This is one of my favorite songs. The original is played on guitar and mandolin. I took both parts and tried to combine them on the ukulele. It's not quite the same, but I'm pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out. I've only completed the beginning, but since this is the most challenging part, I don't think the rest will be too bad. Here's the tab:
* h - hammer on
* s - slide
* ^ - accent
* Four dashes per beat.
* Played twice with no pause in between.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
A ----2--------------------------------------------------------h-
E ----------4---2---0---2---4---4-----------4---2-----2-------0/4
C 4-------4-------4-------4---4---1---3/4-------1/3-3---3/4-3----
G ----1-------1-------1----------------s---------h-------s-------
Enjoy.
clevceo
EDIT: I made a minor change to the tab near the end with the hammer-ons and slides. I was listening to the song recently and it sounded different than what I was playing, but it's fixed now.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Latest
It's been a while. I already performed in the bluegrass band. It was a blast, I messed up a few times, but my friends said they didn't notice. I said I messed up so bad I stopped playing a few times, but they said they thought the pauses were intentional. One person said they knew I'd messed up when I mouthed, "Sorry." But I improved dramatically on the mandolin. I want to keep improving, though I don't have much time.
As I improved on the mandolin, I found myself improving on the ukulele as well. My left hand can move faster. I learned a couple classical songs on the ukulele, namely "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Tarantella Italiana." They sound cool on the uke. Also, my uke is getting old and creaky. I don't know how much longer it will last. It's a two-hundred-dollar uke, but it's not made well. I discovered recently that there is a guy in my hometown that handcrafts them, and I plan to get one around Christmastime. They are $350-$375, but they sound good and I like to think that more care was put into their craftsmanship, so they'll be more durable.
Lastly, I'm taking private piano lessons. Technically, students are supposed to take a few group piano classes first, but that's to learn theory and such, which I already know, so I talked them into letting me go straight to the private lessons. It's definitely a challenge. I'm used to memorizing music because, honestly, trying to sight-read with a ukulele isn't very practical. It takes some planning. Which string and finger will you use for each note? On mandolin, it's easier because only the left-hand needs preplanning, there's only one way to pick a note with the right hand. On piano, you only have to plan which finger because there's only one way to play each note. Thus, my brain is trained to memorize. I'm trying to change that.
My instructor said that she usually tells her students to play the songs slowly and speed up until they're up to speed, but she says I have no problem with speed. My problem is with reading, so she said not to worry about speed. Just play slowly until I can play it, then move on.
I'm excited to become a piano player. I know I can do it. I'm gradually improving.
As I improved on the mandolin, I found myself improving on the ukulele as well. My left hand can move faster. I learned a couple classical songs on the ukulele, namely "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Tarantella Italiana." They sound cool on the uke. Also, my uke is getting old and creaky. I don't know how much longer it will last. It's a two-hundred-dollar uke, but it's not made well. I discovered recently that there is a guy in my hometown that handcrafts them, and I plan to get one around Christmastime. They are $350-$375, but they sound good and I like to think that more care was put into their craftsmanship, so they'll be more durable.
Lastly, I'm taking private piano lessons. Technically, students are supposed to take a few group piano classes first, but that's to learn theory and such, which I already know, so I talked them into letting me go straight to the private lessons. It's definitely a challenge. I'm used to memorizing music because, honestly, trying to sight-read with a ukulele isn't very practical. It takes some planning. Which string and finger will you use for each note? On mandolin, it's easier because only the left-hand needs preplanning, there's only one way to pick a note with the right hand. On piano, you only have to plan which finger because there's only one way to play each note. Thus, my brain is trained to memorize. I'm trying to change that.
My instructor said that she usually tells her students to play the songs slowly and speed up until they're up to speed, but she says I have no problem with speed. My problem is with reading, so she said not to worry about speed. Just play slowly until I can play it, then move on.
I'm excited to become a piano player. I know I can do it. I'm gradually improving.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Mandolin
I played the ukulele for my family at the reunion and discovered just how nervous I get when all ears are on me. I botched While My Guitar Gently Weeps. They didn't ask me to play it again. However, I did a little better on Ave Maria, and they asked me to play it a few times, each time sounding better than the last, which was good. I really wish I could've played While My Guitar Gently Weeps better because it truly is the better song, but I didn't try because I was too nervous. Maybe one day when I am better at performing, I'll play it for them again.
