Uketropolis: Ukulele Q&A with James Hill: Recent Episodes
James Hill
Every week Uketropolis.com founder James Hill answers student questions about playing ukulele and interviews innovative ukulele educators.
Jazz teaches us many things. Even if we're not playing jazz, we can apply the lessons learned to many areas of music-making. In this episode: how jazz teaches us to do more with less (e.g. easier ways to play the B-flat chord), and how jazz encourages us to find our own personal musical style (e.g. artfully re-writing a melody to fit within a smaller range of notes).
There's an open question in the ukulele community: what to do when the tuning of the baritone doesn't mesh with the tuning of the other ukuleles in an ensemble? In this episode we explore this vexed question and as well as some possible solutions. BONUS: this episode includes a preview of my ukulele-orchestra arrangement of George Bizet's "Farandole." It's a banger.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a bridge between standard tuning and baritone tuning? Turns out, there is! In this episode: how to make the transposition between standard and baritone tuning in the most painless way possible.
Are your hands too small for baritone ukulele? Probably not. That being said, there's one chord that might give you trouble: the diminished 7. In this episode: a workaround for the diminished 7 that works on all sizes of ukulele, not just baritone.
People who love baritone ukulele really love baritone ukulele. Why? We kick off Baritone Month with a simple question: "What makes baritone ukulele so great?"
- Join James live every Thursday in May for Uke Heads Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_FUXbUQfwo
- Follow Uke Heads on social media:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukeheadsmusic
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ukeheadsmusic
Download the free handout for this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h5sqyp11pvdq47f/Uketropolis-Podcast-Note-Wheel.pdf?dl=0 (Note: you do not need to register for Dropbox to download the file. If prompted to register, simply close the pop-up and proceed to the download.)
What is a delay pedal? How is it like a house of mirrors? And how can it help you in your teaching and practice? Listen in as James creates soundscapes on-the-fly with the help of a BOSS DD-5 digital delay.
Links:
- Ukulele Funbook by Zsolt Schäfer: www.ukulelefunbook.com
- Treasure map activity: www.canonclub.ca (near bottom of page)
Free handout of Plaisir d'amour, the song James demonstrates in this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ct39zcovmk95ua/Uketropolis-Podcast-Plaisir-dAmour-Handout-C6.pdf?dl=0
When you're teaching (or self-teaching), how much truth is too much? When does information become counter-productive in the learning process? Explore these questions and more as we grapple with an interesting student question about the Harmonized C Scale.
Free sheet music: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4lx26j04hvlgpp/Dona-Nobis-Pacem-in-F-C6-Tuning.pdf?dl=0
Free mp3 download: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0hsick6ntggluy/James-Hill-Dona-Nobis-Pacem.mp3?dl=0
Let's tie up some loose ends with a "lightning round" of questions from Uketropolis this week. Felt picks vs. guitar picks, thumb position for chording, figuring out the chords when there are no chord diagrams, and how to manage a melody once you add harmony parts to it.
For information about the California Ukulele Hideaway, go to: https://www.musicworldretreats.com/ca-ukulele-hideaway-2022-james-hill
Lorna MacPhee's 1980 article on canons: https://ukuleleintheclassroom.com/ukuleleyes/canons-as-reading-weaponry
Why are minor keys so confusing? Why are there multiple minor scales? Why can't life just be simple?
Strumming will never make sense until you stop trying to make sense of it. In this episode, James leads you in a strumming meditation to help you master the fundamentals of rhythm in the most relaxing possible way. Headphones highly recommended!
Follow the full discussion about the chord 2-0-2-2 in the Uketropolis Community: https://app.kajabi.com/admin/sites/61347/comments (note: you must be member of Uketropolis.com to access the community page). Ready for more jazz ukulele? Take a free video lesson with me: Ukulele Jazz for Beginners (6 mins).
Go to www.uketropolis.com/bach for free scores and audio. Piano performance of Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846 by Pater Bradley-Fulgoni is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Links to music featured in this episode:
- James & Barry Hill: The Brookfield Sessions
- James Hill: The Old Silo
Click here to learn more about Baritone Ukulele Jazz and take a free lesson!
