunings, be sure to write them down!<br />
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You will be able to figure out the chord shapes for any tuning when you understand <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/how-to-build-any-chord.html" target="_blank">how to build any chord.</a><br />
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What is your favorite alternate tuning?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrFJjqJp8JRVINazISgz7nOEt7ki-XThgsso3TalR-CUcxgXj1i1zU2CX_DlcYVNHEarIlFLLt6hFXoWM1lHiTWmevl2ijHIvBtMxA61Bu3vtmz1K1diHpaNIGDI9a-ipzGYd9MYPURA/s1600/What+Are+the+Most+Important.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrFJjqJp8JRVINazISgz7nOEt7ki-XThgsso3TalR-CUcxgXj1i1zU2CX_DlcYVNHEarIlFLLt6hFXoWM1lHiTWmevl2ijHIvBtMxA61Bu3vtmz1K1diHpaNIGDI9a-ipzGYd9MYPURA/s320/What+Are+the+Most+Important.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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*Colorful Guitar image from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937994767/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937994767&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=MAX5YEKOJ3OCCVG4">Color Me Happy: 100 Coloring Templates That Will Make You Smile (A Zen Coloring Book)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1937994767" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, photographed by Millie Green.
Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-56206669926679887422016-03-12T14:56:00.000-08:002016-03-12T14:56:41.440-08:00How To Know Which Chords Belong in a Key<h2>
</h2>
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Whether you want to write songs or are trying to figure out how to play songs that you would like to play, it is important and helpful to understand the natural order of chords for progressions.<br />
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There is a formula that tells you exactly where and when minor chords are called for and when to use major or dominant seventh or diminished chords within a key.<br />
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*Here is more info on <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/how-to-build-any-chord.html" target="_blank">building chords</a> and <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-can-easily-learn-every-scale.html" target="_blank">scales</a> if you need this background info first.<br />
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Now, we all know that rules are made to be broken (sometimes) and so it is not necessary to always abide by this formula. You can't begin to break the rules, however, until you know what they are.<br />
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<h2>
Which Chords Belong In Each Key?</h2>
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</h2>
<h3>
Major Keys:</h3>
For any major key, the chords available are:<br />
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I. The Tonic- in the key of C, this would be a C major chord.<br />
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ii. The next chord is built from the second note of the key scale, it is a minor chord (ex: in key of C, ii. is D minor).<br />
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iii. The chord derived from the third note of the scale is also a minor chord.<br />
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IV. The chord built on the fourth note of the scale is a Major Chord.<br />
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V. The chord built on the fifth note of the scale is the dominant chord. So in the key of C, this would be G7.<br />
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vi. The chord built from the sixth of the scale is a minor chord (the relative minor to the key chord).<br />
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vii. The seventh chord in the series is the diminished chord.<br />
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Again, these are the chords available for a progression in any major key:<br />
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Upper case Roman Numerals denote Major chords, while lower case numerals indicate minor chords. <br />
<ul>
<li>I</li>
<li>ii</li>
<li>iii</li>
<li>IV</li>
<li>V7</li>
<li>vi</li>
<li>viidim </li>
</ul>
Chords included in the key of C are: C, D minor, E minor, F, G (G7) , A minor, and B minor diminished.<br />
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Often the seventh chord is flattened and played as a major chord instead, as B flat in the key of C.<br />
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<h3>
Minor Keys </h3>
In a natural minor key, the chords are: <br />
<ul>
<li>i</li>
<li>iidim</li>
<li>III</li>
<li>iv</li>
<li>v</li>
<li>VI</li>
<li>VII </li>
</ul>
Chords included in the key of A natural minor are: A minor, B minor diminished, C, D minor, E minor, F, and G: the same chords in the key of C. A minor is the relative minor of C major, and the order of chords in a minor key is relative to the major scale; you just reorder the chords from the major key beginning with the relative minor, the vi.<br />
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But, as you know from our discussion on <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-can-easily-learn-every-scale.html" target="_blank">scales</a>, there is more than one minor scale. In fact, the above is not often used! Instead, for a minor key, you can also build chords using the harmonic minor scales, in which case you would raise the seventh chord a semitone and include G# rather than G. <b>You would also include chord V as a Major -or Dominant seventh- chord </b>when using the harmonic minor scale for chord progressions<b>.</b><br />
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Now the above are the rules; these chords are the only chords that strictly belong in any key.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
You Can Break The Rules</h3>
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These rules are broken all the time, by many artists in many songs. These are just guidelines.<br />
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<h3>
How To Break the Rules: </h3>
It is common to change a major chord to a minor chord instead. This seems to happen most often on the IV chord, being changed to a minor, in a song in a major key, or the V chord being changed to major in a song in a minor key (which is within the rules anyway when using harmonic minor scales).<br />
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You could change any of the major chords you wish to minor if you think it works for your song. <br />
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Or vice versa; what is supposed to be a minor (the ii, iii, or vi, in a major key) is sometimes played as a major chord instead. This happens all the time in popular music.<br />
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Another popular way to break these rules is to throw in a flattened chord, particularly a flattened seventh, rather than the diminished seventh. The fifth and or the third are flattened in many songs as well. Less frequently, the sixth has been flattened as well.<br />
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You could include a chromatic, semitone shift anywhere in your progression, using both the called for chord as well as flattening it-- rock music has made the semitone shift a characteristic sound since its beginning.<br />
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You could also use dominant chords in a position other than with the called for V chord in a major key or III chord in a minor key.<br />
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Not to mention using major7 chords or subbing other chord variations (such as sus and extended chords) wherever you'd like. I like to extend into extra bars by varying the chord different ways- from the I to the Imaj7, or with a sus, back to the key chord, then the other sus and back to the key chord again, for example.<br />
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The simple song I was working on today moves from a C chord (as the IV) to a Cadd9 before moving to D before D7, for example.<br />
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You could imply the chords rather than playing them outright. You could do this with treble notes against a bass line, or leave out the treble altogether and imply the chords using just a bass line instead. This might be just the thing for your bridge or another song section.<br />
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Also, remember that you do not have to stay in one key! Key changes, called modulations, do not break the rules, but knowing the rules for which chords fit in which key will help you to make successful and easy key changes when you recognize the available pivot chords that are common to both keys.<br />
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Working in a key change may be the most interesting thing you can do to enliven a boring song.<br />
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<h3>
Source:</h3>
I want to tell you that I was introduced to and learned much of this information by the best and most helpful book I've ever read on the subject of music: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879309423/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0879309423&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=B4CPVZ7O4XIZTWSD">How To Write Songs On Guitar,</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0879309423" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Rikky Rooksby. This book is extraordinarily worthwhile if you want to know how songs are put together, especially regarding chord progressions and song structure.<br />
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I read this book as an absolute beginner musician, with fumbling fingers on my first guitar, and it was the most helpful of any of the many music theory books I had yet read in my quest to understand music. I learned a lot and, as a result, was able to entertain and impress myself with writing my own songs from this beginning, rather than exclusively frustrating myself trying to play songs which exceeded my skills!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879309423/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0879309423&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=IJEINF43MJAQGNM4"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0879309423&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=musnot0c-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0879309423" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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I checked this book out again a couple years later, when my skills were much better established, and learned still more on second reading. In fact, I renewed this book twice from the library and took copious notes! You'll learn a lot from this book too, much more than the basics included in my short lesson. This book and R<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=ricky%20rooksby&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=RLIOHKUC77CZ6EXS" target="_blank">icky Rooksby</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />'s other excellent books are worthy books for adding to any musical library. <br />
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Thanks for reading my blog! Please become a regular reader by subscribing to these posts via email using the form on the right sidebar, and to our email newsletter, coming soon, by using the pop up box or scrolling bar.<br />
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I hope you have some fun making music today! <br />
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<br />Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-62289894023814638672016-03-03T04:00:00.000-08:002016-03-14T10:31:46.076-07:00How To Extend The Life of Your Strings<h2>
Double the Life of Your Strings</h2>
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<br />
It would be nice to extend the life of your strings to eliminate some of the recurring expense of string changes, wouldn't it?<br />
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It turns out that there are quite a few tricks and tips for doing just this.<br />
<br />
