Tears in Heaven || UU Ukulele Play Along

Aldrine (Need I say more?)...

UU Lesson

http://ukuleleunderground.com/2011/01/uke-lesson-37-tears-in-heaven/

Aldrine Guerrero || Ukulele Underground || Breezin'

It is no wonder why ukulele virtuoso, Aldrine Guerrero is such a charismatic person. The ukulele is an extension of his body. Here he, and Ryan Asaki on rhythm guitar start then stop, with a smile, and as Ryan begins again, Aldrine tunes his ukulele to the beat of the song. Aldrine and Ryan have a real ease about them that quickly befriends everyone in the audience.

The UU roadshow was at Mike DaSilva's. I had to work later Friday so I arrived at 6:45 for the 7:00 show and Mike's studio was really packed. People standing in the kitchen, up the stairs and on the balcony. UU is very inclusive, several "friends" of UU performed before Aldrine -- and all were quite entertaining: Addi B. and Trina B., RussBuss solo and with his guest GrumpyCoyote, and then Monique solo and with her two sisters. [UU if you read, please let me know about the spelling.]

The show was action packed and entertaining, even so I had to leave early for work commitments. I probably should have stayed home and worked into Friday evening BUT I really wanted to see Aldrine an Ryan perform again.

Aldrine, is quickly becoming one of my favorites to see in person. Wish I had been there earlier to get a closer view. I love the way that he plays as he plays - the ability to do whatever he pleases from Jimmy Hendrix to Jawaiian to Classical in split seconds. Aldrine and Ryan put on a terrific show as every UUer knows -- that's why the place was packed.

As a small testiment to the affect UU is having. This weekend I had just finished setting up my wife's booth at the Pacifica Fog Fest on Saturday, when a young boy 10-12 was walking with a Kala soprano right past my chair. He played for me, in a way that was clearly influenced by that infamous "CHUNK" that the UU has in many tutorials. I asked him if he knew of Ukulele Underground -- yes!

Humble Uker Ramblings is in a race to Overcome the Ukulele Strap

I recently added a HTML device to the blog. It is the TOP 50 Ukulele Sites. About a week ago I started at 126 of the Top 50 and now have had a meteoric rise to #90 in the Top 50. HU sits directly behind the Ukulele Strap at #89. The cool thing about the Top 50 is that it is a resource for finding more of that essential ukulele stuff. [Scroll down & click on their icon to get there.]

Ukulele Hunt is pretty solidly entrenched in the number one spot. Followed by Ukulele Underground. #10 is Dominic the Dominator TAB site, followed closely at #11 by Richard G's Ukulele Songbook. If you haven't looked at Richard G's Ukulele Songbook be sure to give it a good look -- I am continually impressed with his arrangements and the attention to detail. Each song also has a video link for playing along.

But besides me desperately wanting not to be "strapped down" I think the Top 50 (or 128) Ukulele Sites give you an opportunity to do some more exploration. Incidentally, baritone ukulele players please take note of Humble Baritonics at #119.

Aldrine Guerrero || Uke Got Mail

If anyone hasn't yet heard about Aldrine and Ukulele Underground. STOP! Google Ukulele Underground now. The UU guys provide a full ukulele menu which includes: Uke Lessons, Mini Uke Lessons, Bulletin Boards, Uke Got Mail, and Manny the Rooster. This site has serious uke training and has quite a bit of fun doing it. In this particular Uke Got Mail video Aldrine shares his uke collection and gives a little mini jam with each of them.

I just added UKULELE UNDERGROUND to my blog list. (I was shocked that I hadn't added it yet.)

TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES

I want to know if any chickens were in danger.

"Manny the Rooster" looks all wrapped up in his work.

What is a Toilet Paper Entrepeneur?

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http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog/toilet-paper-profiles-ryan-aaron-aldrine-of-ukulele-underground

Aldrine: D-U-Chunk-C-C-E-A Strum [Click Here]

UKULELE UNDERGROUND || Training Videos #2 -- 24 to 43

NOTE: I have put these wonderful UKULELE UNDERGROUND UKE MINUTES here because they are a terrific resourse and I wanted a direct link to my MUSIC TOOLS. Aldrine and crew are doing a top notch service for the WORLD of ukulele player. I thank them for their generosity -- I also hope they are making some money too -- they have to eat! Be sure to go to www.ukuleleunderground.com become a member and find many more terrific videos, discussions, etc...