Then, I went back to the mandolin, which is my #1 priority right now. I went a few days without playing the ukulele, and then one day I sat down and decided to pluck around. Guess what happened? I played through While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Ave Maria flawlessly and they sounded great (by my standard). It's so frustrating that I can't play well when I most need to, but can when I don't. I am pretty sure that it's the pressure. Even when I am practicing constantly, I can't play as well as I did after a few days of no playing. When I'm practicing constantly, I pressure myself, which drives me to continue and persevere, but also seems to knock my skill down a little bit. What I need to learn is how to keep calm and relaxed at all times in order to play my best.
Anyway, I am getting much better at the mandolin. We have class once a week, so last week, we met for only our second time this semester. The first time, I was lost and could hardly play along with everyone else in the bluegrass band. I could do a few chords, but even then, I couldn't stay in sync with everyone else. I kept wanting to play at my own tempo. I need to practice with a metronome.
However, this last time, I was able to stay in sync and even do a break, which, if you don't know bluegrass music, is where one instrument breaks off and plays the melody while the others back it up with chords. It was a fairly simple break, though it wasn't the simplest, the one they usually expect beginners to play. I felt pretty good about it. I had practiced for an hour after the first class, then left for the reunion, then returned monday, and practiced that night, tuesday night, and wednesday night and came to class at least twice as good as I was the week previous. I intend to practice every day this week.
There's an experienced mandolinist in the ensemble who plays much more advanced versions of the mandolin breaks than I was given by the instructor. However, I found a more advanced version in our text, which I am guessing is the version he is playing. It's all fine and dandy that I had a simplified one because honestly, I had alot of trouble using a pick at first. Slower picking was more suited to my skill level. Plus, I was still used to the ukulele's fret spacing, so I kept missing the frets. However, I am much better than I was (though still a beginner), so I opened up the more advanced version and gave it a go.
I have gotten to the point where I can sight-read tabs without looking at the fret-board, though I usually just use the tabs long enough to play it by memory, but I often use visual memory, so I have to look at the fretboard as I play. However, this time, I sight-read it a few times just fine, then tried to play it while looking at the fret-board and I could hardly play it. I could play it better by just looking away and relying on muscle-memory. This has never happened to me before. Maybe it's a good sign. Either way, I was able to play the song without too much trouble. I would slip up once in a while, but I am definitely playing better than I did last week. After another day's practice, I could play it by heart fairly fast, with only a few slip-ups. I feel confident that by thursday, I'll be able to do a break with it, which totally blows away my pessimistic expectations. I thought it would take me much longer to get used to using a pick.
I think I am practicing more than anyone else in the ensemble. The instructor passed around an attendance sheet and had us put our practice hours next to our names. After class, a girl told me that she thinks that we practiced the most in the class. Then she said she practiced three hours. I had practiced five, which is a few less than I would've done if I hadn't been at the reunion. I learned from the ukulele that if you want to be good at an instrument, you have to practice it every day. When I only play the ukulele two hours a week, I'm lucky if I can maintain my current skill. Sure I can learn simple things in two hours a week, but advanced skills take much more frequent practice to learn and even to maintain.
Thus, I have chosen, and I recommend to all those reading (most likely nobody), to practice at least an hour a day. Sure, you can skip a day a week if you don't feel comfortable practicing on sunday, though I feel that practicing hymns and other sunday appropriate songs are appropriate as long as you are playing for fun. Now, a brand-spanking-new beginner has not yet learned to play for fun because playing anything still takes alot of effort. The ukulele, for me, is not that much work, so I thoroughly enjoy playing it. That is, unless I am practicing under pressure.
One thing I need to improve on in my practice is playing smoothly. Though I am getting faster, it still doesn't sound that good. The picking sounds stunted. I have it about down with the ukulele, but that's because I'm used to fingerpicking. I am not used to using a pick. For example, it takes some coordination to play softly. Why? Because the farther your finger or pick dips down beneath the strings before the pluck, the louder it will be, and it takes some precision to use the very tips of your finger or pick. A beginner will find himself occasionally dipping too far and giving a string a good SNAP sound. In other words, I can't yet play the mandolin quietly. Right now, I'm happy to hit the right string, but the coordination will come with time.
Another problem I have has to do with my mandolin. The tuning is funny. After I tune the strings, I test the strings against each other, pressing the seventh fret on one and comparing it with the next one, and they aren't the same. It's really frustrating because it's supposed to be a $200 mandolin. It's supposed to tune right.
