I am pretty sure that I posted this before...
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Picking information from a Tenor Banjo Point of View
This is something I found while thinking about Todd Baio's picking style. Mel Bay Music has Banjo Sessions that I thought might give some insight. Here's a study of Cripple Creek on Tenor Banjo that I'm saving for reference. The tuning is DGdg so 99% of us are not going to try this... I'm just looking at the TAB and the picking patterns used for reference.
More info from Mel Bay Banjo Sessions [Finger Rolls]
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Todd Baio || There But For Fortune
I have had a bari-uke-player-crush on Todd's soulfull country finger-pickin' and singin' skills for quite a while. I had been studyin' on his version of "You Don't Know My Mind" and strugglin' with figurin' out his finner pickin' pattern. Any buddy got a good eye or ear for figgurin'? The video I'm studyin' doesn't show much of his hand so I'm movin' to thissun which shows his right hand so much more clearly.
I don't think that I listened to this before. Todd has got such a solid voice and demeanor.
[I think that he uses only his thumb, middle and ring finger in this pattern. The thumb alternates on the 4th and 3rd strings most of the time but sometimes he does a rest stroke where he strums the 4th and lands his thumb on the 3rd for just an instant. The ring finger plucks before the middle finger.]
PHOTO: Jamie and Jesse Photo Shoot
After watching a few of Jesse and Jamie's videos together I found that besides enjoying their music I liked their retro style clothing. I asked Jesse (Jethro Wilbury) if they would be willing to share a photo with the baritone ukulele community and it turns out that they did it with their usual flare!
Jesse writes, "(Here's a little) background about our collaborations. Sometimes when we're just jamming, one of us will start playing a song and the other will join in or start singing, and if we sound good together, we make a video. We share a love for music that was popular among our grandparents' and parents' generations in their formative and youthful years. Jamie and I both come from the state of Georgia in the USA, and we still reside and do lots of ukulele-playing there."
Jamie Landers
Jesse "Jethro Wilbury"
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
TomeTone2011 || Weeps (on a High-D DGBE Baritone Ukulele)
Gracefully played Jake Shimabukuro style...
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Michel Parmenter || Classical Tabs for the Ukulele
I have a friend that I met through the ukulele blogosphere. He has two musical blogs -- one about building instruments and the other he takes medeival music and makes Classical Tab arrangements for the ukulele. Many of these arrangements are for low-tuned ukes. I like to tinker around with his arrangements and to see the unique instruments that he's constructed.
I have coveted one of his bari's and it has been lingering around in the back of my head. Michel is influenced by medieval designs and it shows in his work. I recommend enlarging this photo and taking a close look at Michel's creations. If we number the photo starting from left to right in the back row I really like the #1 bari for it's tapered fingerboard and unique shape, I like the sleek "parlour" design of #2, and the X sound hole in #3.
I would love to sit with Michel in his parlour in Canada and tickle each bari to hear the unique sound that each makes. His CanUke blog shows many beautiful pictures of his ukulele (and dulcimer) creations. I wish that a major uke maker would look at some of his designs and make him a deal to retire upon.
Here's Michel with one of his bari-creations
Michel has also been doing some metalwork jewelry. I have an affinity for metal items because I work in the structural steel and architectural metals industry as a draftsman. I took a careful look at his Etsy page and found some earrings for my Wendy's Christmas present. They were brilliant and Wendy enjoys wearing them frequently.
(Click on any photo to enlarge)
I like this unique bridge!
ROGER RUTHEN MONDAY || Larghetto Expressivo
I have missed posting Roger Ruthen Mondays for a few weeks. I am now back with another arrangement from Roger that I have tried many times and find it fun to play. The reference video is precisely playing Roger's arrangement albeit on a standard ukulele. I prefer the deeper sound of the bari and I think that if you give it a go on your bari you'll hear that richness too!
pdf-Minstrel's Larghetto Expressivo
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Keely Bum || Skinny Love (cover on Big Uke)
I have seen a few Bari-Uke videos of Skinny Love so I thought it was time to hear the original Bon Iver version...
Dalys09 || Holocene (Bon Iver cover on Big Uke)
timing is a bit off, but sweetly sung nonetheless...
Here's a reprise of Squealing Pigs (Admiral Fallow cover)
Here's a reprise of Squealing Pigs (Admiral Fallow cover)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Candace TimeWarpification || Set Fire to the Rain (Adele cover on the Baritone Ukulele)
Thank you Candace for editing and sharing your video, I really enjoy the unique sound of your voice and this is a tough song. (Never mention the mess ups -- you sounded terrific and that was a nice bari-acoustic version -- and nobody will notice.)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Low Down Dog Blues Research
Today both Dr. Bekken and EugeneUkulele did versions of this song. I love these bluesy songs and started off Googling for a printed version of the lyrics and chords. I came across something called WeeniePedia which caught my attention based on it's irreverent name.
