We will not have class next Tuesday because of the Holiday. I will have company and many people will be traveling here and there, generally in a flutter.
I wish you all a very happy Thanksgving, filled with family, good food, love and music.
This week:
We started our introduction to flat picking. Here are a couple of things to know about flat picking:
Hold the pick as illustrated on page 32
Hold it loosely - no tight grip
When flatpicking, pick a bit closer to the bridge, over the sound hole.
Using the pick parallel to the strings creates and bright sound.
Giving the pick a slight angle will produce a warmer sound.
The focus when practicing is not on speed but rather on keeping a steady rhythm.
Thin picks sound thin, thick pick sound hard and loud. I recommend starting out with a medium pick. I passed out picks in class. (If you weren't there, you can get one at any music store).
Be sure to pick down-up, down-up: Generally down on the the beat, up on the off beat.
For our next class (November 29), practice:
To See Swainson with a flat pick
Exercises on page 32-33
AND begin to work on Bella Bocca Polka. In the second part of this song, both Use I and Uke II are written on one staff. You do not play both notes at the same time but rather, practice first the high part, and then the low. Also be aware of the key change in the second part (measure 18).
Also practice Jingle Bells. Think about our class playing this for the BUG Jam on Dec 3.
I wish you all a very happy Thanksgving, filled with family, good food, love and music.
This week:
We started our introduction to flat picking. Here are a couple of things to know about flat picking:
Hold the pick as illustrated on page 32
Hold it loosely - no tight grip
When flatpicking, pick a bit closer to the bridge, over the sound hole.
Using the pick parallel to the strings creates and bright sound.
Giving the pick a slight angle will produce a warmer sound.
The focus when practicing is not on speed but rather on keeping a steady rhythm.
Thin picks sound thin, thick pick sound hard and loud. I recommend starting out with a medium pick. I passed out picks in class. (If you weren't there, you can get one at any music store).
Be sure to pick down-up, down-up: Generally down on the the beat, up on the off beat.
For our next class (November 29), practice:
To See Swainson with a flat pick
Exercises on page 32-33
AND begin to work on Bella Bocca Polka. In the second part of this song, both Use I and Uke II are written on one staff. You do not play both notes at the same time but rather, practice first the high part, and then the low. Also be aware of the key change in the second part (measure 18).
Also practice Jingle Bells. Think about our class playing this for the BUG Jam on Dec 3.
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