Anyway, there's this week's story. Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Then, I went back to the mandolin, which is my #1 priority right now. I went a few days without playing the ukulele, and then one day I sat down and decided to pluck around. Guess what happened? I played through While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Ave Maria flawlessly and they sounded great (by my standard). It's so frustrating that I can't play well when I most need to, but can when I don't. I am pretty sure that it's the pressure. Even when I am practicing constantly, I can't play as well as I did after a few days of no playing. When I'm practicing constantly, I pressure myself, which drives me to continue and persevere, but also seems to knock my skill down a little bit. What I need to learn is how to keep calm and relaxed at all times in order to play my best.
Anyway, I am getting much better at the mandolin. We have class once a week, so last week, we met for only our second time this semester. The first time, I was lost and could hardly play along with everyone else in the bluegrass band. I could do a few chords, but even then, I couldn't stay in sync with everyone else. I kept wanting to play at my own tempo. I need to practice with a metronome.
However, this last time, I was able to stay in sync and even do a break, which, if you don't know bluegrass music, is where one instrument breaks off and plays the melody while the others back it up with chords. It was a fairly simple break, though it wasn't the simplest, the one they usually expect beginners to play. I felt pretty good about it. I had practiced for an hour after the first class, then left for the reunion, then returned monday, and practiced that night, tuesday night, and wednesday night and came to class at least twice as good as I was the week previous. I intend to practice every day this week.
There's an experienced mandolinist in the ensemble who plays much more advanced versions of the mandolin breaks than I was given by the instructor. However, I found a more advanced version in our text, which I am guessing is the version he is playing. It's all fine and dandy that I had a simplified one because honestly, I had alot of trouble using a pick at first. Slower picking was more suited to my skill level. Plus, I was still used to the ukulele's fret spacing, so I kept missing the frets. However, I am much better than I was (though still a beginner), so I opened up the more advanced version and gave it a go.
I have gotten to the point where I can sight-read tabs without looking at the fret-board, though I usually just use the tabs long enough to play it by memory, but I often use visual memory, so I have to look at the fretboard as I play. However, this time, I sight-read it a few times just fine, then tried to play it while looking at the fret-board and I could hardly play it. I could play it better by just looking away and relying on muscle-memory. This has never happened to me before. Maybe it's a good sign. Either way, I was able to play the song without too much trouble. I would slip up once in a while, but I am definitely playing better than I did last week. After another day's practice, I could play it by heart fairly fast, with only a few slip-ups. I feel confident that by thursday, I'll be able to do a break with it, which totally blows away my pessimistic expectations. I thought it would take me much longer to get used to using a pick.
I think I am practicing more than anyone else in the ensemble. The instructor passed around an attendance sheet and had us put our practice hours next to our names. After class, a girl told me that she thinks that we practiced the most in the class. Then she said she practiced three hours. I had practiced five, which is a few less than I would've done if I hadn't been at the reunion. I learned from the ukulele that if you want to be good at an instrument, you have to practice it every day. When I only play the ukulele two hours a week, I'm lucky if I can maintain my current skill. Sure I can learn simple things in two hours a week, but advanced skills take much more frequent practice to learn and even to maintain.
Thus, I have chosen, and I recommend to all those reading (most likely nobody), to practice at least an hour a day. Sure, you can skip a day a week if you don't feel comfortable practicing on sunday, though I feel that practicing hymns and other sunday appropriate songs are appropriate as long as you are playing for fun. Now, a brand-spanking-new beginner has not yet learned to play for fun because playing anything still takes alot of effort. The ukulele, for me, is not that much work, so I thoroughly enjoy playing it. That is, unless I am practicing under pressure.
One thing I need to improve on in my practice is playing smoothly. Though I am getting faster, it still doesn't sound that good. The picking sounds stunted. I have it about down with the ukulele, but that's because I'm used to fingerpicking. I am not used to using a pick. For example, it takes some coordination to play softly. Why? Because the farther your finger or pick dips down beneath the strings before the pluck, the louder it will be, and it takes some precision to use the very tips of your finger or pick. A beginner will find himself occasionally dipping too far and giving a string a good SNAP sound. In other words, I can't yet play the mandolin quietly. Right now, I'm happy to hit the right string, but the coordination will come with time.
Another problem I have has to do with my mandolin. The tuning is funny. After I tune the strings, I test the strings against each other, pressing the seventh fret on one and comparing it with the next one, and they aren't the same. It's really frustrating because it's supposed to be a $200 mandolin. It's supposed to tune right.
