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Topic: Learning the fretboard - a different approach |
Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 7:23 am |
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I've been playing C6 steel guitar for many years now, having been a Spanish guitar player for practically my entire life. I've certainly got a lot more proficient soloing on lap over the years, but am always trying to improve in that area.
Last night I took my uke and tuned it to the top 4 strings of the C6 tuning (G A C E - intervalically, not actual pitch) and have been soloing (with flatpick) on it. Not having the bar and fingerpicks etc has really freed me up and I'm finding all kinds stuff that I can apply to playing the steel. You could of course do the same with a guitar and have the full 6 string tuning.
Thought I'd share that with y'all, give it shot. If nothing else, it's fun! |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Ray Shakeshaft
From:
Kidderminster, Worcs, UK.
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 8:27 am
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There may be many folks around here that do not know you as well as I do Gerald  Take no notice folks, this guy is one of the best swing uke players around.
(Hi Bill, are you a member of Andy Andrew's internationally known Santa Cruz Ukulele Club). |
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Ron Simpson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 9:13 am
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Hey Gerald,
Your Ukulele Hit Parade CD is fantastic. I wish I could "toy around" like that.
Thanks again,
Ron |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 9:17 am
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a great way to learn the fretboard is to put the guitar down. Seriously. Create a diagram of all the notes and stare at it for a week. then start visualizing it in your head.
the other great way is limit yourself to one string, then two then three, etc. You learn to look beyond perceived limitations when you create even more restrictive ones and then expand back out. Thats; wat you're experiencing with the the uke experiment.
As far as the uke being a toy, the erhu is a 2 string Chinese fiddle and I have heard some of the most amazing music on it. it's not how many strings. it's how you use them  |
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Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 9:57 am
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Bill and AJ, both your suggestions are great. I've had a rough time wrapping my empty head around C6 and both of these approaches sound intriguing.
Gerald, the uke is indeed a toy. How many stories have you heard about young women wanting backstage passes to meet the uke player? Well, maybe there are a few.
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 10:07 am
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| hey Tiny Tim is a total babe magnet! Only his uke is tiny |
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