Vibrato is that "elusive wobble" that makes the ukulele sing! In this episode we explore what vibrato is, why we like it, and how to practice it efficiently.
When we listen to music we're simultaneously in the past, the present and the future, re-evaluating what we've heard and anticipating what we're going to hear next.
A question about modulating between keys leads to a deeper exploration of the space between worlds and why, in the end, there are no rules.
This episode gets a little technical! To view the handouts for this episode (highly recommended), go to: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vtjwo9kzymyjkkn/Uketropolis-S2-E7-The-Infinity-Scale.pdf?dl=0
Get the sheet music, audio and backing track for James' composition Goodnight Moon: www.uketropolis.com/goodnightmoon.
Simple ways to spice up common chords. Because variety is the spice of life and music is the food of love and love makes the world go 'round.
Click here for a printer-friendly PDF showing the most essential notes on the ukulele fretboard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/omk2y7we61wrzzm/The-Ukulele-Way-Beginner-Chords-and-Notes-C6.pdf?dl=0
What is gesture? How can gesture be used to open new doors to music-making? In this episode, James explores the concept of musical gesture and shows you how to create unusual "sound sculptures" in your lessons and personal practice.
What do the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dire Straits and a traditional Bulgarian folk song have in common? And what does that have to do with my fear of whales? This week we explore the haunting, evocative world of two-note chords called "diads."
Uketropolis student Andrea asks the question: is it possible to harmonize the Blues scale? To find out, James demonstrates what a harmonized scale is, what a Blues scale is, and one possible answer to the question. Free play-along handout available in the Uketropolis Community. If you're not already a member, sign up for a course and join the fun at www.uketropolis.com/register!
Download the free Harmonized Blues Scale handout: https://www.dropbox.com/s/diqjtj6v1yclq0l/The-Harmonized-Blues-Scale.pdf?dl=0
Here's some of what I've been up to in the break between Seasons 1 and 2:
- Happy Birthday to Uke
- 1879 Apparel
Want to hear your question on the podcast? All of the questions on the podcast are real student questions from Uketropolis.com. So if you'd like to hear me answer your question, go to uketropolis.com, take a course and ask questions along the way! We have a library of unique online ukulele courses and supportive worldwide community of students who are finding their own path to ukulele learning just like you!
In this special final episode of Season 1, I interview my Mom. We share a few laughs as we talk about my childhood, her own musical journey, raising musical children and much more. I hope you enjoy the interview and I'll see you in a few weeks for the start of Season 2!
James answers student questions about classical ukulele: 1) Vivaldi's monster chord, 2) the thrill of the trill, 3) to mute or not to mute?
A special whirlwind tour of the planet to celebrate Earth Day! From Chile, it's "El Tortillero," from Italy, "Santa Lucia" and from Hawaii, "Hone A Ka Wai." James explores three of the most well-loved pieces from The Ukulele Way.
Lightning round: one question from every course on Uketropolis.com! 1) How do I print the sheet music? 2) What do the words "tonic" and "dominant" mean? 3) How do you play two notes at the same time if they're on the same string? 4) Any tips for changing from F7 to Bb7? 5) Any suggestions for amp settings (low, mid, high)?
In this episode: TRY THIS! Five super-simple strategies for teaching ukulele. Even if you're not a teacher. 1) Start with C7. 2) Gulp. 3) Memory. 4) Word swap. 5) The power of percussion.
Extreme ukulele. 1) How to record your sound (mic vs. pickup). 2) How to protect your ukulele. 3) Why you should master the "monostrum." Buckle up!
Why is it so hard to sing and strum at the same time? What's the best way to practise this musical juggling act? The answer: Strumble!, a board game that makes practice fun. Download Strumble! for free at https://www.uketropolis.com/strumble
Catherine Goykhman shares her thoughts on blending mindfulness with music education. Resources: Catherine's website (https://www.catplaysukulele.com), Daniel Ward's "Arpeggio Meditations" (https://danielward.net/book-store), Choan Gálvez’s "50 Miniature Studies for Ukulele" (https://www.choan.es/en/).