Anyway, there's this week's story. Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Uke Performance
That's actually misleading. It is not an official performance. I am playing for my family, but only a few of them have heard me play, and that was a few months ago. I have improved since then. We are having a family reunion and they want me to bring my uke. I, of course, have been practicing While My Guitar Gently Weeps, though my practice has been a bit sparse lately, and when I have practiced, I have neglected the bridge of the song so that I would not annoy my roommates. Basically, I need to go to a private room like I used to and jam out before the reunion. I need to practice the bridge a few times before I play for my family.
Ave Maria, however, has not been neglected. It is a quieter song from top to bottom, so I can play it just about anywhere without annoying anybody. However, there are a couple parts that I need to polish. I really like that song.
After the reunion, I do not know how much time I will be giving the ukulele. For the Bluegrass Ensemble, I will be devoting alot of time to the mandolin. I am afraid that the ukulele will be shrugged aside. However, that is okay. It was never my dream instrument in the first place, though I sure do enjoy playing it. The mandolin has been my dream instrument for a while now. I would love to be in an actual bluegrass band. That would be awesome.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Ave Maria, however, has not been neglected. It is a quieter song from top to bottom, so I can play it just about anywhere without annoying anybody. However, there are a couple parts that I need to polish. I really like that song.
After the reunion, I do not know how much time I will be giving the ukulele. For the Bluegrass Ensemble, I will be devoting alot of time to the mandolin. I am afraid that the ukulele will be shrugged aside. However, that is okay. It was never my dream instrument in the first place, though I sure do enjoy playing it. The mandolin has been my dream instrument for a while now. I would love to be in an actual bluegrass band. That would be awesome.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Classical Ukulele, Bluegrass Ensemble
I got a book by John King called The Classical Ukulele. It's apparently pretty good. It says it's best for more experienced players, which is nice because 99% of the books out there are for beginners. I'm excited.
I'm starting my Bluegrass Ensemble class in two days. We have to get a book called 50 Tunes by Mark Geslison, which is a good sign because I like Mark Geslison. I am stoked for this class. I think it will be exactly what I need. One thing I really need to learn is how to play with other people. Every time I try, I always play at my own tempo. I have such a hard time staying in sync, but that is only because I never practice with other people. Now I will. Also, it will give me incentive to learn the mandolin, which I have always wanted to learn.
I am stoked.
clevceo
I'm starting my Bluegrass Ensemble class in two days. We have to get a book called 50 Tunes by Mark Geslison, which is a good sign because I like Mark Geslison. I am stoked for this class. I think it will be exactly what I need. One thing I really need to learn is how to play with other people. Every time I try, I always play at my own tempo. I have such a hard time staying in sync, but that is only because I never practice with other people. Now I will. Also, it will give me incentive to learn the mandolin, which I have always wanted to learn.
I am stoked.
clevceo
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Ave Maria Tab Draft Completed
I completed a draft of my tab for Jake Shimabukuro's rendition of Ave Maria. However, it's in .txt format. It's just the numbers, no quarter notes, half notes, or anything to do with timing. The timing is in my head. The tab is just to help me remember where to put my fingers.
Maybe one day I'll use Powertab or something to make a proper tab. However, the first tab I would do would be the intro to While My Guitar Gently Weeps. It's alot shorter, so it would be a good one to start with. I have created plenty of simple tabs, but never have I ever actually written out the music, notes and all.
It's easy to tell where to put your fingers, but it's more difficult to divide it into measures and distinguish between half-notes and quarter notes when Jake constantly slows down and speeds up. Then again, I wouldn't know because I have never tried it. For all I know, it's simple as pie.
Anyway, though I have Ave Maria memorized, I can't play it smoothly yet, so I will be practicing it alongside While My Guitar Gently Weeps on a daily basis. Playing these songs is truly some of the best ukulele practice. Also, learning songs by ear helps train your ear. Since I started tabbing Ave Maria, I have developed a better ear for notes, and it was only over a few days.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Maybe one day I'll use Powertab or something to make a proper tab. However, the first tab I would do would be the intro to While My Guitar Gently Weeps. It's alot shorter, so it would be a good one to start with. I have created plenty of simple tabs, but never have I ever actually written out the music, notes and all.
It's easy to tell where to put your fingers, but it's more difficult to divide it into measures and distinguish between half-notes and quarter notes when Jake constantly slows down and speeds up. Then again, I wouldn't know because I have never tried it. For all I know, it's simple as pie.
