A member of our group brought this beautiful ukulele song to everyone’s attention. It is performed by Swiss singer/songwriter Charlie Roe with The Washing Machines and makes terrific use of the ukulele and is a wonderful feel good song to brighten anyone’s day.
Category Archives: Ukulele Players
There’s More than One Way to do a Ukulele Song
In a ukulele group there is always a lot of debate about how to do a particular song. Some people think that imitating the original version is the only way to go, while others have their favourite cover version that they like better. Personally, I think that there is no right or wrong way to do a song, but as so many ukulele groups use identical song books and perform the same songs, I believe that a group should do it’s own arrangements. If everyone did things the same way it would be a very boring world.
Coming from a visual art background, I have learnt that it is more creative to develop your own individual form of self-expression. If you painted like Picasso or Monet it would hardly be your own take on the world. The same goes for performing songs. Unless you are a very good impersonator, nobody sounds the same vocally or has the same playing style as the original artist, so why try to replicate that version. Here is where a group needs to forget about the original and play around to find a way that enhances their own sound and gives some room for creativity.
A good example of this is The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s version of Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush. As a man, George Hinchcliffe has hardly the singing style of Kate Bush, yet he does a wonderful jazzy version of her song that suits his voice, uses the unique sound of the ukulele to full advantage and injects it with the personalities of the group’s members. It just shows that a great song allows so many possibilities for interpretation.
A song with a solo vocalist is also going to sound completely different when done by a large number of singers. If everyone sings the same melody together it could sound very monotonous and possibly messy, which will not add anything to the performance. This is where it pays to rearrange the vocals for a group. For instance, when The Langley Ukulele Ensemble did a ukulele take on Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl, the male ukulele players sang the main vocal together then combined in harmony with the female players. One member did a ukulele solo, while the others strummed and picked the rhythm. Their performance has great clarity and is very appealing. The arrangement makes the most of the large number of performers and enhances their particular sound.
So experiment with a song. Change it to suit the particular voices in the group, whether male of female. This can include altering the key and tempo, as well as introducing various harmonies. With the ukuleles you can change the rhythm patterns or do combinations of compatible strums, and create fingerpicking parts. The ukulele is never going to sound the same as a guitar so work with its particular feel good tone. Don’t be afraid to leave out solos meant for guitar, or if there is a member who feels confident with these, they can do a ukulele solo. The possibilities are endless.
Of course as you gain experience it becomes easier to do your own arrangements. You can start with something simple, like tempo, whether slowing a song down or speeding it up. The main thing is to have an open mind and a willingness to give it a go. If you have trouble, get together with someone else in the group. Two heads are better than one.
Don’t be stuck in a rut or a slave to convention. Try to be as innovative as you can and stamp a song with your group’s unique personality. It will be that much more enjoyable to play and your audience will thank you.
Kat
Taimane: Greensleeves and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The holiday period is nearly upon us. How did it come so soon. To get everyone in the spirit here is a medley from the wonderful Taimane Gardner and her guitarist friend, Jazzy. It seems appropriate to have ukulele music played in such a lovely tropical setting, especially as it is summertime in Australia. Enjoy.
Singing in Ukulele Groups
Singing with a group is different from singing on your own. You must try to harmonise with the other voices, as not everyone can easily sing in the particular key of a song. It helps if you have had some singing lessons. Before taking up the Ukulele I learnt to sing a cappella, that is, unaccompanied by an instrument, in a small group class. We learnt how to find our vocal range and to sing different parts in three or four-part harmonies. It was great experience for singing in a Ukulele group, but anyone can learn to sing in harmony.
It takes practice to hold your part with other singers, but it helps if you sit or stand next to someone with the same vocal range. Over time and by listening to the other members of the group, you should be able to do this with ease and without damaging your voice by singing out of your range. It is well worth the effort to persevere with harmony singing and it will give your ukulele group a more integrated sound.
A good way to develop the harmonies for a song is to sing them unaccompanied before bringing in the ukuleles. You can then tell if they are working and that everyone is in sync before adding the instruments. This makes for tighter vocals and allows everyone to learn their parts.
I have also noticed that in some larger ukulele groups not everyone plays their instrument when they are singing. This tones down the volume of multiple ukuleles and makes it easier for the singers to hear their harmonies. When you are doing tight harmony singing it takes a lot of concentration and it is probably better if you do not have to think about what you are playing at the same time. Also soloist singers in a group often do not play their ukuleles because they are putting all their effort into the vocals.
A good example of the above technique can be seen in the performances of the Langley Ukulele Ensemble from British Columbia. They perform beautiful vocal harmonies and vary the numbers of those playing their ukuleles. Below is a video of a performance that they did this year in Hawaii.
So don’t worry if you find it difficult to play the ukulele and sing harmonies simultaneously. If there are enough ukulele players in the group, it is not detrimental that you do not play your instrument while you are singing and this can improve the overall sound.
Kat
Peter Moss Ukulele Workshop
At the recent Melbourne Ukulele Festival a couple of us did UK player Peter Moss’s “Ukulele Fun Shop” workshop and really enjoyed the experience. He is a great teacher and everyone was soon doing his medley of Rock n’ Roll songs like old hands. If you get a chance, make sure you attend one of his workshops as they are most helpful and great fun. Below is a video of the same workshop that he did in the US in 2015.
The Ooks of Hazzard Play Radiohead
The US ukulele band the Ooks of Hazard are so great at reinterpreting contemporary rock songs for the ukulele. Here they are at the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain in June 2016 playing Radiohead. Beautiful!
The Deni Uke Muster 2016
Another Ukulele Festival to add to your calendar.
Enne` Ukulele
Found this terrific UK singer/player on Youtube busking in a London street. Her name is Nakisha Esnard and performs under the name Enne`. She is a singer/songwriter and ukulele performer in the genre’s of reggae and soul. Someone to watch out for. There is a link to her Facebook page below.
Ryo Montgomery
Ukulele performer Ryo Montgomery will be appearing at the Melbourne Ukulele Festival in October. Check out their website for more information. There is a feature article about Ryo and his father in todays Age newspaper (link below).
Baritone Uke Tutorial
Manitoba Hal demonstrates a great variation of an old favourite on the baritone ukulele. This should also be of interest to other uke players as you can play the same chord forms with the usual GCEA tuning in the Key of C.
baysideukes.com 