Questions from Level 2 of the JHUI Teacher Certification Program: 1) How to simplify a part for a student who is struggling. 2) How to teach the B-flat chord using an Irish jig. 3) How to avoid unwanted sounds between notes.
In Ukulele Funbook, author Zsolt Schäfer takes us into a world of imagination, creativity and, yes, silliness! Whether it's musical soup, ukulele sudoku, connect-the-dots or alternate tunings, every page of Ukulele Funbook is a chance to learn while you play and to play while you learn. A companion over the holidays, a reward at the end of class or a stress-free way to introduce musical concepts, Ukulele Funbook is the perfect complement to the Ukulele in the Classroom method. So grab your ukulele, sharpen your pencil and have fun! www.uketropolis.com/funbook
James answers questions from Booster Uke students: 1) Is D7 really D7 when there's no root note? 2) How does low-G tuning change the sound of chord twins? 3) How using a "guide finger" makes chord changes easier.
James answers questions about the free course "Peace like an 'ukulele." 1) How to get better at ukulele without even playing it. 2) Why melody picking is for everyone. 3) How to navigate Uketropolis. 4) Low G vs. high G tuning. 5) How to avoid muting strings by accident. Take the course for free at https://www.uketropolis.com/peace
James answers questions from YouTube. 1) The Ukulele Way vs. Ukulele Jazz. 2) Why does Bbmaj7 sound mournful? 3) Thumb position. 4) Strumming technique.
Our first crop of student questions and comments from the brand-new course Ukulele Jazz! 1) OMG, the circle of fifths makes sense. 2) How to find the backing tracks. 3) Is there an alternate fingering for that awkward G minor 7?
To celebrate the launch of the brand-new Ukulele Jazz course (www.uketropolis.com/jazz) James counts down the top 10 reasons why jazz is amazing on ukulele!
A polychord is two chords played at the same time, a head-on harmonic collision that can be surprisingly beautiful. In the wake of the attacks on the US Capitol, James turns to the ukulele to help make sense of a tumultuous time.
Scales. Inversions. Strum patterns. How to tackle three of the most common New Year's resolutions for ukulele players. Brad Bordessa's book "Ukulele Chord Shapes" can be found here: https://liveukulele.com/store/ukulele-chord-shapes/
For James' free "Deck the Halls" ukulele jazz tutorial and sheet music, go to https://www.uketropolis.com/deckthehalls.
The next JHUI online session begins on January 1st. To learn more and watch a sample lecture go to https://www.uketropolis.com/jhui. Special thanks to my sister, Julia Booth, for the great singing tips and for being the inspiration for my piano method (such as it is). To meet Julia, go to https://www.boothvoicestudio.com.
James expands on student questions and comments from Booster Uke (https://www.uketropolis.com/boosteruke): 1) What is the strumming pattern in Li'l Liza Jane? 2) Will Booster Uke provide the direction and structure I need to make real progress? 3) Partner songs for Careless Love.
1) The art of NOT playing the A string. 2) Can animals sense what a song is about? 3) How to create depth in a performance using dynamics and articulation.
How to turn your FM radio (or Spotify playlist) into a fun ear-training exercise. Plus, how to make hard chords easier by using a melodic approach in your practice.
To learn more about the JHUI Teacher Certification Program please visit www.uketropolis.com/jhui.
Five variations on the C chord. Five ways to create resolution. Free handout: http://www.uketropolis.com/resolution
It's early in the morning on November 4th, the day after the U.S. election. And there's a feeling of suspense in the air all over the world. Here in Nova Scotia, Canada, we feel it too. What is that feeling of suspense? When do we feel that in music and why?
The first Uketropolis interview! Meet Eve Goldberg, musician, activist, teacher and songwriter. Find out more at www.evegoldberg.com.