The first and most important ways to save your strings are obvious, but most of us have neglected to do these simple things from time to time:<br />
<br />
<h3>
Washing Your Hands Before Playing</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Fo98erok3bASgp50cp-uaU3gh16iTB8o-zhzVhXis4qu8-MoYGyMCDdvdxYm8pH7iN86_q1BNmqyeSByq4-4M1LfABFiaE9IdSiCy0s3Ss9G9Zul_CjsKXQ6WTPh8Sr_hvtkeSM3A_E/s1600/pool-778207_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Fo98erok3bASgp50cp-uaU3gh16iTB8o-zhzVhXis4qu8-MoYGyMCDdvdxYm8pH7iN86_q1BNmqyeSByq4-4M1LfABFiaE9IdSiCy0s3Ss9G9Zul_CjsKXQ6WTPh8Sr_hvtkeSM3A_E/s320/pool-778207_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
</h3>
and<br />
<h3>
Wiping Down Your Strings When You're Done</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h4>
</h4>
<br />
All that is necessary is a quick wipe both over and under the strings to remove any dirt or oil.<br />
<br />
As with washing windows or mirrors, just any cloth will not do; it is best to use a microfiber cloth or something that will not leave any fibers, threads, or fuzz behind. A well washed soft cotton diaper works nicely.<br />
<br />
Grab each string with the cloth and wipe up and down the length of the string, being sure to get underneath. You can wipe the fretboard clean, too, while you are at it.<br />
<br />
Another more or less obvious tip is to <b>keep your instrument in a case</b> when you are not playing it, to protect against dust and grime.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY_NpgOlOY2i2XuLkBWXe8e9K_LwrNzZ7a1a8Cfv6vV8Z7RNZ_f67V724G8BrcqjHSbixdPopDL9jTZlk-hn8zPgB_1JIw-4ybePQeUFPsY2zL6ZWuNLM_ljHQDQnztlpzcluTc-VyCc/s1600/guitar-76458_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY_NpgOlOY2i2XuLkBWXe8e9K_LwrNzZ7a1a8Cfv6vV8Z7RNZ_f67V724G8BrcqjHSbixdPopDL9jTZlk-hn8zPgB_1JIw-4ybePQeUFPsY2zL6ZWuNLM_ljHQDQnztlpzcluTc-VyCc/s320/guitar-76458_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Starting with clean hands, ending with a wipe down, and putting your instrument safely away are obvious
ways to save your strings. Is there anything else you can do to get
more life from a set of strings?<br />
<br />
There a quite a few more ideas you can try, starting with these <br />
<br />
<h3>
Helpful Products:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D0CQC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002D0CQC&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=OY4XDMS4J27IYC4B">GHS Fast Fret String and Neck Lubricant</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0002D0CQC" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
- a string lubricant and cleaner that is also good for wood. This is not a spray; it has a handy applicator that makes using this beloved product super easy. For any string type.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D0CQC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002D0CQC&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=K54KA6T4BL2GB3B6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0002D0CQC&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=musnot0c-20" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GW3Y8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002GW3Y8&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=WTE3O65IPJS6F2JL">Fingerease</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0002GW3Y8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
- this affordable and famous string lubricant comes as a spray and promises the added benefits of less string squeak, reduced finger tenderness, and smoother callouses. For any string type.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002NIRIC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002NIRIC&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=FXFH3LBCMFW6ABFE">Dunlop 6582 Ultraglide 65 String Conditioner</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0002NIRIC" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
- a tried and true favorite of guitarists everywhere. For steel strings only. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>For steel strings, try coated strings. These last significantly longer than non coated strings. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=elixir%20strings&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=RL45JSQMVJG4G2DT" target="_blank">Elixir</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is the most recommended brand and I know some guitarists who won't play with anything else. </li>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
A Handy Hack for Steel Strings: Boiling</h3>
I tried this trick myself last year out of curiosity and it worked well. There was a lot gunk left in the pan when I was done and my dead strings sounded much nicer and lasted a few more weeks after this treatment.<br />
<br />
Here's a link to a page with <a href="http://www.get-tuned.com/boiling-guitar-strings.php" target="_blank">step by step instructions</a> and photos for boiling guitar strings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sx-qdGR-vdTBf4eEr4TRQoh6AGbojxLm_9JEWNPqAH6UcROSh5bMSHAiGa_fFuDUGY09NCtR1BShERAHmnV_Tx3XPz11-JMt7z5e4xqixUro42e5ImX3Yeh8cXjqJIOEJtmLornRgyg/s1600/acoustic-2108_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sx-qdGR-vdTBf4eEr4TRQoh6AGbojxLm_9JEWNPqAH6UcROSh5bMSHAiGa_fFuDUGY09NCtR1BShERAHmnV_Tx3XPz11-JMt7z5e4xqixUro42e5ImX3Yeh8cXjqJIOEJtmLornRgyg/s320/acoustic-2108_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Hacks For Extending the Life of Nylon Strings:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Reversing the strings- if your instrument has a tie-on bridge, you can use this method. Simply remove your strings and put them back on upside down, with the ends previously wound at the tuners tied to the bridge and vice versa. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Retying- if reversing sounds like too much trouble, you can simply loosen your strings at the tuning pegs and pull the slack up to the bridge and retie. This moves any worn areas away from the frets.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Soaking in a basin of room temp or lukewarm (NOT HOT) water with a quarter cup of ammonia for about fifteen minutes. While they are soaking, use a washcloth to wipe them. Then rinse with cool water and dry with a towel. This tip comes from Tom Prisloe at <a href="http://classicalguitarbuilder.com/">ClassicalGuitarBuilder.com</a>, who says that after this treatment, the strings won't squeak as much and won't need to stretch like new strings. He says washed strings are great for recording because they are smoother from being played in and have a lively, clear sound. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Have you tried any of these methods? Do you know any other ways to extend the life of strings (besides playing less)? If you do, please share in the comments below.<br />
<br />
I hope you have a great day! Happy Playing!Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-45202821460570865332016-02-25T07:38:00.000-08:002016-02-29T17:22:51.680-08:00Conquer Any Chord When You Know How to Build Them All<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
How To Build Chords</h2>
Chords are arrangements of particular notes sounded at the same time.<br />
<br />
Most folks begin learning chord shapes (how to play a C chord, for example) without really understanding how the chords are built and what notes are included in each chord.<br />
<br />
But there are a lot of chords, so it really helps to learn how they are built.<br />
<br />
<b>Then you can figure out how to play any chord- on any instrument!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Major Chords</h2>
Major Chords are built using the first, the (major) third, and the fifth <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/01/understanding-music-intro-to-intervals.html" target="_blank">interval</a> of the <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-can-easily-learn-every-scale.html" target="_blank">scale</a>. So, to make a C major chord, you use the C scale and choose the 1, 3, and 5 notes: C, E, and G.<br />
<br />
G Major would be played using the notes G-B-D.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMLuwo0zCrLcWjZmIzttu29B8573wLznWAxHGwLjFeGfpLP9SHMfEBBIwKiHnEhFpM3WfBCn_A-qnT8LaBVYFG8z2FK1uKjjJYJzj6CUKKnOgm1-Do02Ii7dlw3c7VAyn7k2hNZlR3RQ/s1600/chordsgguitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMLuwo0zCrLcWjZmIzttu29B8573wLznWAxHGwLjFeGfpLP9SHMfEBBIwKiHnEhFpM3WfBCn_A-qnT8LaBVYFG8z2FK1uKjjJYJzj6CUKKnOgm1-Do02Ii7dlw3c7VAyn7k2hNZlR3RQ/s320/chordsgguitar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just one of many ways to play a G major chord on a guitar (G-B-D-G-D-G). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2>
Minor Chords</h2>
Minor Chords include a minor third, rather than a major third interval, along with the root note and the fifth note of the scale. If you start with a major chord, you flatten the third. C minor is played C- E flat- G.<br />
<br />
G minor would be G-Bflat-D. So the young lady playing the G major chord on guitar in the illustration above could move her index finger down one semitone to the first fret.<br />
<br />
On a piano, you would simply move your middle finger one key to the left, if starting from the major.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Seventh Chords</h2>
Seventh Chords add another note: the seventh of the scale. There are three types of seventh chords:<br />
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Dominant Sevenths</b> take a major chord and add the flattened seventh interval or degree of the scale. so C7= C-E-G-Bflat </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Major Sevenths</b> add the major seventh interval to the major chord (so a semitone higher than that of the dominant seventh chords). CMajor7= C-E-G-B<b> </b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b> Minor Seventh </b>Chords start with a minor chord (flattened third), and add the flattened seventh on top of that. Cmin7= C-Eb (Eflat)-G-Bb (B flat)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Sus (Suspended) Chords</h2>
There are two types of Sus chords, <b>Sus2</b> and <b>Sus4</b>. It is also possible to use them together.<br />
<br />
These chords are formed when the third is omitted and the second or fourth is played instead. Because of having no third, these chords are neither major nor minor and so have an ambiguous sound.<br />
<br />
Csus2= C-D-G; Csus4= C-F-G. Or you could play a Csus with both the second and the fourth: C-D-F-G<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Sixth Chords</h2>
These simply add the sixth to the major or minor triad. So, for C: C-E-G-A<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
Augmented Chords</h2>
These begin with a major or minor chord, but the fifth is sharpened, and becomes an augmented fifth interval. In other words, you raise the top note by half a step. C becomes C-E-G# when augmented, generally notated as C+ .<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
Diminished Chords</h2>
Diminished chords are interesting and special.<br />
<br />
They are entirely built using minor third intervals.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Diminished Triads</b> use the root note, then a minor third, and another minor third (the flatted fifth). So for C: C-Eflat-Gflat</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Diminished Seventh Chords </b>are made by stacking another minor third on top of the basic diminished triad by also adding a double flattened seventh.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Half Diminished Chords</b> use the basic diminished chord triad of minor third intervals, but include a major third (the flattened seventh) on top. </li>
</ul>
There is a special use for diminished chords, as the seventh chord of any key; we will look at chord progressions here soon.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Extended Chords</h2>
These extend major or minor triad chords beyond the octave by adding the ninth, the eleventh, or the thirteenth.<br />
<br />
Cadd9, for example, would add a D note to the C major triad: C-E-G-D. <br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
Inversions</h2>
Inversions are made by rearranging the notes within a chord. That is, when you play a note other than the root note as the bass (or lowest note of the chord).<br />
<br />