Low Down Dog Blues (Lyrics via WeeniePedia)
Low Down Dog Blues (Lyrics via Blues Lyrics dot com)
Dr. Bekken's video
Eugene's video
BeHeld || It Must Be True
Our friend OutaSpaceMan has a new band which combines the talents of musicians playing baritone ukulele, sitar and mandolin. He told me that it has raised some eyebrows. But as you will soon hear, makes quite a sonorous ensemble. OSM says, this is a "magical reality ditty about the small dreams of call-centre workers."
I have checked out OSM's website several times and enjoy his signage trickery. His blog "The Inexplicable World of OutaSpaceMan" is a treat for those that appreciate the unusual. He's been working on a motorized bicycle recently so I recommend looking back into the archives too those looking to get a deeper insight.
He sent me notice on Humbleuker(at)gmail(dot)com and provided a link to the video as well. I do appreciate a little communication with other baritone ukulele players, or readers in general. I would also like to suggest that it would enhance my ability to see your video, if you post, if you would put "Baritonics" as one of your video tags. (I am surprised at how often YouTube doesn't show all of the recent baritone ukulele videos.
Something else that I'll mention is that I do enjoy getting photos of you with your baritone ukulele. Many friends have provided photos. Just know that they are used to spread the bari-uke-love.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
99 Chacona || Baritone Uke Slide Eb Tuning with a Drone
This video appears to be an exploration of the baritone ukulele with a slide...
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Jonathan Mann || Write Something Down (Song #1175)
I love what Jonathan does with his baritone ukulele. I think that he plays the baritone ukulele like a guitar. Many people don't like this aspect of the bari and I really don't care. Some say it's a little guitar and others say its a uke with too much sustain. Again I really don't care -- I play my bari because I like the rich sound. I play the bari because it is a way to be musical. It is a tool. My tool, perhaps your tool too.
I have watched many of Jonathan's video and he plays all sorts of instruments and composes in so many ways. He's the song-a-day man and he uses that beat up holey baritone ukulele to the maximum. It seems to be his fallback or creative instrument for most of his songs. Each song has a character. Sometimes the works are choppy or superficial just forcing a day's creation but it's always his musicality that touches me.
In this short song Jonathan looks tired to me but he reaches deep down for another creation. That stairwell sure adds to the acoustics!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Aquila Strings || NEW Unwound Aquila Baritone Ukulele Strings DGBE
Here's something that interests me!
Aquila Strings writes...
This is a cheap Baritone ukulele with installed the new 'Red Series' Aquila strings. No wound strings here, just the new Red Series 3rd & 4th plain loaded-weighted Nylgut strings. (There is a little buzing on the 3rd string due to the very low action. Sorry for that.)
Gauges: 3rd: 1.00 mm, 4th: 1.28 mm
'Red Series' string density: twice that of the white Nylgut
Mimmo Peruffo
www.aquilacorde.com
Aquila Strings writes...
This is a cheap Baritone ukulele with installed the new 'Red Series' Aquila strings. No wound strings here, just the new Red Series 3rd & 4th plain loaded-weighted Nylgut strings. (There is a little buzing on the 3rd string due to the very low action. Sorry for that.)
Gauges: 3rd: 1.00 mm, 4th: 1.28 mm
'Red Series' string density: twice that of the white Nylgut
Mimmo Peruffo
www.aquilacorde.com
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Gary C from Albuquerque || Goodbye Cruel World (Pink Floyd cover on Bari-Uke)
Hello Gary. I almost missed this one from you. I hope you're still around -- I notice a player from Albuquerque from time to time on the blog stat counter. Thanks for checking out the blog and I don't think 33 second is too short to post.
Captain Blackbush || The Ballad of Blackbush
Yo-Ho Yo-Ho Me Hearties Yo-Ho...
Nice haunting tune
Ye captain writes...
"In honor of the launch of the "Pirate Project"-Crowd-funding campaign on IndieGoGo- we are releasing this low-budget YouTube music video for the Ballad of Blackbush-to help familiarize people with the song as this will be one of the two songs in the music video we are producing. Support us on IndieGoGo: http://igg.me/p/68667?a=427293 and follow our blog:http://www.captainblackbush.com"Elk Beatle || Broken Hearts & Lonely Roads (Original Song on Baritone Ukulele)
I often don't write much about videos. They pretty much speak for themselves. This is the first video that I've come across from Elk Beatle and it an original that she sing and plays very strongly. Creating an original song seems to be a special treasure. Welcome "Elk Beatle" to Humble Baritonics.
Otterbeone || Black Cat Rag (Chicago Tuning DGBE)
Otter plays another one of his creations. Here's a Lightning Bug Custom Resonator Tenor Guitar that is tuned DGBE just like our bari-ukes. I have been calling DGBE tuning "DoGBonE" tuning but the tuning is frequently called "Chicago Tuning" in the Tenor Banjo and Tenor Guitar world.
Police Dawg Blues
Downpressor Man
Friday, March 16, 2012
Mary Hampton at Willkommen Collective night
Another Tenor Guitar
Mary Hampton at Willkommen Collective night, a photo by neate photos on Flickr.