Anyway, though I have Ave Maria memorized, I can't play it smoothly yet, so I will be practicing it alongside While My Guitar Gently Weeps on a daily basis. Playing these songs is truly some of the best ukulele practice. Also, learning songs by ear helps train your ear. Since I started tabbing Ave Maria, I have developed a better ear for notes, and it was only over a few days.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Ave Maria
I am in the process of tabbing Jake Shimabukuro's version of Ave Maria, which you can hear on his album Gently Weeps, alongside While My Guitar Gently Weeps (hence the album's name). It is a beautiful rendition. The tremolo at the beginning and end would probably be the peak of difficulty in this song, so if you can do that, then you have this song in the bag.
On the flipside, those parts are the easiest to tab. The hardest are the occasional chord strums in the song. They are easy when he plays each note individually after the strum, but sometimes he immediately moves on to a different chord. Sometimes, chords are easy because the notes ring loud and clear, but sometimes, it's easier to hear the sound of the pluck than the notes being plucked.
I am making progress. I imagine it will be completed fairly soon. I am a little over a third finished.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
On the flipside, those parts are the easiest to tab. The hardest are the occasional chord strums in the song. They are easy when he plays each note individually after the strum, but sometimes he immediately moves on to a different chord. Sometimes, chords are easy because the notes ring loud and clear, but sometimes, it's easier to hear the sound of the pluck than the notes being plucked.
I am making progress. I imagine it will be completed fairly soon. I am a little over a third finished.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Mandolin DVD, Uke Skills, Bluegrass Ensemble
First off, I got the mandolin DVD I ordered. I've watched about two-thirds of it. Every time I go to practice the mandolin, I end up putting it down after ten minutes, picking up the ukulele and playing it instead for a few hours. However, the DVD is great. It has alot of really good tips. Basically, it will save me from having to unlearn bad habits later. However, like I said, I still have a hard time practicing for more than a short while since I still cannot play an entire song.
The DVD also includes some sweet tabs to some sweet songs. I am really excited about that.
As for the ukulele, I am improving every day. My practicing revolves almost entirely around mastering While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I have the intro down. I actually discovered a few flaws in my tab and tutorial video. My version just did not sound quite the same as Jake's, but I have fixed it. It sounds pretty close now. Maybe I will update them sometime. I have also been learning all kinds of techniques that Jake uses that I have never used before. That song is rich in technique. It is not just a pick and strum song.
He has three different ways to strum a chord:
1) The usual finger strum, which was the only strum I used to do. This is used during all parts of the song, though more so later on in the louder, faster strumming portions.
2) The slower, warmer thumb-strum, which differs from your common every day thumb strum, and is used throughout the song, especially the softer parts. His thumb is extended, the joint straight, and only the very tip of the thumb touches the strings. In order for it to work right, the thumb cannot be angled to the left or right. It has to be aimed perpendicular to the strings. That is why Jake seems to have his hand at an uncomfortable angle at times.
3) The finger-pick pseudo-strum. While this is not technically a strum, it serves the same purpose. Basically, each string is plucked in quick succession by separate fingers. Jake uses this only in the intro and the first half of the first verse. The effect is very nice.
Then, of course, he has his two different methods of tremolo. The first is at the end of the bridge, where he starts picking really fast, and the second is at the very end of the song just before the final strum.
The order of the string plucks for the first are: C-E-A-C-E-A-G-E-A and repeat. These are not the actual notes, just the strings. The technique is to hit the C's and G's with your thumb, the E's with your index finger, and the A's with your middle finger. Also, the timing of the C and G plucks is a bit offset. It takes some listening to the video to get it right. You have to make your index and middle fingers work independent of the thumb.
The order of the string plucks for the second are: C-A-A-G-A-A-E-A-A and repeat. The technique is to use your thumb for the C's, G's, and E's, and both your index and middle fingers for the A's. You use both fingers for speed's sake. Jake's tremolo is really fast.
The other technique is in his strumming. I have not yet mastered it. You will notice that in the middle of his strumming, he will occasionally do a quick burst of strums. This is showcased pretty well in the bridge. I cannot really tell you how he does it. I have a general idea, but I cannot quite seem to get it right. However, I will soon. I felt the same way about the first tremolo. I thought it was much faster than I would ever be able to pick, but I can do it now.