In a major or minor chord, because there are three notes, there are two choices other than the root to use as the bass note:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>First Inversions</b> use the third (or minor third, in a minor chord) as the bass note, and</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Second Inversions</b> use the fifth of the chord as the lowest note.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Inversions are notated as "<b>Slash Chords</b>." Such as C/E, read as "C over E," meaning E bass note played under a C chord, which is the first inversion of the C major chord.<br />
<br />
We will look more closely at and play some slash chords in an upcoming post here.<br />
<br />
You can also play inversions of other types of chords. Diminished seventh chords, listed above, are particularly easy to play inversions: because all the notes are at minor third intervals, if you move them by a minor third (three frets up or down the neck on a guitar), then the notes continue to hold their same relationship.<br />
<br />
<b>So, there are a whole lot of chords, but you can play them all when you understand how each is built!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuKLmwcdvGzoSwXeqN1b3apfZe9Cfx5hhfaWNbCkoeW4A9O9dkzTu85AiKGPPJUmwBiNM0kBNQZHcY_WX9rHl2kLOeK9bLthaWYdGiBSWBw5TqgG1bK5CcTJtys_b5eZ3MyR2oH-ACvk/s1600/Conquer+Any+Song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuKLmwcdvGzoSwXeqN1b3apfZe9Cfx5hhfaWNbCkoeW4A9O9dkzTu85AiKGPPJUmwBiNM0kBNQZHcY_WX9rHl2kLOeK9bLthaWYdGiBSWBw5TqgG1bK5CcTJtys_b5eZ3MyR2oH-ACvk/s320/Conquer+Any+Song.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Please subscribe to this blog by entering your email in the right
sidebar, and to our email newsletter using the pop up box or scrolling
bar. And have a great day! Make some music!<br />
<br />Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-81515024167594823152016-02-19T15:52:00.000-08:002016-02-19T19:02:06.245-08:00Five Fun Songs for Ukulele (Plus One) <h2>
Five Fun Songs for Ukulele (Plus One) </h2>
Hi, ya'll. If you have been stalking this blog looking for a post here this week, please accept my apologies. I am working on two handfuls of fun and educational stuff to post here (as well as an ebook).<br />
<br />
But I want to include video and audio recordings in these, and I'm having technical difficulties with the sound. Plus the weather has been clear and warm and getting outside has been most important here. That and to be completely honest, I have had a hard time this week putting down the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HYKF1A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008HYKF1A&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=2IFXKKHI6BLP6Y7H" rel="nofollow">Gretsch Tenor</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B008HYKF1A" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
I have been playing lately; making music has demanded my time over writing!<br />
<br />
Here are some songs that I find such fun to play that I keep playing them over and over again. Learn one or some or all of them this weekend or soon and you will have fun jamming too. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
1. Stressed Out- Twenty One Pilots</h3>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pXRviuL6vMY" width="560"></iframe>
I have never really been a "Top Hits" kind of gal, but when I heard this song the other day, I just knew I had to play it. And it is really fun to play these several progressions that make up this song. I had been messing about with chord progressions between F and A minor and D minor on ukulele myself recently; I think this may be why this song particularly struck my ears and said play me on the ukulele. It's fun to play on guitar as well. The rapping singsong style makes this an easy song to sing, too.<br />
There are three progressions here: verses and prechorus with F to Dm to A minor; chorus with F-Em-Am-Em-Am-G-C-E (times two); and the bridge goes Am-G-C-Em (times three)<br />
<br />
<h3>
2. Breakdown- Jack Johnson </h3>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/axRwQnEBEW8" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
I think I included this song in my list of <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/01/easy-beginner-songs-to-play-on-acoustic.html" target="_blank">Easy Beginner Songs to Play on Acoustic Guitar,</a> or if I didn't, I sure could have. Or I could include it in the upcoming list of EASY songs to play on ukulele as well. I have been thinking of this song as an easy song, but not an incredibly fun one, as I first learned it as a strum along, and it is super simple with the same four chord progression repeating throughout. I recently heard this version of Jack playing this song with Jake Shimabukuro, and WOW, this sounds so delicious that I was running for my uke to try to play along. This song is immense fun to play fingerstyle rather than just strumming chords.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3. American Pie- Don McLean</h3>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RciM7P9K3FA" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
This song is fun because everyone seems to love to sing it- and you'll be glad to have the help! I saw David Letterman quote Jon Mayer as saying this song is "kind of a beast." And Mayer obviously believed it, because he sang the song and ripped out some signature lead lines, but let the band play the progression while he wore his guitar and focused on just singing. This would be an easy song, as there are no difficult chords or changes here, particularly on guitar (as E minor is easier on guitar than on ukulele), but the progression is so long it takes a lot of repeats of playing this with a lead sheet in hand to commit the verse progression to memory. That's okay though, because you will have fun every time you play it. I find this song equally fun to play on ukulele or guitar.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4. Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson</h3>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7yv-Mpxua-g" width="560"></iframe>
This song is just pure fun to play, the dominant seventh quickly changing chord progression in the verses can't help but make you smile. They are easy changes on ukulele, and not difficult on guitar.<br />
<br />
And this video has me itching to get my hands on an accordion; that would be tremendous fun to play, I bet! <br />
<br />
I have had trouble limiting the Jack Johnson songs for this list; he has so many that I could write a post titled Twenty Five (or more!) Fun to Play Jack Johnson Songs. Shot Reverse Shot, Washing Dishes, Better Together, and Talk of the Town are several that we have been playing often most recently. <br />
<br />
<h3>
5. Every Morning- J Mascis</h3>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9dk-obVk9SE" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Up your tempo to jam this easy song. I love playing this on guitar, too, but I am finding that J's acoustic songs sound really great on my ukulele. This easy to play song is just a 3 chord trick: G-Am-C-G, with a different bit for the "Oh Baby, can't you see me, seeeeeeeeeeee meeeeee:" That part is D to C, then D to C to Am. What a fun video, I know they must have had a good time making this little film!<br />
<br />
<h3>
6. Is It Done- J Mascis</h3>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3N9yhRlNaUw" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
This song on ukulele is my fun project for this weekend. Playing the version of Breakdown with Jake Shimabukuro listed above made me think of this song, which I know will sound similarly beautiful on the ukulele. Plus, I wanted to post this video here, too. <3 I love love love love love J Mascis's music, from the entire <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=dinosaur%20jr&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=PCASWWKYS2MT73OD" target="_blank">dinosaur jr</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> catalog to J's powerful drumming with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ECX0K6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000ECX0K6&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=PD3GZ2N7OVCOPYBI" rel="nofollow">Witch</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000ECX0K6" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, to- and especially, his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=j%20mascis&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=JJC6A47SW3B2R2FE" target="_blank">acoustic stuff</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. I have had SO MUCH FUN playing along with and learning from J on guitar, I am not sure why it has taken me this long to start playing his songs on ukulele. I sure am enjoying doing so! J's first acoustic album, Live at CBGB, is what inspired me to finally (in my 30s) learn to play music myself. I would listen to that album over and over and it would hurt how badly I wanted to be able to play along with him. This video makes me go fan girl gaga. Did I say how much I love J Mascis yet?<br />
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What are your favorite fun songs to play on ukulele? Please comment and let us know! Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-45890694461411046062016-02-10T08:16:00.000-08:002016-02-10T11:55:13.516-08:00Cordoba Protege Ukulele Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEGCydpDrEPDjLNNIH-Ufbf9wD7pnctgYBp1ISoJ14m8bYliZ_lwH2zFOwtbtyT3Ti1NZwwizva5ioGDDTAA8HZOqyEovZYCFdNOyayzZaAsjvEyZtTGEevfad_xJ9FKc5UrbKQ0FH5g/s1600/Cordoba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEGCydpDrEPDjLNNIH-Ufbf9wD7pnctgYBp1ISoJ14m8bYliZ_lwH2zFOwtbtyT3Ti1NZwwizva5ioGDDTAA8HZOqyEovZYCFdNOyayzZaAsjvEyZtTGEevfad_xJ9FKc5UrbKQ0FH5g/s320/Cordoba.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I bought the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LHR3RSC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LHR3RSC&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=2YV3VGNIKC77AGAH" rel="nofollow">Protégé by Cordoba U1 Concert Ukulele</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00LHR3RSC" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
on a whim, because I fell in love with it at the guitar store. It was a fabulous price, and was obviously a quality, well made instrument. And I loved the sound, even though I didn't know how to play it! I hadn't planned to play ukulele, so I had no idea of the tuning or chord shapes for this precious little baby instrument, but I was compelled to take it home with me.<br />
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I gave it to my husband as a spontaneous surprise gift; I figured I was less likely to be in trouble for such a spur of the moment purchase when it was for him, and I figured we could take turns and see how we liked it.<br />
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Well, taking turns didn't work well as it was way too much fun to share! I went back to the store on the very next day, and bought another one so we both could play. (I knew Cordoba was a good choice, but decided to try another model from this maker, rather than us have two just alike. I'll review that one here, too).<br />
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About the Protege, this ukulele is particularly sweet. It is solid mahogany, with a satin finish, meaning there is no laminate coating here. This ukulele is pretty in an understated and natural way. The abalone rosette is simply elegant. The simple look is uncluttered by any binding, just the lovely satin brown mahogany and classic shape stand out when looking at this lovely ukulele.<br />
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My Mr. says that mellow is the word he would use to describe the charm of this uke.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojIzSzJKZDAgayPrO3z2RMDepNcb5uUDzraI3d2d-VHai4vIkAdSlE7H0zWWhRjoLKEi4kIaWl6PzxDpcPWJTZk99nCiMSbNMMRpnmKKygQJ5Y2GTHhMlCJE0Xtuc6-6BnmRo3KocAhM/s1600/protege2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojIzSzJKZDAgayPrO3z2RMDepNcb5uUDzraI3d2d-VHai4vIkAdSlE7H0zWWhRjoLKEi4kIaWl6PzxDpcPWJTZk99nCiMSbNMMRpnmKKygQJ5Y2GTHhMlCJE0Xtuc6-6BnmRo3KocAhM/s320/protege2.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He loves this ukulele</div>
<br />
