Ukulele Underground Podcast

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TLL Podcast #113 - The Art of Theme Songs Jul 10, 2020

Show notes

On this Week's Podcast, Aldrine reveals his Magnum Opus for the Theme Song Songwriting Challenge; Aaron shows and explains his 90's Sitcom inspired song; and Kahai ask for an extension. Before the guy's show their songs (most of their songs anyway), they answer some questions on different ways of playing the Bb Chord, and the Natural Minor Scale. They also discuss balancing Audience Request, and how to handle "Persistent" Audience members. Continuing their ongoing Nicktoons talk, Aldrine shows off his latest 90's Memorabilia.

Podcast Show Notes and Links:
https://ukuleleunderground.com/2020/07/tll-podcast-113-the-art-of-theme-songs/

TLL Podcast #112 – Electric Improvising! Jul 04, 2020

Show notes

It's Electric! This week the guys jump in to the podcast talking about the latest Play-Along. This leads to a behind the scenes look at how the team made the Play-Along, and what Aaron's Dream Play-Along would be. The talk moves to Improvising and Soloing when a member asks Aldrine if he plans his solos. Aldrine breaks down how he tackles solos, and what he thinks about when soloing. Aaron explain that once you know "Safe Notes" you also know how to play "Unsafe Notes". Aldrine goes on to to talk about Improvising as Self Expression, and how he uses Improvising in other situations besides playing music. A question about a Singing App leads to the discussion of whether Singing helps your Playing and Vice Versa. The podcast ends with focusing on being the best you, how kids learn so fast, and getting the right feeling.

TLL Podcast #111 – Open Tunings Open Minds Jun 27, 2020

Show notes

This week's Podcast is all about Tuning: Open Tunings, Alternate Tunings, Tuning By Ear and Tuning on Stage. Before we get to that, the guys start the podcast off by asking if they should start a Nicktoons podcast (probably not). The talk of tuning starts from a member who saw James Hill's video on Alternate Tunings and asks the UU Team if they use Alternate Tunings and what are the benefits? Aldrine shares some of his favorite Alternate Tunings, Kahai gives a tip on how to come up with your own Open Tuning, and Aaron Explain's why Tunings might have become standardized. The team explains how to Tune by Ear which leads a discussion on Perfect Pitch and training your Relative Pitch. Aldrine opens up the discussion to Tuning on Stage and what the guys' opinions and best practices are. At the end of the podcast, The Last Songwriting Challenge winners are announced and a new Challenge is set.

TLL Podcast #110 – Dynamics Waltz Jun 20, 2020

Show notes

This week we're practicing Karate and Dancing (don't worry it will make sense later). We jump start the podcast by giving tips for practicing and learning Dynamics. Aldrine suggest thinking about Dynamics as a wave, and Aaron gives the advice to sway to the music to feel the Dynamics. The guys talk about Restringing Your Ukulele, and how you can avoid having your string or peg slip. A member asks what they can do to learn the notes higher on the fretboard, and another member asks the team how they feel about the Classical Guitar style vs Hawaiian styles of supporting an instrument. This leads into a discussion about the evolution of Playing Styles and Postures. The podcast ends with revisiting how to play without a strap, and Kahai connects this to "Waxing On and Waxing Off" in your daily life.

TLL Podcast #109 - Vegas BBQ Pipikaula Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

What do Vegas, BBQ Sauce, and PipiKaula have to do with Country Music? Watch the podcast to find out. The guys are back this week to answer questions, review some students, and unveil their latest songs. A member asks the guys if learning songs will become faster, and once you learn a song how do you memorize it? This leads into a look behind the scenes of the UU+ Solos, and adding your own style to a song. The team gives advice for someone who's almost there, and someone who should maybe take a break. The podcast is topped off with the guys showing their "Country Songs."

TLL Podcast #108 - Campanella with aNueNue Jun 06, 2020

Show notes

This week, we have 3 special guest: Kalei Gamiao, Corey Fujimoto and Allan Fang from aNueNue USA. The podcast starts with Corey and Kalei answering a question about choosing chord voicings for songs, and explaining the Campanella technique. The guys give us an introduction to who they are and who aNueNue is. Then they show and demo some of their ukuleles. The podcast ends with the aNueNue team talking about their charity auction, and giving some words of wisdom.

TLL Podcast #107 – Do Straps Make the Player? May 30, 2020

Show notes

Do Straps Make the Player, or does the Player Make the Straps? A student review leads the UU team to question how important is a strap, and how much support should you be getting from the strap? The guys also offer fundamental advice on how you should hold your ukulele to optimize support. This leads to a trip down memory lane when most ukuleles didn't have strap pegs, and playing an ukulele/pick up combo that was great for stage, but impossible to play without a strap. A UU member asks how many ukuleles Aldrine plays for a show, and another member asks why Aldrine wrote a song about Playing Cards. A special guest is announced for next week's podcast, and an extension is placed on the Songwriting Challenge.

TLL Podcast #106 - As Easy As Whistling May 22, 2020

Show notes

It's just the Boys this week! No special guest, but the team does answer a question from last week, and reviews a back catalog of student reviews. One member asks if playing the ukulele will ever be as easy as whistling along to a song? Aldrine gives examples of how easy playing along can be, and Aaron points out how far you may already be if you can whistle to a song. The guys dive into Student Reviews. They give advice on following through with your strum, checking where you anchor, playing with rest strokes, playing posture, and the importance of Phrasing. A new Songwriting Challenge is set, and the guys throwback to a Titanic Ukulele Challenge. Towards the end of the podcast, the team pays their respects to Uncle Willie K by talking about fond memories with him.

TLL Podcast #105 – Musical Fingerprint May 15, 2020

Show notes

This week we're joined by another UU "O.G.", Brad Bordessa. Brad is a uke teacher from Big Island. He learned from some local legends and now he's passing on what he's learned through his site, Live Ukulele. For the Live Lesson, Brad helps us with some questions about holding the B7, the importance of fingernails, getting that "Canadian Folk" sound, and staying calm while playing. We also talk about today's ukulele landscape, Brad's Ukulele, and how Brad records his music. Brad finishes the lesson with a tidbit about your Musical Fingerprint, and focusing on your sound.

TLL Podcast #104 - Style Ingredients May 09, 2020

Show notes

Longtime friend and OG Member of the UU Community, Narciso "Seeso" Lobo joins us for this week's podcast. We start of the Live Lesson with an intro to Seeso, and an explanation of the Ukulele World Congress and the Brown County Ukulele Festival. Along the way, the gang reminisces about the online ukulele community, and take a walk down memory lane when Seeso introduced UU to Chicago. We catch up with what Seeso is currently working on, dive back to some of the original Ukulele Youtube Heavy Hitters. The tail end of the podcast is spent answering questions about Capos, Spruce/Koa wood combos, switching chords, and why ukuleles are traditionally strung with a High G.

Watch the Video Podcast and See the Show Notes with Links:
https://ukuleleunderground.com/2020/05/tll-podcast-104-style-ingredients/

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