Ukulele & Languages

Different countries,
Different cultures
one common language... the ukulele.

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28 2011

UK ukulele tour

For those of you looking for an alternative to Christmas ukulele music, I’ve decided to put up a post focusing on ukulele videos from the United-Kingdom.

The first video is performed by my friend Lou aka Bossarocker who really has a rich and soulful voice. I wish she’d make more videos and I really hope that her EP will come out soon.

Lou performs Bob Dylan‘s In My Time Of Dying on her new cigar box ukulele.

Al covers Bert Jansh‘s version of Davey Graham‘s Angi.  I really love this piece, maybe I should set myself the challenge to try and play it in 2012.

Next is a song featuring ukes and harmonica, In the Long Boat by Moth Conspiracy.

Joseph Reuben sings I Was Once

Finally, Misty Miller and her brother Rufus perform Vampire.

 

18 2011

Tab for Maelström, ukulele original

I was at the same time pleased and embarrassed when I was asked for the tab for my original tune Maelström. Pleased in the sense that it felt great to hear that a piece of music I had written was appreciated and embarrassed because I had never thought of ever tabbing Maelström, having but very little knowledge of music theory.

I have written Maelström completely ‘by ear’, relying only on how pleasant it sounded to my ears. So I never gave any thought as to how it would fit in with music theory. After much procrastination on my part, I finally decided to try and discover how my piece was constructed. I focused on trying to learn how to use Powertab and after a difficult start, I found this excellent post which helped me set up the program for the ukulele.

So I am now glad to oblige with my attempt at tabbing Maelström for anyone who feels like playing it. A big thank you to those who asked for the tabs, I learnt a great deal from working on it. Many thanks to Guillaume for his help and to Al for reviewing the tab.

Download Tab for Maelström (for standard GCEA ukes, I might do the baritone tab later if anyone asks for it).

Here is my video of Maelström for all that is not mentioned in the tab (ie. strumming pattern for the strumming part)

Any suggestions on how to improve the tab are welcome.

26 2011

Norway, Canada, Italy, Brazil, Australia: Ukulele World Tour

You’re in for a really international feel today as our ukulele trip will take us all around the globe: this World Tour post will take you to Norway for some singing in Russian, to Canada for some West African Guitar Style strumming applied to the ukulele, to Italy for a classic and finally to Brazil and Australia with local singers and ukulele players Rick Melo and Tyrone.

Country: Norway / Language: Russian

Mr Arvemann and Line Mehlum from Norway sing Миленький ты мой, a Russian folk song by Nadezhda Kadysheva.

Russian lyrics are available here.

Country: Canada / Language: Instrumental

Rob displays his ouststanding ukulele strumming skills once more, this time experimenting with the West African guitar style as played by the Orchestra Baobab from Senegal.

Rob covers Surprise Hotel by LA. band Fool’s Good.

Country: Italy/ Language: Italian

The Lupuslan covers L’Isola Che Non C’è by Edoardo Bennato.

Lyrics and chords can be found here.

Country: Brazil / Language: Brazilian Portuguese

Rick Melo from Osasco in Brazil sings Perfume de Muhler

Country: Australia / Language: English

Australian ukulele artist Tyrone is in the process of writing an album, Ukulele Heart. Read about the project here. Thanks to David.

Don’t hesitate to let me know about ukulele artists from your own country, either by leaving a comment or by using the contact form (click on the Contact button at the top right of this page). Your input is much appreciated.

20 2011

HappySad, Maja Koman, Ukulele and Polish

Let me invite you to a trip to Poland today where you’ll get to hear two Polish ukulele players in two different styles. Tune your ears to the Polish language while listening to the songs and the interviews…

HappySad is a popular Polish rock band formed in 2001. In the following acoustic live session for Balcony TV Poznan, two members of the band perform the song Kostuchna from their album Mów mi dobrze on ukulele and guitar. Check out the steady ukulele strumming and interesting chord progression. 

If you wish to skip the introduction of the band in Polish, start the video at 1:47.

If anyone would like to try and study the ukulele strumming from the song Kostuchna, this instrumental cover by Szymon should help you visualise the chords played.

Maja Koman is a Polish singer and ukulele player. The only performance in Polish I could find was her participation in a Polish Music Contest where she seems to have impressed the jury with a children lullaby called Stary niedźwiedź mocno śpi. (Old Bear sleeps heavily)

Maja Koman seems to sing mostly in English. Here is her acoustic performance for Balcony TV Poznan.

If you wish to skip the introduction and simply listen to the song, start the video at 0:48.

17 2011

Ukulele Online Magazine : Pluck n°2

Why not learn French while reading about your favourite subject _ the ukulele ?

The PLUCK is an online ukulele magazine created by a team of French ukulele aficionados, dealing with a wide variety of ukulele aspects and very neatly laid out. At the moment, the PLUCK is all in French but the PLUCK team has already announced that they would work on an English translation.

Here is an overview of what you can find in the PLUCK n° 2:

- A PLUCK Express page informs you of the latest ukulele related events and includes a review of Al Wood‘s Ukulele for Dummies.

- Discover the luthier workshop of Wild Wood Lutherie Ukulélé, created by Christophe Chabaud.

- Find out the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain A to Z. It has to be mentioned that Julie from the PLUCK team is also behind the French blog UOGBfrogsfan.

- An account of the FIUL (International Ukulele Fest. of Lerrain)

- An interview of James Hill

- A review of Gus and Fin‘s CD, Ukezotica

- A trip to sunny places with information on the Polynesian ukulele.

- A section about a French organization teaching ukulele to kids.

- A brief history of the plastic ukulele.

- A music lesson about rhythm.

For 2.50 euros you get a great 36-page online magazine with international ukulele information. You can download a copy here on the PLUCK website.

If you wish to be informed as to when an English version of the magazine will be available, send a message to redaction@pluckmag.org.

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