Sweet is definitely the word that best describes its tone; it sounds bright (yet mellow) and special. The one we have gets to buzzing a little when it is really played, but it is a nice buzz, like the ukulele is singing along to accompany itself. I know this is caused by the comfortable, super low action (action is the amount of space between the strings and the fretboard) on this easy to play sweetie. I think this gentle buzz could be easily eliminated by raising the action a little, but he enjoys the subtle vibration that comes through. <br />
<br />
For the price, I don't think you could beat this uke in quality or appeal and I recommend the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LHR3RSC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LHR3RSC&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=2YV3VGNIKC77AGAH" rel="nofollow">Protégé by Cordoba U1 Concert Ukulele</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00LHR3RSC" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
as a bargain entry level ukulele that performs with sweet style.<br />
<br />
If you don't have your ukulele yet, do yourself a favor and click over to Amazon and buy one of these now! You will be so glad you did and you will love your ukulele too.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=musnot0c-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00LHR3RSC&asins=B00LHR3RSC&linkId=5L5ZV3Q6PHYIOXJS&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-60303228184572661262016-02-09T11:21:00.000-08:002016-02-09T11:21:49.107-08:00How To Boost Your Ukulele Strumming Skills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Strumming is the act of striking all of the strings in rapid succession so that they all ring out together. This is opposed to picking, in which individual notes are sounded by picking usually one string at a time.<br />
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Practice and apply the following strumming basics and tricks to boost your strumming repertoire and skills in no time! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37eUf5aqKFDzn7r1bMmIy6MZPQv8D8Ob8Tn8oPuGwwI6pFsr9b28hDhrfevGCbKDmeo5Gt2AUQH8d44QOCcfoZbpNAd3gObJkPyCRcyj25gkgcrwGDOlPzexaY07I8WG_FqTin7smB7o/s1600/How+to+strum+ukulele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37eUf5aqKFDzn7r1bMmIy6MZPQv8D8Ob8Tn8oPuGwwI6pFsr9b28hDhrfevGCbKDmeo5Gt2AUQH8d44QOCcfoZbpNAd3gObJkPyCRcyj25gkgcrwGDOlPzexaY07I8WG_FqTin7smB7o/s320/How+to+strum+ukulele.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<h3>
The Sweet Spot </h3>
<br />
The first thing to know is that you do not strum the ukulele in front of the sound hole, as you would on an acoustic guitar. Your ukulele has a sweet spot where strumming sounds best. On most ukuleles, this sweet spot is at the juncture where the neck joins the body, although this may be found further down the neck, perhaps around the twelfth fret. Try strumming your uke where the neck joins the body,at the twelfth fret, then further down the neck around the tenth fret, then closer to the sound hole, especially if your uke is a tenor, and listen to the differences in the quality of sound produced by your strumming. See if you can find your ukulele's sweet spot yourself. She'll love you when you do!<br />
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<h3>
Strumming Patterns</h3>
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Your strumming pattern is your rhythm in strumming songs, provided by the order of and variation in your up strums and down strums. Strumming patterns range from ultra simple quarter note down strums and down-up-down-up-down-up-down-up eighth note patterns repeated throughout entire songs all the way to highly complex patterns, sometimes with different simple or complex patterns used in different song sections.<br />
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You should be able to strum consistently and at an even tempo, using both up and down strums, and experiment with the different sounds achieved by different strumming patterns.<br />
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<h4>
The "Swiss Army Strum"</h4>
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To start, you could use this strum. Alistair Wood recommends it in his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119135974/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119135974&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=7UTGHLZ4KPZNW363" rel="nofollow">Ukulele For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1119135974" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, as being as universally useful as a swiss army knife. He says it is the tool of a thousand uses, strum of a thousand songs. I bet it could be useful in many thousands of songs.<br />
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You count and strum it like this:<br />
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one two and three and four<br />
down down up up down <br />
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<h4>
The "Universal Strum"</h4>
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This strum is the previously mentioned simplest strum of all, quarter note down strums: one-two-three-four<br />
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Both these strums are useful tools to have in your pocket when you set out on your ukulele journey.<br />
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You can learn lots more strumming patterns when you read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119135974/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119135974&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=7UTGHLZ4KPZNW363" rel="nofollow">Ukulele For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1119135974" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118506855/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118506855&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=WW2XD32HH25EUPPC" rel="nofollow">Ukulele Exercises For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1118506855" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
or other resources, and also by listening to songs and by experimenting and playing, which I say you should do as much as you can.<br />
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<h3>
Use Your Fingers, Please!</h3>
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Alistair Wood also says that a fairy dies every time someone strums a uke with a pick, and he strongly recommends not to use one. I wholeheartedly agree and suggest you use your fingers to strum. Not only does it sound better, it also offers you the more authentic experience of feeling the strings beneath your fingers.<br />
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Your strumming hand has five fingers, and so you have a lot of options for strumming the uke:<br />
<ul>
<li>Your thumb- the simplest way to strum. Be careful not to get in the habit of clutching the bottom of the uke with your other fingers if you rely on this strum.</li>
<li>Your index finger- probably your most used strum.</li>
<li>Your index finger and thumb- there are a few ways to combine these digits for strumming. My favorite is the triple strum, taught to me by Jake Shimabukuro himself (via YouTube). For this strum, you down strum with your index finger, followed by a quick upstroke with your thumb, and then another up strum with your index finger. This is a mighty handy strum, especially for songs in 3/4 time.</li>
<li>Four fingers- "Rolls" I find myself using these most often to accentuate a chorus or line in many songs.</li>
<li>Five, Eight, Ten fingers- Rolls can be played like this, too!</li>
</ul>
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If you insist, like one child player I know that you'd rather use a pick than your delicate fingers, be sure to use a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=felt%20ukulele%20pick&linkCode=ur2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=GZ25YK4WWLXQXFON" target="_blank">felt ukulele pick</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, as this will sound far more pleasing than the plastic pluck of a guitar pick. <br />
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<h3>
Fancier Strumming is Easy, Too</h3>
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Try some of these moves for variety and panache. <br />
<ul>
<li>Figure 8- instead of strumming up and down across the sweet spot of your ukulele, for this showy strum you begin with a down strum around fret four, then continue moving your finger in an arc to up strum across the sweet spot, then arc around and down strum above the sound hole, near the bridge, then around and back up strum across the sweet spot, arc around to down strum again around the fourth or fifth fret. So your finger traces the pattern of a figure eight straddling the fret board.</li>
<li>Vibrato- quickly roll your index finger back and forth across all strings. </li>
<li>Rolls- previously mentioned,but these deserve your attention. There are many ways to rapidly roll your fingers over the strings, and these range from simple rolls you can pick up immediately with practice, to delicate and dramatic rolls that you might have to work up to having skill with.</li>
<li> Split Strum- the easiest way to do this is to strike the G and C strings on your down strum and play just the A and E strings on the up strum. </li>
</ul>
The most important thing is that you play, so experiment with all of these strums. For more info on how to, including some awesome books and websites that can further help, check our post on <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/ukulele-resources.html" target="_blank">useful ukulele resources</a>. <br />
<br />Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-40608865893117833112016-02-08T10:10:00.000-08:002016-02-08T15:33:55.806-08:00Useful Ukulele Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After (or as soon as) you <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/01/playing-ukulele-is-fun-and-easy.html" target="_blank">get your ukulele</a>, it will be useful to have a few good resources to help you learn what you need to know to play and advance your playing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV71CwPc24dr_-jMNoVcFxtALHIuFWwSVBVkm-cq7SodrLVlbzUNo4xE9yyqssXUH1ZH7NKwGlFXUV0KqqoZXrH8m6WqqTQ6XLqQMUYYfsiwNHCSDP5OIk_eX13-3L5OIarjPwEm3wiU/s1600/FavoriteUkulele+Resources.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV71CwPc24dr_-jMNoVcFxtALHIuFWwSVBVkm-cq7SodrLVlbzUNo4xE9yyqssXUH1ZH7NKwGlFXUV0KqqoZXrH8m6WqqTQ6XLqQMUYYfsiwNHCSDP5OIk_eX13-3L5OIarjPwEm3wiU/s320/FavoriteUkulele+Resources.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<h3>
To Jump In and Get Playing without having to read much:</h3>
<br />
If you
just want to play the ukulele and don't want to read a comprehensive
book, I recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0634079867/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0634079867&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=UWSJYWE7G4MDJRA5" rel="nofollow">Hal Leonard Ukulele Method Book 1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0634079867" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423416171/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1423416171&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=E5JYYAOIA6D26BQ3" rel="nofollow">Book 2</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1423416171" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
. Book 1
is so ridiculously easy that immediately or quite soon you will be able to run through
the few song selections and skills here and will be hungry for more
songs and info, so I strongly recommend getting both of these short books.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=musnot0c-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0634079867&asins=0634079867&linkId=662TYF2CVGS6SUEZ&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
The Best How-To Guide: </h2>
<h4>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119135974/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119135974&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=QT5I2ZSWSS5V7NEK" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1119135974&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=musnot0c-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1119135974" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><----book photos are clickable links </h4>
<br />