These techniques will not be found in any ukulele book at the music store. Why? Because music stores assume (correctly in most cases) that customers are only playing the ukulele as a beginner's guitar, and thus only stock books catered for such. The sheet music I used to learn Gently Weeps did not share any of this either even though it was the most complex ukulele music I have tried to learn. Thus, I learned it all by watching Jake's video over and over. The ukulele is a tough instrument to learn for those not interested in Hawaiian music because the resources are limited. That is why I am eternally grateful to Jake Shimabukuro for creating some serious uke music where such was scarce.
The uke, however, was never my dream instrument. It just happened to be the one I picked up and learned. I love it, do not get me wrong, but the limited resources are getting to me. That is why I bought the mandolin. It has plenty of music to learn from many different countries.
I am trying to motivate myself to learn it, and I think I found the solution. I just signed up to be in the bluegrass ensemble next semester at my university. It is more of a class than anything. They take people from no musical experience to advanced proficiency and divide them by skill level. If I could use the ukulele, I may be in a higher skill group, but alas, I will be playing the mandolin as a beginner. I am stoked.
clevceo
The DVD also includes some sweet tabs to some sweet songs. I am really excited about that.
As for the ukulele, I am improving every day. My practicing revolves almost entirely around mastering While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I have the intro down. I actually discovered a few flaws in my tab and tutorial video. My version just did not sound quite the same as Jake's, but I have fixed it. It sounds pretty close now. Maybe I will update them sometime. I have also been learning all kinds of techniques that Jake uses that I have never used before. That song is rich in technique. It is not just a pick and strum song.
He has three different ways to strum a chord:
1) The usual finger strum, which was the only strum I used to do. This is used during all parts of the song, though more so later on in the louder, faster strumming portions.
2) The slower, warmer thumb-strum, which differs from your common every day thumb strum, and is used throughout the song, especially the softer parts. His thumb is extended, the joint straight, and only the very tip of the thumb touches the strings. In order for it to work right, the thumb cannot be angled to the left or right. It has to be aimed perpendicular to the strings. That is why Jake seems to have his hand at an uncomfortable angle at times.
3) The finger-pick pseudo-strum. While this is not technically a strum, it serves the same purpose. Basically, each string is plucked in quick succession by separate fingers. Jake uses this only in the intro and the first half of the first verse. The effect is very nice.
Then, of course, he has his two different methods of tremolo. The first is at the end of the bridge, where he starts picking really fast, and the second is at the very end of the song just before the final strum.
The order of the string plucks for the first are: C-E-A-C-E-A-G-E-A and repeat. These are not the actual notes, just the strings. The technique is to hit the C's and G's with your thumb, the E's with your index finger, and the A's with your middle finger. Also, the timing of the C and G plucks is a bit offset. It takes some listening to the video to get it right. You have to make your index and middle fingers work independent of the thumb.
The order of the string plucks for the second are: C-A-A-G-A-A-E-A-A and repeat. The technique is to use your thumb for the C's, G's, and E's, and both your index and middle fingers for the A's. You use both fingers for speed's sake. Jake's tremolo is really fast.
The other technique is in his strumming. I have not yet mastered it. You will notice that in the middle of his strumming, he will occasionally do a quick burst of strums. This is showcased pretty well in the bridge. I cannot really tell you how he does it. I have a general idea, but I cannot quite seem to get it right. However, I will soon. I felt the same way about the first tremolo. I thought it was much faster than I would ever be able to pick, but I can do it now.
These techniques will not be found in any ukulele book at the music store. Why? Because music stores assume (correctly in most cases) that customers are only playing the ukulele as a beginner's guitar, and thus only stock books catered for such. The sheet music I used to learn Gently Weeps did not share any of this either even though it was the most complex ukulele music I have tried to learn. Thus, I learned it all by watching Jake's video over and over. The ukulele is a tough instrument to learn for those not interested in Hawaiian music because the resources are limited. That is why I am eternally grateful to Jake Shimabukuro for creating some serious uke music where such was scarce.
The uke, however, was never my dream instrument. It just happened to be the one I picked up and learned. I love it, do not get me wrong, but the limited resources are getting to me. That is why I bought the mandolin. It has plenty of music to learn from many different countries.
I am trying to motivate myself to learn it, and I think I found the solution. I just signed up to be in the bluegrass ensemble next semester at my university. It is more of a class than anything. They take people from no musical experience to advanced proficiency and divide them by skill level. If I could use the ukulele, I may be in a higher skill group, but alas, I will be playing the mandolin as a beginner. I am stoked.
clevceo
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Gently Weeps Intro Tutorial Video
Here it is. The tutorial video for the intro to Gently Weeps:
In case this is your first time reading my blog, the tabs are in the post just before this one.