TWO-STRING PULL-OFFS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/09/27/uke-minutes-24-two-finger-pulloffs/
STRUM PICKING
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/10/25/uke-minutes-26-strum-picking/
SCALE EXERCISE I
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/11/15/uke-minutes-28-scale-exercise-i/
SCALE EXERCISE II
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/11/22/uke-minutes-29-scale-exercise-ii/
HOW TO READ TABS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/12/06/uke-minutes-30-how-to-read-tabs/
HARMONY THIRDS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/12/13/uke-minutes-31-harmony-3rds/
BASIC TAB NOTATION
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/12/20/uke-minutes-32-basic-tab-notation/
C-STRING BASS TECHNIQUE
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/01/17/uke-minutes-35-c-string-bass-technique/
3-FINGER CHUNK
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/01/24/uke-minutes-36-3-finger-chunk/
ONE-HANDED HARMONICS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/02/14/uke-minutes-37-one-handed-harmonics/
ARTIFICIAL HARMONICS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/02/21/uke-minutes-38-artificial-harmonics/
FIRST BEAT C-STRING
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/03/14/uke-minutes-40-first-beat-c-string/
MUTED OCTAVE STRUM
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/03/21/uke-minutes-41-muted-octave-strum/
SUSPENDED CHORDS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2009/04/18/uke-minutes-43-suspended-chords/

UKULELE UNDERGROUND || Training Videos #1 -- Up to 23 -- Great Training!

A Selection of Ukulele Minutes...
BASIC STRUM
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/01/21/uke-minute-2-basic-strum/
The ROLL TECHNIQUE
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/02/25/uke-minutes-6-the-roll-technique/
MAJOR SCALES
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/03/15/uke-minutes-8-major-scales/
IN-TO-OUT PICKING
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/04/12/uke-minutes-11-in-to-out-picking/
FREE STROKES REST STROKES
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/04/20/uke-minutes-12-free-strokes-rest-strokes/
TREMOLO TECHNIQUE
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/04/26/uke-minutes-13-tremolo-technique/
FINGER ROLL
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/05/17/uke-minute-15-5-finger-roll/
FINGER STRETCHING WARM-UPS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/05/25/uke-minutes-16-finger-stretching-warm-ups/
MOVABLE CHORD SHAPES
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/06/07/uke-minutes-17-movable-chord-shapes/
CHORD FAMILIES
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/06/21/uke-minutes-18-chord-families/
PULL-OFFS & HAMMER-ONS
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/07/05/uke-minutes-19-pull-offs-and-hammer-pull-combos/
PINKY MUTE
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/07/12/uke-minutes-20-pinky-mute/
TAPPING
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/07/19/uke-minutes-21-tapping/
PLUCK w STRUM (w JAKE SHIMABUKURO)
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/08/09/uke-minutes-22-pluck-strum-with-jake-shimabukuro/
CHUNKING
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/08/23/uke-minutes-23-chunking/

Scoopy Ron Hale Digs Up UU Uke Trip Q&A @ Michael DaSilva's Ukulele Studio / Workshop

Yeah, you're right I'm in the video. I asked two questions and they posted the goofy one only. Mike DaSilva asked a personal question about hats. I asked about his Cher voice and he discussed other "voices" he does.

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My second question was about how he works on strumming time values: of 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32 notes and how he keeps time while alternating between these time values. I would have liked to see that response taped because I thought his answer would have been interesting to many. But, if I remember correctly it had something to do with the evil-metra-gnome that lives in the deep skooogs of northern svenska.

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Get the metranome going and practice staying on beat. (There are on-line metranomes and tuners) Then shift and do two equal strums per beat. Back to one strum. Then 3 strums for a tri-pl-et (or as Colin B. Tribe uses tri-ni-ty for sensible syllable break down). Then 4 strums for 1/16's. I haven't been doing any of this during my pratice time -- thanks for reminding me Ron.

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Oh, and to see the Uke Got Mail video at Mike DaSilva's studio... click the blog title above. I've got say that Aldrine Guerrero's video lessons are put together really well. I would like to thank the guy behind the camera for all of his hard work. Aldrine seems to have snuffed out my favorite character on UU, Manny the Rooster (puppet) -- I'll never forgive him for that! J/K

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Errrt er Errrrrt er Errrrrrr!

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HU

Erika Helvetica Ukes || Tetris || Woodshed Arrangement

I liked Erika's rendition of a Madonna song I saw on the UCB site. So I investigated a bit and found this little finger picking piece. Sir Ukey Alistair Woodshed has tabbed it out (see below). Also click on the blog title to see more of Erika's uking.



http://ukulelehunt.com/2007/08/05/tetris-theme-solo-version/
http://ukulelehunt.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/tetrissolo.pdf

Aldrine also has a video tutorial here...
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/03/02/ukulele-lesson-3-tetris/