The very first resource I recommend is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119135974/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119135974&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=WUR5MTPPWVMRA562" rel="nofollow">Ukulele For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1119135974" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
. Again I say here, do not be put off by being called a Dummy; this book is an excellent resource and tells you everything you need to know, in an in depth and understandable way. From chord charts and all the explanation you need to start reading and using tab and notation, to strumming and syncopation, scales and single note picking techniques, to anatomy and history of the instrument, to styles and players to know and songs and exercises to play, it is all covered here in this entertaining volume. The knowledge you will gain from this book is an excellent value.<br />
<br />
<h2>
For Sharpening Skills:</h2>
A helpful and exhaustive companion to the Ukulele for Dummies book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118506855/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118506855&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=FL2S6MOX7XJEKNGV" rel="nofollow">Ukulele Exercises For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1118506855" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118506855/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118506855&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=LH6VDXV5APOTKKFC" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1118506855&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=musnot0c-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1118506855" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
This book is incredibly comprehensive and gives many exercises and tons of great info for expanding your skill set on this delightful little instrument that is such great fun to play.<br />
<br />
Despite the Dummy names, I think <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119135974/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119135974&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=CATQE5OGP4PJXY57" rel="nofollow">Ukulele For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1119135974" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118506855/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118506855&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=CDCWP6WBDEJE5MIN" rel="nofollow">Ukulele Exercises For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1118506855" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
together constitute a complete course, taking you from complete dummy or beginner to accomplished ukeist as quickly as you'd like to get there.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Recommended on the Web:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ukuleletricks.com/" target="_blank">Ukulele Tricks</a> - from Brett McQueen, Author of Ukulele Tricks for Dummies. A great site.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.gotaukulele.com/" target="_blank">Got A Ukulele</a>- Barry Maz. His video reviews are especially helpful, and he has many. I'll like to read his books, but I haven't yet.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukulelehunt.com/" target="_blank">Ukulele Hunt</a>- Alistair Wood, author of Ukulele for Dummies. Lots of info here.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukeschool.com/" target="_blank">Uke School</a>- easy beginner info that's super helpful for a quick start.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mikewarrenuke.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mike Warren's Ukulele Barn</a>- Mike has info, a forum, and videos</li>
<li><a href="http://ukebuddy.com/" target="_blank">UkeBuddy</a>- I hadn't seen this resource before now, but it's a handy dandy chord finder tool, with lots more info there too. </li>
<li><a href="http://ozbcoz.com/" target="_blank">Jim's Ukulele Songbook</a>- a fabulous and generous reference, thanks, Jim! </li>
</ul>
Let me know if there are more resources you'd like to see included here.<br />
<br />
<b>Please subscribe</b> to our blog posts by signing up on the right sidebar. <b>Sign up for our email newsletter</b> for tips and content not published on the blog, as well as upcoming free gifts and advance info on our upcoming ebooks, opt in to this list using the pop up or scrolling bar.<br />
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Have a wonderful day! Thank you for using my affiliate links for your Amazon purchases; it helps me at no cost to you.<br />
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<br />Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-88781409205185888582016-02-01T14:03:00.001-08:002016-03-14T10:32:33.079-07:00You Can Easily Learn Every Scale Let's take a look at scales. If you look in a book or detailed table of scales, you can easily become overwhelmed! I certainly was: I brought home a book of scales from the library and was aghast to discover that there are hundreds of scales! I felt it would be impossible to learn all or even many of these scales and was quite confused.<br />
<br />
<h3>
There are a lot of scales!</h3>
<br />
There is the major scale- twelve of these, one for each of the notes, as well as minor scales, many "modes," pentatonic major and pentatonic minor scales, and blues scales. The minor scales can seem further confusing, as there are natural minor, melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales. So it can seem that understanding and learning to play them all is an enormous task! <br />
<br />
This is not true, thank goodness, and it is indeed easily possible for anyone to learn ALL of the scales, when the way they are built (or, spelled) is understood.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Start by learning to build Major Scales</h3>
<br />
All you really need to know to get started is how to spell a major
scale. And that's easy! The major scale is the master scale because all of the scales (all of the modes and their variations, as well as both types of pentatonic) are built from this one; once you understand how to spell major scales, you can then learn to spell any other scale you want. So let's do it now:<br />
<br />
The formula for building any major scale is two-two-one-two-two-two-one, or whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half- steps, that is. I have previously written <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/01/understanding-music-intro-to-intervals.html" target="_blank">about these intervals here</a>.<br />
<br />
From the
first note of the scale (the key, or tonic center), you move a whole step to the next note in the
scale, followed by another whole step, and then a half step, then three
whole steps in a row ending with a half step interval. A half step is the distance between any two keys on the piano, or frets on a guitar, ukulele, or bass, for example. A whole step distance would be two piano keys of frets apart.<br />
<br />
The C scale or
key is the simplest to spell, as this is the only key which uses all
natural notes- no sharps or flats- to spell the scale. It will be helpful to our further studies if we begin by numbering the notes in each scale.<br />
<br />
So C scale=<br />
<ol>
<li>C</li>
<li>D</li>
<li>E</li>
<li>F</li>
<li>G</li>
<li>A</li>
<li>B</li>
<li>C</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-WiPKnO7TKxmTxWU9p6QI3SxsdFNlV-PDBcL6pJYh1v4wxdAmOksc2uJkqm2jrrBEFifCncRW9iGYPaFzztqYkDrTp4yMqm3Nt66jcmlQMkMZgJbBxpBjAswautRAouFuNW8NWPoJ-8/s1600/scalec2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-WiPKnO7TKxmTxWU9p6QI3SxsdFNlV-PDBcL6pJYh1v4wxdAmOksc2uJkqm2jrrBEFifCncRW9iGYPaFzztqYkDrTp4yMqm3Nt66jcmlQMkMZgJbBxpBjAswautRAouFuNW8NWPoJ-8/s320/scalec2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
C scale</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Remember, there is only a half step between the notes B and C,
and again between E and F.<br />
<br />
There are 12 major scales, one for each note: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B.<br />
<br />
<h4>
But what about the flat notes and keys?</h4>
C sharp is also D flat; D sharp is E flat; F sharp is G flat; G sharp is A flat; A sharp is B flat. The sharps and flats are called enharmonic notes, meaning these are different names for the same note: A note is sharp when it is one half step higher in pitch than the note
preceeding it, and flat when it is a half step (semitone) lower than the
preceeding note.<br />
<br />
The G major scale uses just one sharp; it is the seventh note of the scale, which falls on F#. So the G
scale is spelled G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G. You will see songs that are played
in the key of G notated using this key signature, one sharp, denoted on
the F line, just before the time signature at the beginning of a piece
of music in the key of G.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocwMdJJZ_QHNC9OE9SA9C9for1glM0YgJEd95LVWLgNtvX0bJ95QYOClt4t1yoC_TFE-jg5YzhSDNqYS54gxudv3E-L27qp1a6K7qLw5WV2_eikhszFX4smYxSAU9zm2efeF5HwQ-YKI/s1600/scaleG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocwMdJJZ_QHNC9OE9SA9C9for1glM0YgJEd95LVWLgNtvX0bJ95QYOClt4t1yoC_TFE-jg5YzhSDNqYS54gxudv3E-L27qp1a6K7qLw5WV2_eikhszFX4smYxSAU9zm2efeF5HwQ-YKI/s320/scaleG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
G scale (and key)</div>
<br />
But music written in the key of G could also include scales from any
modes of G: G major, or Ionian, scales, or those of A Dorian, B
Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian, or F# Locrian.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What are these modes?</h3>
<br />
The major and minor scales and the others are each
individual modes. Any major scale in modal speak is that note's Ionian
scale. Here's the list of modes:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ionian</li>
<li>Dorian</li>
<li>Phrygian</li>
<li>Lydian</li>
<li>Mixolydian</li>
<li>Aeolian</li>
<li>Locrian </li>
</ul>
<br />
Ionian is the major mode. Each successive mode of a key begins and ends on the next note of the major scale, rather than the key note.<br />
<br />
If we started with C
major, or Ionian, then D Dorian would follow. This scale is the exact
same scale as the major scale before it, except it starts and ends on the next
note, D. Then you would have E Phrygian, the C major scale beginning
and ending on E notes, rather than C. Beginning this scale on F gives
you the Lydian mode; on G is Mixolydian, A Aeolian, and beginning and
ending on B would be the B Locrian. <br />
<br />
For any other key, Dorian mode will begin and end on the ii note of the key scale, Phrygian on iii, Lydian on iv, Mixolydian on v, Aeolian on vi, and Locrian on vii. If you started
with a B major scale, the next mode of B would be C Dorian, using the
same B scale but starting and ending on C notes, then D Phrygian. And
on and on through the modes, each one in the key of B using the B major scale but
beginning and ending on subsequent notes.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
What about Minor Scales? </h3>
<br />
The Aeolian mode of any key is the relative natural minor for the
parent scale in the series. That is, the vi note in any major scale is that major key's relative minor.<br />
<br />
The melodic and harmonic minor scales are additional options outside
of the modes, as these scales have been built more recently than the
ancient modes.<br />
<br />
All minor scales have a minor (flattened) third, rather than a major third.<br />
<br />
<b>Natural minor</b> scales are built from scratch using this formula: two-one-two-two-one-two-two. Or, whole- half--whole-whole-half-whole-whole, counting by steps. Remember, we can also find this scale as the Aeolian mode, by starting and ending the scale on note six of the relative major key.<br />
<br />
The <b>harmonic minor</b> scale differs by having the seventh note raised by a half tone. So the interval pattern of harmonic minor scales is: two-one-two-two-one-three-one. The seventh tone of any scale is known as the leading note, as it strongly pulls to the next note, which is the tonic or key note. Having the major (sharpened) seventh leading note heightens the harmonic pull between these notes.<br />
<br />
That wide step and a half interval in the harmonic minor scale is awkwardly wide, however- scales generally don't leap that wide an interval.