Enjoy,
clevceo
In case this is your first time reading my blog, the tabs are in the post just before this one.
Enjoy,
clevceo
Monday, March 21, 2011
Intro to Gently Weeps by Jake Shimabukuro
If you haven't seen Jake Shimabukuro's cover of the Beatles' song While My Guitar Gently Weeps, the you should watch it now. It's the coolest ukulele song I've ever heard.
I've been working on mastering it for over a year, but the sheet music I've found never includes the intro, and all the youtube tutorials of the intro are incorrect, so I watched the video myself (over and over for two hours) and figured it out. I've almost mastered it. I just need to work on the timing a little bit on the really fast part. I will probably post a tutorial on youtube sometime soon. In the meantime, here's the tab:
* Slight pause after every line break.
* -- (two dashes between notes) - pause
* h - hammer on
* p - pull off
* s - slide
To get the timing right, you have to watch the video.
However, get to know the tab first because he's super
fast and it's so much easier to see what he's doing when
you already know the notes.
------------hp--hh--s-----------s---
---------1-121-123-36-6--6-5-6-68-8-
---0--23----------------------------
-0-----h----------------------------
s
-------56-----8---6---
---8--------8-------8-
-7---7----7-----7-----
----------------------
s
-----35---5-----6-----5-
---6--------6-----6-----
-5------5-----5-----5---
------------------------
---1-----3-----5-----------
-----4-----4-----4-----4---
-3-----3-----3-------3-----
-------------------0-----0-
h s
-02---------510-10-
-3----3---3-----7--
-2------2-------7--
-0--0-----------7--
I hope this helps.
clevceo
I've been working on mastering it for over a year, but the sheet music I've found never includes the intro, and all the youtube tutorials of the intro are incorrect, so I watched the video myself (over and over for two hours) and figured it out. I've almost mastered it. I just need to work on the timing a little bit on the really fast part. I will probably post a tutorial on youtube sometime soon. In the meantime, here's the tab:
* Slight pause after every line break.
* -- (two dashes between notes) - pause
* h - hammer on
* p - pull off
* s - slide
To get the timing right, you have to watch the video.
However, get to know the tab first because he's super
fast and it's so much easier to see what he's doing when
you already know the notes.
------------hp--hh--s-----------s---
---------1-121-123-36-6--6-5-6-68-8-
---0--23----------------------------
-0-----h----------------------------
s
-------56-----8---6---
---8--------8-------8-
-7---7----7-----7-----
----------------------
s
-----35---5-----6-----5-
---6--------6-----6-----
-5------5-----5-----5---
------------------------
---1-----3-----5-----------
-----4-----4-----4-----4---
-3-----3-----3-------3-----
-------------------0-----0-
h s
-02---------510-10-
-3----3---3-----7--
-2------2-------7--
-0--0-----------7--
I hope this helps.
clevceo
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Mandolin DVD and Book
Stumptown is still the only song I'm working on, and I'm only really working on the very beginning of it. I've mostly overcome the hiccup I kept hitting, though I'm still slow and I'm still not entirely coordinated with the picking. I am improving quite a bit, however.
I ordered a dvd and a book. The dvd is "Essential Techniques for Mandolin" with Chris Thile and the book is "The Fiddler's Fakebook." Chris Thile is one of the best mandolin players around and I am excited to see what he has to say. As for The Fiddler's Fakebook, I searched "mandolin" in the books on Amazon and sorted by rating, and it was near the top, I think the second on the list. I read the description and it is basically a ton of folk music from different countries that applies to all kinds of folk instruments, even though it's primary focus is on the fiddle. Since it's not built specifically for the mandolin, it means that I will have to learn the fretboard to play the songs, which is really good because I would probably only use tabs otherwise.
I'm stoked.
clevceo
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mandolin and Ukulele
Lately, all I've been practicing are the ukulele and mandolin. I'm trying to learn Stumptown by Nickel Creek for the mandolin. I know the first bit of the song, but for some reason, I keep messing up on the same part. I think it's because I'm trying to focus not only on hitting the right frets, but also on trying to pick the right string. I'm not used to a pick. I'm used to finger-picking. You don't have to jump around so much with finger-picking. Anyway, it's coming along. My fingers are sore right now, which I'm telling myself is a good thing. It means I'm hardcore.
