Ken Middleton || REVIEW: Ohana's Martin-Style Ukulele

Here's a soprano ukulele that should get some serious attention...

Ohana SK-38

Thanks Ken

HU

Ken Middleton || Time After Time (Improvisation)

I've always enjoy Ken's improvisations. So much experience let loose to create a unique musical blend. I was just reading a post over on Ukulelia talking about how Cyndi Lauper has picked up the uke.

Ken Middleton || Piccolo Valzer Viennese

Ken Middleton || This Land Was Made for You and Me (Wine Country Ukulele Festival)

I had a good chance to talk with Ken. He's a representative for Ohana Ukuleles and here he's playing his Ohana tenor with Worth Mellow White Strings. I like the Ohana product line and have a concert CK-35G strung with a low G. I also have the peg type tuners which I prefer over the tuning "ears" that stick out beyond the headstock edges. I think these "ears" have a heavier feel.

Ken was a music teacher and probably a pretty cool teacher. He has a very mellow way about him but he definitely has strong opinions about what he likes. He also will drop into an enthusiasm about ukuleles quite quickly. He taught me how to change a 4-string ukulele into an 8-string ukulele. (It's a secret!)

No, it's not really a secret. But sometimes there's a convergence of knowledge. I asked my new Australian buddy, Richard G., how the heck he got so much volume out of his travelling soprano Lehua ukulele. Richard can really shred the strings. He uses a steady strum that looks like he's flexing all (4) of his fingers on each strum. But he told me he uses only the index and middle fingers. Richard "digs in" a bit and gets great volume -- also exemplifies what Ken Middleton was saying about an 8-string ukulele.

By playing with two fingers slightly spaced apart you achieve 8-hits on the strings. (2 fingers across the 4 strings.) Test it and if you have the inclination drop me a line and tell me how it works for you. Try mixing 1-finger strums and 2-fingers strums around [and why stop there? 3-fingers, 4 fingers, 4 fingers followed by a thumb].

A Little Ken Middleton Time After Time (Tenor Uke Improvisation)

I had a hankerin' for some Bluegrass...

This might be my favorite Jake Shimabukuro video, some Bluegrass...



Bela Fleck & Edgar Meyer



Ken Middleton

INSTaNTaNeOUS UKe CoMBUSTioN

Ken Middleton & Phillipe Krouk



Phillipe Krouk (Phillipe, thanks for being on of my first followers!)

Colin | Michelle ||| Ken | Liz

Another arrangement from Colin...



The Beatles song "Michelle" arranged and played by Colin Tribe on Ukulele in his Uniquelele style, Music & tabs freely available from colinrtribe@btinternet.com

And here's a another beauty from Ken Middleton...

Ken Middleton IMPROVISATION

I posted this song even before I watched it. I think we are all glad to have Ken Middleton as an Ambassador for the ukulele. I have been working on a fingerpicking arrangement that has some hand movement up and back down the fretboard. And in so doing thinking about which finger to use when making the move. Ken has a very graceful way of doing this and it shows off his dexterity and musicality.

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Ken uses an arsenal of strumming, picking and chiming techniques throughout out this improvisation. The one that stands out for me is the chiming technique where he uses his right index finger and places it on the fret and then, I think, he plucks the chime with his thumb. I see some of his bluegrass slides and movements in the middle of the song.

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I have an Ohana concert uke and this cut-away Ohana tenor sounded great too. Enjoyed every second of this piece, thank you Ken. HU

Aldrine interviews Ohana Spokesman Ken Middleton re: Ohana Ukes - Ohana Tenor Resonator! [CLICK HERE]

KEN MIDDLETON - SCARLET TIDE

SCARLET TIDE

KEN MIDDLETON SONG BOOK

Click title above to see information. There are free pdf's of the songs there. I was happy to support Ken with a fair price for his efforts. Hey Ken, I like my Concert Ohana - good price and nice sound! Also added new tab on Ukulinkies.

Ken Middleton Teacher Leonard Cohen Fingerpicking

I AM CERTIFIABLY A VERY VISUAL PERSON. I have drawn out Ken's picking patterns using my AutoCAD skills and then took poor photos of them. I hope they are legible for you.

KEN MIDDLETON / UK / BLUEGRASS UKULELE

Ken Middleton has put some lessons and nicely prepared TAB song print outs for us ukulele players. I like his improvisations while sitting in his backyard garden. Ken has spent a lot of time putting this together. I thought that he’d be from Tennessee, but alas he's is from Newcastle under Lyme in the UK.

Ken, if you ever read this, thank you for all the work that you have put in for all of us out in the world to try. Also, my wife and I are Anglophiles and love watching UK mysteries and miniseries, such as Hamish MacBeth. Are you located anywhere near Midsomer?

He has a load of tutorials for guitar, and it appears the ukulele section is growing too. Here’s Ken’s YouTube Playlist Videos and TABs:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B4167EE64D80BFEA

WILDWOOD FLOWER


TURKEY IN THE STRAW


FLOW GENTLY, SWEET AFTON


(Jo Stafford Sings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SedzNxOv9Wc&NR=1 )

You must also check out his Bluegrass Ukulele Licks parts 1 & 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egyy-lrICCw&feature=PlayList&p=B4167EE64D80BFEA&index=26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c2A5_mDIXk&feature=PlayList&p=B4167EE64D80BFEA&index=27

Other techniques... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2iAWborJY8&feature=PlayList&p=5F1858FF19279298&index=6&playnext=7&playnext_from=PL

Also check out Arkansas Traaveler, see the public files...
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=a18e92d5e21704b1d5a101cf914073b4c36f42da6da76fa6