<br />
<br />
So to solve this, the <b>melodic minor</b> scale was invented. This scale also raises the sixth note. So the interval pattern for the melodic minor scale is two-one-two-two-two-two-one. <br />
<br />
Often, but by no means always, the melodic and natural minor scales are paired, with the melodic minor (raised sixth and seventh notes) played while ascending, and the natural minor scale for the descending notes. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Pentatonic Scales </h3>
<br />
Additionally, within any key, there are both major
pentatonic and the relative minor pentatonic scales. Pentatonic scales
are simply scales abbreviated to a particular five, rather than seven,
notes.<br />
<br />
These scales are used widely in a vast variety of musical styles. They are particularly handy for composing leads for guitar (or ukulele), because the omission of any half steps in the pattern makes this scale sound harmonically pleasing over every chord in a progression; it's a safe and easy choice because you won't play any alien or outside notes no matter what chord the progression uses in any key. <br />
<br />
For the pentatonic major scales, you play only notes one, two, three, five, and six, omitting the fourth and the seventh notes of the regular Major scales. So for the C scale, you would play C-D-E-G-A.<br />
<br />
To play pentatonic minor scales, choose only notes one, three, four, five, and seven from the natural minor scales. So A minor pentatonic uses the notes A-C-D-E-G.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Blues Scale</h3>
<br />
The blues scale adds a sixth note to the pentatonic minor scale, the flattened fifth. Using the example of A minor, the Blues scale would use A-C-D-E flat-E-G. This extra, flatted note, is known as a blue note. There is another possible blue note, the flatted seventh; so you could also play an A Blues scale using notes A-C-D-Eb-E-Gb-G.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Which Scales are Most Commonly Used? </h3>
<br />
You will find that most songs will use either full (seven note) or pentatonic versions of the
Major or minor scales. In popular music,
outside of the major or minor scales, Mixolydian mode seems to be the most frequently
used of the modes, and its characteristic flattened seventh note gives rock
and pop music much flavor. You will find examples of each mode being used in various styles of music, and some modes appear more frequently than others.<br />
<br />
You can write songs in any mode, or using any scale that you like.<br />
<br />
There are
indeed quite a lot of scales, but you don't have to learn them all
individually as you see they are not so separate from each other.<br />
<br />
<h4>
It is
easy to learn to spell (and to play) them all. And your options for solos are endless!
</h4>
<br />
Please subscribe to this blog for more information on understanding and playing music of all kinds!Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-75866303500375040892016-01-26T12:25:00.001-08:002016-03-10T08:15:51.082-08:00Understanding Music: Intro to IntervalsAn interval in music is the distance between notes. Music is made of intervals. All chords, scales, and melodies are built on intervals, so this is a basic of music theory that you need to begin understanding (if you don't yet).<br />
<br />
We will not go into detail here, as those details will begin to fill in when you <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-can-easily-learn-every-scale.html" target="_blank">understand scales</a>, chord theory, and as you play and learn.<br />
<br />
Notes that are at the unison interval are simply the same notes. If you
play the same note twice in a row, or if you play the same note doubled,
you play a unison interval. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm3zoOC8jokpkXB-crnUX5MCFH7ItxWp2r0f8J8DOwIxFIZa4LAfMzqCQuyRGHxPkEc6ksLUC4Akqu6yCJASCP-Gs4ctXLTX4OupjP3Orcv3mUXXzbIGPHuTMDnrcEA0yN0j0gARH4-s/s1600/intervalsunison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm3zoOC8jokpkXB-crnUX5MCFH7ItxWp2r0f8J8DOwIxFIZa4LAfMzqCQuyRGHxPkEc6ksLUC4Akqu6yCJASCP-Gs4ctXLTX4OupjP3Orcv3mUXXzbIGPHuTMDnrcEA0yN0j0gARH4-s/s320/intervalsunison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unison notes</div>
<br />
After this, the shortest interval is a semitone, or half step. This interval occurs between the notes A and A# (sharp), for example. Or B and Bb (flat). A# and Bb are the same note, by the way! The sharps and flats are known as enharmonic. I have written more about this in <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-can-easily-learn-every-scale.html" target="_blank">the scales post</a>.<br />
<br />
It is only a half step, also known as a minor second interval, between the notes B and C, and also between E and F; these notes don't have sharp or flat notes between them. You see this on the piano by the patterned groupings of black keys, which are all sharps and flats. There is no black key between the notes B and C, or between E and F. A semitone, half step, or minor second interval are different names for the distance between any piano key and the adjacent key, whether white or black.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RT9TFUKAOREyTjN1tWy_tTJPoPSlSfy4YApqUpg5Viid1OmgMwV9RhS4ILXxiHhUPLE2Kq8408vGvGBUqGTgT3gnOuTuhwsfF0-TA_TEUqMoL8uRrG1Yg7UpqDRh3hyphenhyphen-qayt2bu631M/s1600/intervals1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RT9TFUKAOREyTjN1tWy_tTJPoPSlSfy4YApqUpg5Viid1OmgMwV9RhS4ILXxiHhUPLE2Kq8408vGvGBUqGTgT3gnOuTuhwsfF0-TA_TEUqMoL8uRrG1Yg7UpqDRh3hyphenhyphen-qayt2bu631M/s320/intervals1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
On a ukulele or guitar, a semitone is the distance between two adjacent frets on any string:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQWrRr5ftNSiG3kSWcvftotwSVFI5oK0G0btqM5FKB5AyCkOvALm_2v4DjZTBhUrf3rW6GTx7qxePp7KbFaEL3ogAZy0XdUwD0UEw0aoLO21YrkCr02n1JdNraaWw2a1MaJw8gcwP31I/s1600/intervals3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQWrRr5ftNSiG3kSWcvftotwSVFI5oK0G0btqM5FKB5AyCkOvALm_2v4DjZTBhUrf3rW6GTx7qxePp7KbFaEL3ogAZy0XdUwD0UEw0aoLO21YrkCr02n1JdNraaWw2a1MaJw8gcwP31I/s320/intervals3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A tone, or step is the distance between the notes A and B, for example, or C and D, or D and E. Or two keys apart on the piano or two frets apart on a guitar, ukulele, or bass. A tone is also known as a major second interval. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylkLojFRzSjnSKR_t_RicOIjDbUB47KDJyTEiqgM_WwHdRa-j8joTg_z0LWFDma4rFS4DR-AHIepb-jobZCwe5GM_Jx4-p0rFRGTnCgE1bLhj5RCtpl7zmAWsW9HsHa8uwgAgRvft77s/s1600/intervalssteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylkLojFRzSjnSKR_t_RicOIjDbUB47KDJyTEiqgM_WwHdRa-j8joTg_z0LWFDma4rFS4DR-AHIepb-jobZCwe5GM_Jx4-p0rFRGTnCgE1bLhj5RCtpl7zmAWsW9HsHa8uwgAgRvft77s/s640/intervalssteps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Each of these notes are a tone, or major second interval, from the next.</div>
<br />
<br />
An interval of an eighth is an octave. So if you played middle C, for example, and then the C above that, you have played the interval of an octave.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-TDU9nliifMBMCljXjpCrDu-X-O_vBkztpWn91iJiuUgYnd6jihONr0Kd9AMU0Jb9wZ5jCiMkWLpTGcE4RVtgNhHLZT510dnCg65k4qLYxT7K3CnDHSPeSMkP1maB3z3Zb3fAvbKjXI/s1600/intervaloctave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-TDU9nliifMBMCljXjpCrDu-X-O_vBkztpWn91iJiuUgYnd6jihONr0Kd9AMU0Jb9wZ5jCiMkWLpTGcE4RVtgNhHLZT510dnCg65k4qLYxT7K3CnDHSPeSMkP1maB3z3Zb3fAvbKjXI/s320/intervaloctave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A wide interval, an octave, from D to D</div>
<br />
<br />
These are the basic intervals you need to understand in order to create scales. Building the scales for yourself will help you to easily see and learn the other intervals.<br />
<br />
A good understanding of intervals is important, because to understand chord theory- that is, to understand how all the chords are built and which notes they should include, as well as harmony and understanding which chords belong in each key- you need to know intervals.<br />
<br />
Here is a list of intervals you will use in playing chords, chord progressions, and melodies, licks, and riffs:<br />
<ul>
<li>unison</li>
<li>semitone, or minor second</li>
<li>tone, or major second</li>
<li>minor, or flattened, third</li>
<li>major third </li>
<li>fourth</li>
<li>fifth</li>
<li>minor sixth</li>
<li>major sixth </li>
<li>minor, or flattened seventh</li>
<li>major seventh </li>
<li>eighth, the octave</li>
</ul>
There are also augmented and diminished intervals that are wider and narrower by a semitone, respectively,than the intervals in the above list, as well as intervals which span more than an octave: ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteens. An interval of a tenth, for example, adds to the tonic or root note the second of the second octave; the eleventh and the flattened eleventh would add the minor or major third over the octave. You will understand these intervals when you need to, don't worry!<br />
<ul>
</ul>
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<ul>
</ul>
Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-39746237086804674692016-01-17T14:19:00.000-08:002016-02-08T13:35:19.016-08:00More on Time SignaturesI had a sneaky feeling that my last post here was a bit of a cheat, but I felt confident that it was truth to say I wouldn't be adding value to the internet by writing about what has already clearly been explained online. The post that I linked you to does not go into much detail at all regarding time signatures, though, and this is a concept all musicians, aspiring or established, need to understand.<br />
<br />
By the way, I wasn't going to recommend any one book on basic music
theory on this blog, as I found that I had to read quite a lot of books to get a
good picture of the subject. It seemed that I learned lots from each
author whose book I read, but not enough from each to fully understand.<br />
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Maybe
I'm just slow; it's true I'm no youngster and I didn't learn to play a
note of music until I was well past thirty. If I had learned music when
I was younger, I am sure I would have more quickly caught on. But if I
can learn to do it, anyone can; I'm only sorry I didn't take on the
task sooner.<br />
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But I read that lot of theory books before I read the For Dummies Guide to the subject. By the time I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118990943/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118990943&linkCode=as2&tag=musnot0c-20&linkId=J2JMEIBXUBJOTUBL" rel="nofollow">Music Theory For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=musnot0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1118990943" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
at another library, I had already built up a pretty good understanding of the subject. So while I can't say for sure whether I would have found it sufficient had I been a dummy on the subject, it really does seem to be the most thorough and clear volume I have seen. As I said, I really am a fan of these guides for musical subjects.<br />
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Let's take a look at this page from Music Theory for Dummies, as it tells a little more about time signatures. Go read their handy <a href="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/music-theory-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html" target="_blank">cheat sheet</a>, especially the section labeled, Understanding Simple and Compound Time Signatures.<br />
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I think a little more info will be helpful, so I'll write more about this after all:<br />
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Music in 4/4 time is so abundant that it is referred to as "common time," and is often indicated with a C rather than the 4/4 fraction at the beginning of some pieces of music. Common time is counted by four when using quarter notes. "one-two-three-four."<br />
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Rhythmic variations of this are created by the placement of notes of different values within a bar. If a measure used eight eighth notes, you would count it like "one-and-two-and-three-and-four and." A bar or measure might contain any number of different combinations of notes, so you might count bars like "one-two-and-three-four-and," if that measure contained a quarter note followed by two eighth notes, then another quarter note followed by two eighth notes, for example. Or "one-and-two-three-and-four" when the bar looks like this.<br />