James unveils "C Salutation," a simple piece to help you relax and practise at the same time. Download the score and audio tracks for free at https://www.uketropolis.com/salutation
1) A forgotten pair of chord twins. 2) The difference between good pain and bad pain. 3) How a chord can be Am7 and C6 at the same time.
1) Left-hand vs. right-hand muting. 2) Why the I chord is called the "tonic." 3) Ideas for differentiation in multi-level ukulele groups... because every ukulele group is a multi-level ukulele group.
James P. on "Lesson 5: Streets of Laredo"
My pinky finger is a little slow to get to that B-flat chord!
James Hill replies "Lesson 5: Streets of Laredo
Not to worry, James... it will come with practise! You can try rolling the chord (i.e. dragging the thumb across the strings so that the onset of each note in the chord is slightly staggered). This will give your pinky finger a fraction of a second more time to get in place. That might be all it needs.
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Amy on "Lesson 1: The F Major Scale"
I like your color coordination - the colour of the shirt matches the colour of the book!!
James Hill on "Lesson 1: The F Major Scale"
Shucks... thanks, Amy!
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Sibo Wang on "Lesson 1: The F Major Scale"
If I'm reading the sheet correctly, those mystery melodies are also using notes from the C major scale only, right? Then, for music which uses C,D,E,F,G, and A only, how do we know it's in the key of F major or C major? And why do we need to make this distinction?
James Hill on "Lesson 1: The F Major Scale"
Great question, Sibo. Only ONE note changes between the key of C and the key of F (b becomes b-flat). So if you’re only using the notes c, d, e, f, g and a and your only playing melody, in a sense there’s no difference. However, if you’re strumming things will be quite different. Also, the “roles” of the notes change. In the key of C, for example, the note c is the tonic. The “home” note where the music feels at rest. In the key of F, however, the c note is the “away” note where the melody can feel unresolved. It might sound like a subtle thing but it has an impact on the way you feel the music. I hope that helps!
I recommend you listen to Episode #4 before diving into this bonus episode.
So you've learned to count "by two" through the musical alphabet: A, C, E, G, B, D, F. Now you can quickly name the notes in any one of those chords by leapfrogging; what are the notes in a C chord? c, e, g. The notes in an F chord? f, a, c. Awesome!
But if you listen closely, some of the chords you create will be major and others will be minor. Just remember: "I have an iDEA." That will remind you that the chords D, E and A need sharps in order to be major chords. For example the D major chord is d, f#, a. The E major chord is e, g#, b. The A major chord is a, c#, e. The outlier is the B chord which gets two sharps: b, d#, f#.
Why do we want to make every chord a major chord? Because most musicians use the major chord as their harmonic starting point. It's the "vanilla" of music. Start there, then add fancy toppings! When you can name the notes in any major chord you have a foundation from which to grow in your understanding of music.
Notes in major chords:
A: a, c#, e
B: b, d#, f#
C: c, e, g
D: d, f#, a
E: e, g#, b
F: f, a, c
G: g, b, d
Barbara on "Lesson 5: Carnival of Venice (Interlaced)"
When playing a song like this, I often find myself playing one string off on my right or left hand (sometimes both) because I am looking at the music. Do you have any suggestions on how not to get "lost"?
James answers:
Hi Barbara, good question! I second what Zsolt said and I'll add this. It sounds a bit odd, but try playing with your eyes closed! Even if that means you just memorize a small part of the piece (1 or 2 measures) and then play that part 10 times with your eyes shut. You will hear and feel things in a new way. Try it and let me know if it helps!
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Catherine on "Lesson 3: Interlaced and Synchronous Arranging"
How do you choose which note to insert for the interlacing accompaniment?
Reply by Zsolt from Team Uketropolis on "Lesson 3: Interlaced and Synchronous Arranging"
That is a great question! There are many ways - on the above example James fills the gaps with one note from the underlying harmony - usually in a way that the fill is below the melody note (which is a bit more challenging with the re-entrant tuning, so you might check out the re-entrant version of this lesson too to really get the idea). As you go along, you will see some more ways to do it.
James answers:
Great reply, Zsolt, I couldn't have said it better! Does clarify things, Catherine? If not, keep asking questions; we're here to help!
