UKE BULLETIN BOARDS || FOLK PICKING pdf

There are some great conversations and sometimes heated ones on the prominent ukulele bulletin boards. But these are the places where many players are sharing the most current information.

UKULELE COSMOS ... http://www.ukulelecosmos.com/

FLEAMARKET MUSIC ... http://www.fleamarketmusic.com/

UKULELE UNDERGROUND ... http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/

I was checking out Ukulele Cosmos tonight and came across a thread by Floyd Blue on Folk Picking. Click on the title above to see a pdf of the booklet.

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Picture from Dubuque, Iowa

http://www.dubuque.k12.ia.us/Burgart/JohnsBoard/Marshall/BigPieceMarshall.jpg

More people seem to be going Dutch...

Who knew?

(The ukulele walkabout ambassadors)

http://www.myspace.com/boskoandhoney

LIL' REV

I swiped this photo from Lil' Rev's website. Click the blog title above to go directly there. Here Rev is with Rose Turtle Ertler. I was her groupie when she played in Santa Cruz and Berkeley. Actually, I am not the groupie type -- But I saw her perform 3 places over her short stay in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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I have been thinking about Rev's style and the way he varies strums and picking. I posted these so that I can take some time to watch his style. How he creates interest by changing things up.

CIGAR -*- BOX -*- NATION

Doogey mentions CIGAR BOX NATION in his quotation of the previous post. I think Cigar Box Nation needs it's very own posting...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/

This is a G-R-E-A-T site to check out on several levels: art, creativity and music. Judy on Ukulele Perspective just finished several beautiful cigar box ukes.

http://ukuleleperspective.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/cigarbox-ukuleles-on-the-wall/

Here's CBG with dulci-boxes:
http://chicagocbg.blogspot.com/

Oh, Doogey, Oh Yeah!

Ukulele Hunt led me on another adventure back to unusual instruments. Doogey9 on YT has that spirit and creativity that's a joy to listen to and watch. He shares this cooment at the top of his YT video,

"...I've checked out lately and become obsessed with thinking up stuff to make as a result of becoming a member of http://cigarboxnation.com/ ....a gosh darn fun community as well...."

UGLY STICK


UKE-CIMER VIDEO


WOW - CIGAR BOX (Turn your speakers down - nice vibes!)


Doogey's / Todd's / Sonny's stuff
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http://www.youtube.com/user/doogey9
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http://brothersonnysblog.blogspot.com/
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(A new blog... this'll be GOOD!)

Hiking in the Lake Chabot Hills || Rhythm

Today, I took my camera along on my normal hike. The trail is beautiful and there a great views of the California mostly oak tree covered hills. Many red and orange leaves cover portions of the trail. The route is one mile up to the second bench and then one mile back down. I forgot my camera card so I'll put up some scenic photos another day. I like to stride hard up the hill and occassionally mix in some running too. But on the downhills I like to practice my music.

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My buddy Rhan Wilson says there's always time to work on rhythm. I saw Joe Craven teach absolute beginners how to play the violin using their walking as a way to control or stimulate their rhythm. So I try to use my footsteps as my rhythm and count 1-2-3-4, dit-dit-2-dit-dit-4, or tri-p-let, 2, tri-p-let, 4. Sometimes even 1+e+&+a, 2, 3+e+&+a, 4.

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Yes, I try to mix it up while I'm going down the hill race-walking style. Those wonderful dusty trails. Seemed like it was so warm for the 2nd of November: 76 degrees F (24 degrees C).

COUSIN CAVAQUINHO

DDX shared an enthusiastic e-mail with me today of her fascination with the Cavaquinho. Here's a link to a player on myspace, http://www.myspace.com/ocavaquinho which has a Spanish classical sound. The videos below show off the cavaquinho and it's distinct metallic sound compared to a standard ukulele.