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So the beat can be divided in any number of ways, but in 4/4 time, the total value of each bar will add up to four quarter notes.<br />
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Cut time is sometimes notated like this:<br />
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It is simply 2/4 time, with only 2 beats in each measure. You would count this as "One-two" or "One-and-two-and." Tango and ragtime music are traditionally written in cut time, along with much bluegrass and classical music. This time signature can easily be confused with 4/4 and sometimes it takes careful listening to identify whether a song is written in 2/4 "cut" time or 4/4"common" time.<br />
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Another common time signature is 3/4, or Waltz, time.<br />
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You count this as "one-two-three," or "one-and-two-and-three-and," or more commonly, "one-two-and-three-and," or some other variation of the measure divided into three beats. Well known songs in 3/4 time run the gamut from: Greensleeves, The Rainbow Connection, Beautiful Brown Eyes, My Favorite Things (from the Sound of Music), What's New Pussycat, to What the World Needs Now is Love, Take it to the Limit, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, most of Kiss from a Rose, and some say Manic Depression by Jimi Hendrix, although I can't say agree with that one! More recent songs have been released in 3/4 time by such diverse artists as: Beirut, Muse, Kanye West, Death Cab for Cutie, Beck, Ben Folds Five, Radiohead, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, and many more, so this time signature is certainly relevant in music of all types, including today's tunes. <br />
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All these time signatures- 4/4 or common time, 3/4 or waltz time, and 2/4 or cut time, are simple time signatures.<br />
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Simple time does not have to sound simple. Music in simple time can sound rhythmically complex by syncopation. This happens both in the way the beats are divided (the note values) and by the musical choices in accompaniment and arrangement. We'll likely talk more about ways to syncopate rhythms on both guitar and ukulele, and harmonica too, later here. <br />
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In compound time signatures the beat is divided into thirds rather than divided into two as in simple time signatures. Here is a pretty good page that <a href="http://www.musictheoryhelp.co.uk/guides/rhythm/6-compound-time/" target="_blank">explains compound time</a> in some detail. The best way to get a feel for compound time is to listen to songs recorded in these time signatures. <br />
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The most common compound time signature may be 6/8 time. Tons of songs have been recorded in this; here is a short list for your listening pleasure: A New Day Yesterday, Jethro Tull; Boys and Girls, and Heartbreaker, by Alabama Shakes; Dreaming, Cream; Heart of Stone, I Got the Blues,and You Can Make It If You Try, by the Rolling Stones; I'm Gonna Crawl, and Since I Been Lovin You, by Led Zeppelin; Never Alone, Jeff Beck; Norwegian Wood, the Beatles; Porcelain, RHCP; Still Crazy After All These Years, Paul Simon; Turn Me On, Norah Jones; We Are the Champions, Queen; What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong; When A Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge; and Welcome, by the Who; along with a great many more.<br />
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Many songs switch between different time signatures and many have been recorded in "Odd" time signatures, which are neither divisible by two or three. Pink Floyd's song Money is the best example of this that came to my mind. I found <a href="http://theeviljam.co.uk/2014/07/31/famous-songs-in-slightly-odd-time-signatures-a-guide-to-rhythms/" target="_blank">this great list</a> cataloging quite a few of these songs in odd time signatures.<br />
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It is nice to be familiar with various time signatures, but the vast majority of songs are in one of the simple time
signatures. Because they are simple, they are easy to play (in general). Try
learning The Rainbow Connection, Beautiful Brown Eyes, or a few or
several songs in 3/4 time and any of thousands of rock songs in 4/4
time. Practicing your counting (and using a metronome to steady train
your timing) is a fundamental method of developing rhythm as a musician. Once you do this, then learn some songs in compound or odd time signatures too.<br />
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Please subscribe or follow this blog for more basics of music theory; music both new and old; tips, tricks, tools, and gear for making music, and more...including my post on how to easily play every scale under the Sun, which is coming here soon.<br />
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Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-86625106583171203292016-01-07T09:03:00.001-08:002016-02-08T13:42:49.951-08:00Reading Music: Note Values and Time Signature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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But before we jump into <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-can-easily-learn-every-scale.html" target="_blank">scales</a>, we should get a full understanding of how to read the pulse and rhythm of music. These are chiefly conveyed in notation by note (and rest) values and the time signature.<br />
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I don't think I would be adding any value to the internet by trying to write about these things, as this information is already clearly explained elsewhere online. Check JustinGuitar's site for a <a href="http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-010-Rhythms.php" target="_blank">nice explanation</a> of note and rest values. I have written <a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/01/more-on-time-signatures.html" target="_blank">more about time signatures here</a>.<br />
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If you will like to get a much fuller understanding of these and other basic tenets of music theory, buy <a href="http://amzn.to/1n6bRfR">Music Theory for Dummies</a>, by Michael Pilhofer and Holly Day.<br />
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Or, if guitar is your instrument of choice, pick up <a href="http://amzn.to/1VMHdnj">this</a> instead. It includes the basics from the above book, plus A LOT more.<br />
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I really recommend the "For Dummies" series of books on the topics of learning music. These do much more than cover the basics; they cover a lot of info and present it in a clear and easily understandable way. This <a href="http://amzn.to/1VMGlPE">Guitar All-in-One</a> volume covers just about everything you would ever need to know for playing guitar, in many styles of music. I guess the point of the for Dummies title, is that once you read these books you certainly will be no dummy- you'll be well educated on the topic instead!<br />
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Tune in again here soon to learn all about scales and more. I hope you have a harmonious day! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*This post contains affiliate links, at no cost to you. </span><br />
<br />Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-83127713916145486092016-01-02T16:26:00.000-08:002017-02-14T13:44:20.368-08:00Easy Beginner Songs to Play on Acoustic Guitar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you first start learning to strum the guitar, you start itching to <b>really</b> play it. But many songs you would like to play are just not within your skill set....yet! Here is a list of more than a dozen super easy songs that even a beginner can actually play. Not only will you be able to play rhythm guitar on these easy songs with a minimum amount of trouble, you can learn something new from each one and steadily improve your skills- all while strumming real songs.<br />
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All of these songs feature easy chord progressions, some at a faster tempo than others. They all use simple, open chords. Once you can confidently strum rhythm on these easy progressions, challenge yourself to learn some of the lead lines and solos featured in these songs, as well.<br />
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<b>Easy Beginner Songs to Play on Acoustic Guitar</b></h2>
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<b>Horse With No Name</b> - America</h3>
America is a great band to listen to if you play acoustic guitar; they will certainly inspire you. This song may be the easiest song to play rhythm guitar of all time. You can play the whole song using just 2 chords! One of them happens to be one of the easiest chords of all, E minor. The other chord is the new thing you will learn here, since it is not a common chord, and the name makes it sound complicated- D6/add9/F# (I have also seen this chord labeled D2). But it is easy, as easy as the E minor in fact, with just 2 fingers, on the same 2nd fret, this time on the low E and G strings. Try switching between these chords and I am sure you will agree that this is the easiest chord change ever. These chords change on every measure, but try counting them differently to develop the rhythm for this song. On Em, count 1-2-3-and-4, and then on the other chord, count 1-2-and-3and-4 and- before switching back to 1-2-3-and-4 again when you move back to the E minor chord. This song is a great place to learn about the different rhythmic variations achievable by changing between up and down strokes.<br />
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<b>Broken</b> - Jack Johnson</h3>
Jack Johnson is one of those classic artists that most everyone can enjoy. He writes interesting songs and you could learn a lot from him. He tends to rely on barre chords for his signature sound, though, so a lot of his songs are not so easy to play. This song is gorgeous but couldn't be simpler to play rhythm. This was the very first song that I managed to really play. It's in the key of D and the only changes are from D to G back to D in the verses, and Em, G, D for the chorus. Listen to the solos on this track to learn important lessons about dynamics!<br />
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<b>Sloop John B</b>.- traditional, the Beach Boys, others</h3>
This song has been recorded in several keys. It is super easy to play, especially in the key of G, which is most favorable for guitar. The progression in this key would be G-D-G-C-Am-G-D-G, but you will find yourself vamping on G for most all of this song. Because of this, this is a good song to practice making arpeggios of the chords- that is, picking the strings one at a time rather than strumming the full chord. Listen to Dwight Yoakam's stirring performance of this song on youtube for a wonderful example of this. Dwight is playing the song using the G chord family shapes as listed above. <br />
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<b>Green River</b>- Creedence Clearwater Revival</h3>
This fun song vamps almost exclusively on E and E7 chords; you can forget about chord changing at all for most of this song. The only changes are a couple of bars each of C and A, near the end of each verse. This song is a great choice for learning an easy lead part, and is what gives the song it's fun.<br />
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<b>Bad Moon Rising</b>- Creedence Clearwater Revival</h3>
This one is pretty fast, and so is great practice in playing at faster tempos. It is an easy, simple, progression using only 3 chords. There are 2 repeating sections, verses with a D-A-G-D turnaround, and chorus progression G-D-A-G-D. The bouncy tempo makes this great fun to play, but the lyrics sure are depressing! Maybe a fun song for a parody or to change the lyrics, if you don't enjoy the original lyrics. Start playing this more slowly, at an even tempo, and gradually work up to playing at full speed in no time at all.<br />