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Catherine on "Lesson 7: Carnival of Venice (Synchronous)"
James: I'm really enjoying your ukulele series. Any info on music theory is appreciated. Somewhere about ten seconds into your explanation on why chords are marked C when they're really C6 or CSUS4, my brain shut down. Do you have tutorials on straight theory for the non-musically inclined? It would be so helpful to be able to review theory on its own without having to search it out within each tutorial. Thanks so much.
James answers:
Hi Catherine, glad you're enjoying the lessons! There aren't any theory-only lessons in The Ukulele Way although one of the learning paths in the Navigator (https://www.uketropolis.com/navigator) has a special focus on theory. This is a topic that would be great to put out to other students on the Community page to see what others recommend. I'd also be happy to clarify anything in the discussion of C vs. C6 vs. Csus4 if you'd like!
Susan on "My Open Strings: Highlights"
I am starting with my grade 9s tomorrow. I tuned them all Friday afternoon but because of Covid I am not going to touch them right before they do or approach a student. Neither can they pass around the class tuners or tune each others. I sure hope we all tune by ear together.
James answers:
Good luck, Susan! I'm sending good vibes your way. It may be a blessing in the end... tuning one's own uke is a great skill. If you can help them to become more independent in that way, you're doing great!
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Cynthia on "Rocky Mountain: Demonstration"
I notice that you play the C chord with your fourth finger. Is this necessary?
James answers:
It's really up to you. I like using the pinky because it means I can use the other fingers for ornaments and extra stuff (e.g. "rocking" to the F chord feels like less of a stretch). But it's up to you!
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Dwayne on "The C Scale: Highlights"
Do you have notes you can share on what chords you're using to accompany in this demonstration? Some of them I can see & some of those I know. :)
James answers:
Sure thing, Dwayne. The most common progression to accompany is: C - G7 - C - F - C - F - G7 - C. It's not the only way to do it but it works nicely. Occasionally in this demo I'm using the 5-4-3-3 voicing of the C chord. But it's still C!
John on "Lesson 3: The Jazzy Twins"
When you're playing Lil Liza jane fast it very hard to follow you specially when your learning those notes.
James answers:
Good point, John. You can slow down both the video and the interactive score. To slow the video, click on the "gear" icon at the bottom of the video, click "speed" and select a slower speed. For the interactive score, use the "speed" buttons (+/-) below the score. Also, if you want to take it really slow for practise, you can switch to "synthetic" playback using the "Recordings" menu at the bottom of the sheet music. That will switch to a fake ukulele sound (not ideal) but the advantage is that it will play the melody clearly at any tempo. Give it a whirl!
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Pankaj on "Lesson 2: The Gentle Twins"
Hi James!!! You are awesome. Can you please tell me how you are strumming?? It's too fast for me to follow... Not able to recognise that whether it is only up or down or both. Not getting the sound how it is produced. It will be great to know.
James answers:
Thanks, Pankaj! My favourite strum pattern is: down, down, down, down. Seriously. I use it more than any other pattern. Sometimes I accent the 2nd and 4th beats to give a bit of extra oomph: down, DOWN, down, DOWN. And sometimes I even add a little upstroke here and there to give it a little kick: down, DOWN-up, down, DOWN. Honestly, that's 99% of what I'm doing in these lessons. When I'm going fast it can seem more complicated. But it's not! Does that help? Link to James' free YouTube tutorial "How to Strum Really Fast": https://youtu.be/pRFPci9rZrQ
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Camille on "Lesson 6: The Minor Twins (Part 2)"
Enjoying my lessons! I found your strumming video on youtube very helpful. My question is-what part of the finger is hitting the strings on the down strum? Is it the nail itself? It sounds kind of "clicky" when I do that? Thanks
James answers:
Glad to hear it Camille! I'm using the nail on the downstrum. But what teachers (including me) often omit in their explanations is that the nail doesn't come straight down toward the floor. There's an angle to the way it makes contact with the string. If you're meeting the string head-on then it might explain the "clicky" sound. Try slight changes in the angle of the ukulele neck as you strum (don't change your strumming hand). You might find that a small change in the angle makes a big difference in the sound. Let me know!