Seth Lakeman Tenor Guitar
I didn't find any new baritone ukulele photos on Flickr and decided to check out our blood cousin the tenor guitar. So this is not becoming the tenor guitar network but some appreciation from afar.
![Guitars, Ukuleles, etc. [Necked Box Lutes played with Hands] 24 - Tenor Guitar (of Damien O’Kane) by KM's Live Music shots](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6105/6305625268_e3770d0418.jpg)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Vonnie's Vlog || Norwegian Wood
Brace yourself for a LONG ramble... Does posting to YouTube stress you out too? Well Vonnie is a bit of a nut but she's playing her bari and expressing the insanity of trying to get the perfect video.
TBA || All The Motels in San Diego
I wonder if the band regrets the name they chose? Pretty energetic song.
JCA Walton || Twenty One
Mr. Walton is making some videos of his little girls and putting his music in as the soundtrack. I liked that he used "Baritonics" as a label on his YouTube video tags.
Dr. Bekken || The Waters are Calm This Morning
Doc writes... "Some folk style improv on the Richwood baritone ukulele. As for the title, I have a great view of the Norwegian Trondheim Fjord from my apartment window, and the waters are indeed calm today."
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Ukulele Cowboy Society || After You're Gone
UCS writes,
Here it is! Finally! After weeks of anticipation! It's the official World Premiere of The Ukulele Cowboy Society's Music Video, "After You've Gone!" Alert the media! Tell your friends! Shout it from the rooftops! Just watch the darn thing! Starring The Ukulele Cowboy Society (All two of us) Jesse Chandler: Vocals and Percussion and Michael Kaplan: Baritone Ukulele. Remember: Tragic Squareness can be avoided by watching this video. So do it and avoid embarrassing complications later on...
For more information about The Ukulele Cowboy Society visit the Official Society webpage at: www.theukulelecowboysociety.com and visit us on Facebook.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Mississippi John Hurt || Shake That Thing
I often try to turn something written for the guitar into something to do on the bari. I don't know if it really stays true to the original but I have had fun picking it for the last few days. Click the image in order see it larger on your screen.
This is old country blues, roots music style. The constant steady beat of the thumb drives the song. It frequently uses pinches. Other than that I try down-thumbs on the 1, 2, 3, 4's and up-index on the "ands" which is pretty standard to the flatpicking style. Please, if you give it an solid try, let me know what you think. Thanks, Jeff / HU
This is old country blues, roots music style. The constant steady beat of the thumb drives the song. It frequently uses pinches. Other than that I try down-thumbs on the 1, 2, 3, 4's and up-index on the "ands" which is pretty standard to the flatpicking style. Please, if you give it an solid try, let me know what you think. Thanks, Jeff / HU
P.S. If you want a pdf of this just e-mail me.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Jethro Wilbury || Precious Lord, Take Me Home
Jethro writes... "This is my cover of "Precious Lord" written by Thomas A. Dorsey. Here I play my Lanikai baritone ukulele and sing with an attempted blues gospel combination style. It's imperfect, but aren't we all? Haha!"
Friday, March 9, 2012
PDF-Uker || Tango Arrangement
Hey, pull out your bari and try some finger-style tango buke...
PDF-Uker Wordpress Site Link
Tango Tablature Direct Link
PDF-Uker Wordpress Site Link
Tango Tablature Direct Link
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Nadine Treble7Notes || One and Only (Adele cover on Bari-Uke)
Turns out I didn't recognize my friend Nadine, she was sneaking up on me as "Geez Louise." She also has her own music blog to peruse too, http://awindinthewillows.blogspot.com/
Alyssa Marie || Tico-Tico played with Drum Machine
There are many videos with baritone ukulele players that are not labelled. Here's a little treasure with Alyssa where she uses a Yamaha drum machine to play along with. It makes me think that this might be a better way to practice without the EVIL metro-gnome and increase one's ability to play with others.
Does anyone have any ideas for other good rhythm machines to practice along with?
Thanks Alyssa for the idea. Jeff / HU
This is a kanilea baritone
This is a kanilea baritone
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Jake Wildwood || Un Cafe' Noir
I have been exploring Jake's Antebellum Instruments site for a few years now. He doe an amazing job of mendin' & fixin' vintage instruments and taking wonderful photographs to be shared.
Jake wrote...
Jake wrote...
"I simply had to make a cut for you all on this baritone uke before it hits the rack and finds a new home. This is a c.1960s Japanese-built all-solid baritone under the "Carmencita" brand. Back and sides and neck of somewhat flamed Japanese maple, nice spruce top, and checker binding around the soundhole and top. It's sort of a typical import baritone from the time with the exception of the nice solid woods... and the tone... oh my. This thing projects very well and sounds like a decent quality classical guitar."
Sunday, March 4, 2012
For Want of Rain || Masquerade Ball (Original on Baritone Ukulele)
Andy Yates has an original song with unique strumming...
Friday, March 2, 2012
Friendly Fred || La Paloma (Baritone Ukulele)
Here's a beautiful video. A beautiful composition skillfully played. I like the framing of this video especially the shadows on the wall. Bravo Fred!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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