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<b>Islands in the Sun-Weezer</b></h3>
Just an easy four chord turnaround of Em, Am, D, G, and so much fun to play! The bridge part goes D, G, D, G, C, Am, D. Get the strum pattern right to nail this song; on the D you'll do a couple quick upstrokes.<br />
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<b>Wagon Wheel</b>- OCMS, Darius Rucker, others</h3>
This popular song is fun to play. The whole song is one ever repeating turnaround, or looked at another way, 2 turnarounds strung together and repeating. Using a capo on three, play this G-D-E minor-C, G-D-C. There are some variation to the strumming style and speed in different parts of the song, so that no one gets bored playing this crowd favorite fun song. Just listen and you will easily hear where to slow down your strumming.<br />
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<b>Teach Your Children Well</b>- Crosby Stills and Nash</h3>
Here's another beautiful song that is just straightforward with a simple chord progression. This one is particularly easy because of having slow chord changes for much of the song, although beware of the B minor that suddenly appears and a quick trickiness to the turnaround at the end of the verses. Don't be daunted; this is an easy song and you should be able to play it without much trouble!<br />
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<b>The One I Love</b>- REM</h3>
What a striking and gorgeous song, and the chords are easy peasy to play. There are lots of opportunities here for ornamentation and embellishment and variation. For example, you could play this song passably using just 5 easy chords (Em, Dsus2,G,D, Aminor) but adding in the (also easy) E minor 7 to the progression, rather than sticking to Em, lends a beautiful difference when playing this song. You can also choose A minor 7,and even G sus 4, rather than G, chords to sweeten your version of this song and expand your chord knowledge. Do learn the lead line when you get to that level, it is superb and definitely not difficult.<br />
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<b>Zombie</b>- The Cranberries</h3>
This song is made entirely of one rocking, hard edged easy progression. Try strumming this pattern: down-down-up-up-down-up-down-up. There are a few different easy variations in the way you could strum this chord progression. You could play it as Em-C-G-D/F#- and then back to E minor to repeat the turnaround. This is not hard to do if you use your thumb to fret the F# found on the second fret of the 6th (low E) string while holding the D chord on the higher strings (for the slash chord). An easier way to play this, particularly if you happen to be playing an electric guitar, or even if you are playing on an acoustic, is to play E minor- Cmajor7-"half G," with just the G and C notes on the 5th and 6th strings fretted and all other strings ringing open- and then just F#, holding down only the F# note on the fattest, 6th, string. You will see that this way of playing these chords is about as easy as it gets and you won't find many songs easier to play than this.<br />
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<b>Talking About A Revolution</b>, Tracy Chapman</h3>
You might not think this song is easy the first time you try to play it! It is a QUICK, ever repeating turnaround of G-Cadd9-Em-D-Dsus4. You strum down twice on the G, up-up-down up on the C add9, down twice on the Eminor, up once on D, once up again on Dsus4, then down up again on the D sus4. Then back to two down strums on G again, and repeat for the length of the song! It's quick changes, and my fingers were tripping all over themselves when I first tried to play this song. It took me a couple of days of practicing to get these quick changes down. But once I got it, I had it, and there's the whole song. Trying to sing it while playing is another level of challenge, but this song is great practice at that essential skill.<br />
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<b>Fast Car</b>- Tracy Chapman</h3>
Once you get Talking About a Revolution under your fingers, you can play the chords for another Tracy Chapman hit, Fast Car, which uses a similar progression of Cmaj7-G-Em-Dadd11, with a capo on 2. Try it and you will see how the turnaround progression for these songs are incredibly similar, as if one is simply a variation on the other. Both these songs sound intricately beautiful (and different despite their similarity) with sensitive playing, despite being deceptively simple. This song has a chorus that uses a different progression,going from C to E minor to D.<br />
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<b>Proud Mary</b>- Creedence Clearwater Revival</h3>
This one will stretch your skills by switching between A and B chords, and with the quick chordal riff of C-A-C-A-G-F-G-D which takes practice to master, but this song is a lot of fun and not difficult to play. There are a few different fun, easy riffs here. However, you stay on the D chord for most of this song.<br />
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<b>Beautiful Brown Eyes</b>- traditional</h3>
This song was recorded by a slew of artists and is one of the easiest songs to play on this list. My favorite version is by Gene Vincent. Play it in the easy key of G like this: G-C-G-D (or D7)-G-C-D (or D7)-G. If brown eyes aren't your favorite, plenty of folks have changed the lyrics for this song to Beautiful Blue Eyes or Beautiful Green Eyes. There are a lot of different subsequent verses for this, or you can do like I did and just make up a few of your own.<br />
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While you will definitely find some of these songs to be easier than others, these are each great choices for a beginner guitarist to learn. Work your way through this group of beginner songs and you will feel that your playing has progressed to a new level, and you will have picked up valuable new skills from each of these songs. The most important thing to remember is to have fun!<br />
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Please subscribe, to this blog on the right sidebar, and our email newsletter, via the pop up or scrolling bar. I hope you have a great day!</h4>
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*Ode to 972 Miles, photo courtesy of Frankie Leon, Flickr<br />
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<br />Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923332846342282329.post-19046192687606560232016-01-01T08:37:00.004-08:002016-02-08T13:45:02.541-08:00Playing Ukulele is Fun and Easy!<br />
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If you ever thought you might like to- or even if you didn't, because you didn't know you could- you should play the ukulele! I can't think of anything else to do that's more fun and it is an easy little instrument to play.<br />
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You gotta get one to play one, if you don't have one yet. And, if you have one, chances are you'd love another! Ukuleles come in several sizes, and you may find yourself wanting one of each!<br />
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Just one will do ya, though, especially if you start with a nice one. Ukuleles don't have to be expensive to be nice, and you can get started with your new little love for under $100. The two of you will be very happy together for a lot of years!<br />
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If you don't have your ukulele yet (or you do but you need another), don't delay and buy yours today!<br />
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Do you need to know more? I'll help you, here:<br />
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What size ukuleles are there? <br />
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What are the differences between the different sizes?<br />
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And which might be best for you?<br />
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Ukuleles come in the smallest, soprano size; middle sized concert size; and larger tenors. These three basic sizes of ukulele are each tuned in the same way, "re-entrant" tuning, gCEA, or with a low G string, GCEA (more on this later). This means you play all three in the same way. Strings come in the three different sizes, for the differently sized necks.<br />
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There are also baritone and bass models. Baritone are the largest sized ukuleles and are different from the others in that a baritone ukulele's 4 strings are tuned the same as the highest 4 strings on a guitar, tuned to DGBE (in standard tuning). Therefore a baritone ukulele shares many chord shapes with guitar and both can be played using these same shapes. The newer bass ukuleles have standard bass tuning, EADG, equivalent to a lower octave of the low 4 strings on a guitar.<br />
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Banjoleles are ukuleles in that they use standard ukulele tunings of gCEA or low G (or others), and these come in the soprano, concert, and tenor sizes as well. Banjoleles are acoustically louder than ukuleles, particularly those with a resonator, or closed back. Open back banjoleles are available at a much lower price point than closed back resonator banjoleles, due to more complicated workmanship.<br />
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For most people, I would recommend starting your ukulele journey with a concert sized ukulele. These are small enough to have affordable quality models and this middle size is most popular and possibly the easiest to play.<br />
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If your funds are severely limited, however, jump on in and buy a quality soprano ukulele and get started playing the fun, easy ukulele ASAP! A soprano's smaller size can make for a smaller expenditure and you will love the sweet way it sings.<br />
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Or, on the other hand, if you've been playing awhile already, or you just know you are going to rock the ukulele so hard and your hands are strong or large and you'd like blazing lead lines and soloing on your uke- well, you might want to make a nicer initial investment and go straight into buying a tenor- with a pickup and amp if you plan to take it on stage!<br />
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I started with a great deal on a Cordoba. We actually bought two different models of Cordoba ukuleles, the Protege and the 15-CM and we have been very happy with both of them. Lanakai is another highly recommended brand, their LU-21 line is extremely popular as a great value for a first ukulele. Kala is a newer company; these are the folks who introduced the innovative U-Bass, or bass ukulele. Their instruments are quality and play well. Check out the customer reviews on these models at Amazon. But most importantly, just buy one and start your ukulele journey already! You will be so glad you did!<br />
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And don't forget strings. Your ukulele will come already strung, but you will want to have a spare set! There is a tremendous difference between strings made by different manufacturers. The general consensus between uke players I know is that Aquila strings are the best, and I personally prefer Aquila strings by a long shot.<br />
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Here is a link to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyv7uOiXsbM" target="_blank">great video by Cordoba </a>which clearly explains how to change your strings in just two and a half minutes. <br />
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<a href="http://milliesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/2016/02/ukulele-resources.html" target="_blank">Here are my recommended resources</a> for more information on how to play. I promise, playing ukulele is both Fun and Easy! You will be strumming (and picking) songs in no time.<br />
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Thank you for reading my blogs and thank you for buying products from Amazon through my links!Millie Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714389206936562820noreply@blogger.com0