Ukulele Music

Back to more updates!

2010-08-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

This past year has been rather hectic. So as a goal for myself for the rest of the year, I hope to have a new video at least every 2 weeks, if not more often. Here's an old one from a bit ago (played on an Mike Pereira "MP" custom ukulele).

Update: A Whole New World

2009-05-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

Disney classics are great. And I'm starting to write songs. uh oh...

From Aladdin: A Whole New World

2 months since the last update!? + New Cover

2009-04-14T15:55:00.001-07:00

Wow, I didn't realize that it has been so long since I last updated this blog. But its okay, right? As long as the next post has another video to slap onto this thing, I think I'll be in the clear. This one is a pretty famous Dean Martin song (although it was originally written by Pablo Beltran Ruiz "Quien Sera") and I've been actually playing this one to myself a lot. I just never got a definitive version down until now. That bridge part was a tricky one to get for me.

Other news, I'm starting to record mp3 copies of everything and will probably post them up for downloads within several months. I really want these to be in tip-top shape so even that estimate is rough. I'll have to see how it goes though.

Until next time, kids.

Because We Were Young (Original)

2009-02-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

I haven't been idle in Sweden. I just haven't found sufficient recording equipment here now that my previous laptop died and the new one doesn't have as good of a microphone input as the previous. But I think I've gotten a handle on things and will be getting back to some recording.

This one reminds of the outrageous amount of energy I used to have as a kid. It makes me reminisce of the days when my brother and I would play stickball with our cousins and neighbors for hours. We didn't need to stay inside to keep us occupied because outside was our home and we didn't need much to keep us happy and smiling.

Comfortable

2008-11-14T02:38:00.000-08:00

Just a little something I've been playing for a long time but haven't uploaded a video for.

P.S. UK update: English schools are snobby. English people sound posh and bus services in town are horrible.

New Video - Untitled

2008-11-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Back for a video update this time. Even though it seems like I've taken another hiatus, I've kept up with some personal music study of mine. I'm breezing through a book, "Music Theory for Dummies," to see if it'll help with some composing further down the road. I'm sure it will. I've also picked up a couple more songs to play on the uke. I'll probably upload another instrumental video today to just show a popular song that can be played on the uke the uke.

We'll have to wait and see when I finish recording that one.

Cheers from the UK (at least for the next 2 months)

Another Classical Piece

2008-10-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

A bit distracted from doing a pandango take, I learned another piece entitled "Ave Maria". This is one of my favorite classical pieces and I hope to do a bit of a project in classical music in the future as well.

I implemented a new flash player since the old one died. Pretty nifty gadget I think. It's a good temporary fix.

But until the next time, enjoy!

Finally an update!

2008-09-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long hiatus but the break wasn't all in vain. I recently received my custom MP ukulele, which is gorgeous and has a great sound. I've tweaked it by changing the Worth Strings that came with it to D'addario Pro Arte strings and am satisfied with the results. Although the slotted-headstock is a dream, I didn't realize how hard it was going to change the strings until i did it. At least I'm getting better at it.

I uploaded the old Spanish folk song "Romance" onto this blog along with a test run of a new track that I've been fiddling around with, "Momentary Flight." There are still a lot of things that need to be cleaned up before it's a finished product. Still though, I thought it'd be nice to put another addition into the playlist while it's still being edited.

After recording "Romance," I decided that perhaps I should do a take on a Filipino folk song. It'll probably be "Pandango," which will take up a lot of time to figure out all of its nuances. But until then...

Cheers. And here's some eye candy for ya...

Oh it's coming... 2 Tracks and 'Ukulele

2008-07-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Alright, I've got two that are ready to be recorded but I'm still figuring out a way so that the input from the amp to the computer can produce a much cleaner sound than what I'm getting now. One experiments with using all of the natural harmonics on a ukulele and the other has more a flamenco flavor to it and will be recorded soon.
--
On another note, it's almost here. The MP ukulele, which has only been worked on for about a week and a half, is almost done surprisingly. This is an amazing turnaround time for a custom and I'm anxiously awaiting it to fire up the recording sessions again.

Specs:

Custom slotted headstock w/ tri-star inlay and open-geared Grover tuners
Ebony fretboard w/ pearl position markers and a white maple/walnut/maple binding
Solid Redwood top with Walnut rosette
Solid Curly Walnut back and sides
14 frets to body, 21 frets total
K&K Undersaddle passive pick-up system

It will be glorious.

Songs on Four Strings - New Songs in Progress

2008-07-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

I decided that I want to create a slew of tracks before the summer is done and call the track list: "Songs on Four Strings"

So right now I've got one piece under the wraps until I have it all pieced together but another is currently being toyed around with in sound editing software with by a forum member on Ukulele Underground. Big thanks to Tom for that one.

I've uploaded the song "Goodbye Summer" (an unedited copy which I've produced until Tom gets back to me) on the music player to the right side of this blog where all the of newest songs will be listed as they come.

As for "Goodbye Summer", I'm planning to add several backtracks that go along with the melody to create a bigger "wow" effect that can accompany a ukulele. Might include a piano and/or a violin line to support the song but I'll have to wait and see what I can come up with.

Enjoy

Anak

2008-07-03T18:22:00.001-07:00

I've been listening to some OPM hits as of late, out of sheer boredom or just rediscovering other classics. If you don't know what OPM is, it's Original Pilipino Music and mostly consists of a lot of old tracks. I remember listening to one of them by Freddie Aguilar and it always managed to stay in the back of my mind until now when I heard a rendition of it this week.

I decided to rush in a transcription of this song before I forgot about it. I recorded it with my transducer and hooked up straight to my computer after a hearty helping of sushi with the splendid gf.

(Audio File found on the Right Side)

I added a bit of reverb and cancelled the faint background noise that resulted in a clear even tone. I put a picture of the setup below.