I'm excited about the mandolin. I think it's making me a better ukulele player. With the ukulele, you don't have to be so precise with your left hand because the strings are farther apart, but the mandolin demands precision if you don't want to mute or buzz other strings.
Thanks for reading,
clevceo
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Mandolin
I am a big fan of mandolin music, and I have wanted one for a while now. My proficiency currently lies with the ukulele, but the ukulele was never my dream instrument. At first, I learned it as a segue to the guitar. However, I tried guitar and I got frustrated and fell back on the ukulele, which became, not my segue, but my primary instrument. However, while the guitar was no longer my goal, I began to develop a strong interest in the mandolin. I have always loved fast picking in music, which isn't too common with the guitar or the ukulele. My favorite songs to play on the uke are finger-pick heavy, but those are really hard to find. However, fast picking is very common with the mandolin. Hence my fascination with it.
I currently live in a small town, and I just found out that there is a little music store on main st. I was pretty excited because I love browsing music stores, checking out all the instruments, fiddling around with the most expensive ones. While I was browsing, I spotted a line of mandolins. I made a bee-line over to them and admired them for a while, checking the prices. For the most part, they were over two-hundred. One was barely over a hundred, but I figured it was a cheap one.
But then I saw a big 50%! tag on one that was two-hundred, reducing it to one-hundred. It had a crack in it, but it didn't affect the sound. Needless to say, I was excited. One part of me said, "That's still alot of money." But the other part said, "This is your chance. You've wanted this for a long time, and it just fell in your lap. Take it. Besides, you're going to buy one eventually anyway."
So I bought it. I can't tell you how stoked I was about it. I still can't believe that I own a mandolin. I never imagined I'd be playing it one day. Heck, I never imagined I'd play anything musical.
Anyway, my daily routine was just expanded by one instrument. Now it includes:
- Singing
- Piano
- Ukulele
- Mandolin
- Drawing
clevceo
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Clev Talent
I have decided that I am a talented individual.
For many years, I thought that recognizing my talents was a prideful thing. I was not entirely wrong. You can abuse it. However, I have come to realize that it is okay to appreciate your talents. Thus, I am on a quest to recognize and develop them.
For the longest time, I have been a computer guy. The only talent that I openly recognized was my talent for programming. I felt that such was okay because it was not a talent desired or even admired by very many people, so it was not something to compare. However, in the back of my mind, I have always known that I have a myriad of talents that I have briefly delved into at one time or another. They are:
- Art
- Writing
- Music
My sisters (twins) are incredible artists, but initially, I was the artsy big brother that gave them pointers. I was the artist in my class in elementary school. Everyone assumed that was the direction I was going to take. It was what I did on a daily basis. One day, I stopped and never went back. I wish I had not.
I have always always had a way with words. When I take an essay seriously, it becomes an enjoyable experience, and I usually get an A. I took a creative writing course, and loved it. I was so proud of what I wrote. For some reason, unlike my sisters, I admire my own work and love to read through it again and again. It just feels so good.
Music is one that I discovered only two years ago. When I was in sixth grade, I played the baritone and my mom told me I was musically inclined. I did not believe her for a minute. Moms always think you are great even when you are not, so sometimes you have to take their compliments with a grain of salt. I stopped playing soon thereafter. I never imagined myself as musical. I only wanted to play the baritone because it was big and I thought that was cool. However, two years ago, I bought a ukulele, and I have been in love ever since. I will come right out and say it. I am a decent uke player. I am learning While My Guitar Gently Weeps, which is a Beatles cover by Jake Shimabukuro. If you have not heard it, look it up on youtube. It is amazing.
Yesterday, I started a daily routine. I went to a private room with a piano in it, and practiced my talents. I:
- sang
- played ukulele
- learned part of a song on piano
- drew some pictures (line drawing is my favorite art form, so that is what I do).
As for piano, I have never learned piano before. I think people have tried to teach me on occasion, but each time never lasted more than five minutes because I was lost. However, I learned music theory as I learned the ukulele, so I have a headstart. I can read music. and my fingers are coordinated now, which is huge. Plus, I have faith in myself now. I am excited. It is fun.
I still have some drawing skill left over from my artsy past, so I am working off of that. It is satisfying.
So, there you have it. I am going to post my progress and my thoughts as I go. Thanks for reading,
clevceo
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