In this episode we focus on Book 1 of The Ukulele Way.
JP asks:
Is it recommended to be able to play through at 100% speed repeatedly without mistakes before moving to the next lesson? Excited to learn more but don't want to be sloppy either.
James answers:
Hi JP, great question. The short answer: get it 80% perfect then move on, circling back to review in two lessons' time. Why? 1. Because getting stuck is no fun. 2. Because things that seem difficult now may seem easier after you have a couple more lessons under your belt. Uke on!
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Richard L. asks:
Working on the first few measures of Acadian Lullaby (Lesson 6) and I’m confused by the chord diagrams that are labeled as C but aren’t conventional. I can sort of reverse-engineer them and see that they are made up of notes that would make a C chord, but I don’t see how I would know how to come up with them. Should I understand how to make these chords at this point? Maybe this is more advanced and you will explain it in future lessons. If so I can wait, I don’t mean to skip ahead.
James answers:
Great question, Richard. At first, this seems overwhelming, I know. Which is why, at this stage, I usually recommend not thinking too much :) But since you asked, it's the difference between a chord and a voicing. A chord is "what" you're playing (i.e. C or F or G or...) and the voicing is "how" your playing it (the exact arrangement of the chord notes on the fretboard). A chord has many, many voicings but there are some very common ones that happen time and time again. It seems overwhelming but then you realize that the 3 most common voicings of C are 0-0-0-3, 0-0-3-x and 0-0-x-x. You just get used to the fact that C can appear in those three forms depending on the melody note (i.e. you need to be able to highlight any note in the chord. If a chord has three notes, you need at least three voicings for that chord).
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Carole C. asks:
Is here an easy way to move between books? As I continue with the lessons I want to be able to pop back to a previous book to review.
James answers:
There's a "quick links" list on the homepage of each book (e.g. Book 1 homepage: https://www.uketropolis.com/products/the-ukulele-way-book-1). If you keep that open in a browser tab you'll be able to move pretty easily between books. Also bookmark the table of contents; that might even be a better way to do it: https://www.uketropolis.com/the-ukulele-way-toc
Welcome to Uketropolis, a podcast with real ukulele answers to real ukulele questions. I'm your host, James Hill. I'm a lifelong ukulele player, teacher and believer in the power of ukulele to make positive change in the world. I've written and co-written several ukulele methods including Booster Uke, The Ukulele Way and Ukulele in the Classroom. I'm also the co-founder of the JHUI Teacher Certification Program and in 2019 I brought all of these education projects into one place and called it Uketropolis.com. Thousands of students worldwide have formed a warm, supportive learning community around these resources and what I do every week in this podcast is I choose a few real student questions from Uketropolis.com and offer my suggestions and thoughts on those questions.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge that I'm a third-generation Canadian ukulele player and that many players and teachers have paved the way for the work I've done as a teacher, player and author. First, thank you to the Godfather of Canadian ukulele, my friend and mentor, J. Chalmers Doane, my childhood teachers Jamie Thomas and Peter Luongo and many others along the way who kept the ukulele flame alive long before the third wave. Thank you Bonnie Smith, Bill Wallace, Warren Dobson, Cam Trowsdale, Lorna MacPhee, Marven Shields, Jody Wood, Vince and Charlene Sequeira, Tina Horwood and so many other devoted ukulele educators. A special thank you to my teachers and friends in Hawaii who inspired me and, long ago, embraced this young Canadian ukulele player and welcomed "Kimo Pu'u" into their musical 'ohana: Ohta-san, Herb Ohta Jr., Kimo Hussey, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Ledward Kaapana, Dennis Kamakahi, Roy and Kathy Sakuma. Everything I know about ukulele has been shaped by what you've shown me and I'm very grateful to pass on some of that knowledge and aloha in this podcast.
Thank you for listening and I'll see you in Episode 1!