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Original Post By:
Frank B
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Date: 8/4/2008 7:28:18 PM |
I've procrastinated long enough: it is time to get serious about learning to play chord solos. I've taught several classes of beginning ukulele in the past year, but I realize now that I left those beginners hanging out to dry with nowhere to go for more instruction. I feel bad about that. I thought I wasn't good enough to teach anything above beginner level, and I may be right about that. But, I failed to realize that the solution to that problem was for me to get gooder myself.
So, where can I find instruction in simple chord solo playing? I've tried the Lyle Ritz books and found them to be too challenging. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Frank B. |
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Posted By:
hoaryhead
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Date: 8/4/2008 7:52:24 PM
(Updated: 8/5/2008 12:43:17 AM)
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I think there's a book called "The Ukulele Secret: How to Create Melodies and Chord Solos" by Jerry Moore, but it's out of print.
Gerry Long also has a book too that you can access on his website: http://www.ukesolos.com
If i were to really attach this style, I'd start learning the names of notes and building my own chords around the melodies I want to solo.
By the way, I think Long forcing folks to play low-G is really bad form, but I'm sure there's something to be gained from his book.
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Posted By:
Ed B.
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Date: 8/4/2008 9:35:26 PM |
Good for you, Frank, to expand your skills and your teaching range!
Are you looking for any kind of solos or are you looking for chord solos specifically? And are you looking for books that teach the principles of creating solos, or are you looking for books that contain easy solo tab that you could teach to your students?
There are several books, as well as some online sources, that have tab for solos that might include some fingerpicking mixed in with the chords. If you're looking only for chord solos, however, you'll find fewer resources. And there are only a few books like "The Ukulele Secret" that hoaryhead mentioned that teach basic principles (Rigk Sauer's "The Ukulele Solo Recipe" is one).
Chord solos aren't necessarily easier than other solos, if that's why you're looking to introduce your students to them -- especially solos like Lyle Ritz's as you have pointed out. There are many other solos that would be easy and satisfying for an advanced beginner or early intermediate player.
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 8/4/2008 11:03:41 PM |
In Jim Beloff's, "Ukulele Gems" book, he's got a couple of beginning chord solos in TAB.
Do you know how to read music? If so, the Purple Ohta-San Master's book has various standards and the melody lines are easy to figure out with the chords.
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Posted By:
Boswell
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Date: 8/4/2008 11:09:51 PM |
You say you found the Lyle Ritz book too challenging.
But, have you tried the new one called Lyle Ritz Lite? It just came out, and it might be exactly what you are looking for.
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Posted By:
Frank B
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Date: 8/5/2008 12:06:23 AM |
Ed B, thank you for jogging my brain. I don't think I know what I want, which is fueling my frustration. I've always been the side man - rhythm and vocals. So, I'm sailing into uncharted waters. I can read both notation and tablature and can even pick out familiar melodies by ear. So, if I were looking for a style to learn myself I would choose one that mixed chords in with the melody. Something along the line of Herb Otha. I prefer to play in a group, but I would like to be able to play a tune that would stand alone without vocals. I'm guessing my students might want to be able to do that as well.
I have some of these books you folks have mentioned: I just forgot about them. Links to some of the websites mentioned would be appreciated, too.
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 8/5/2008 12:26:34 AM |
| What's good about the purple Ohta-San Master's book is that the songs are in all ukulele-friendly keys. Ohta-San also made it so a person playing in reentrant tuning could still figure things out.
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 8/5/2008 1:37:47 AM
(Updated: 8/5/2008 1:39:06 AM)
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I can't believe I forgot Dominic's site! He's got plenty o' TAB and arrangements on his site.
http://dominator.ukeland.com
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Posted By:
BrianT
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Date: 8/5/2008 12:10:34 PM |
| Has anyone seen the Lyle Lite book that Boswell mentioned?
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Posted By:
Frank B
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Date: 8/6/2008 12:17:58 AM |
Thanks to one and all who responded. I knew I could depend on the Board for help. I've added the links to Favorites, dug the books out of the drawer, and I'm on my way. Additionally, I found a very simple solo at the tail end of Ralph Shaw's DVD, Complete Ukulele Course. This is going to be hard, but not as hard as I first thought. You folks are the greatest.
Frank B.
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Posted By:
Ed B.
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Date: 8/6/2008 2:21:41 AM |
If you can already pick out melodies on your uke, you're closer than you think to being able to play solos. In its simplest form, that's all there is to a solo: picking out the melody and adding in the full chord now and then.
Of course, that's an oversimplification. But listen to Herb Ohta -- that's the basis of what he is doing. What makes his playing extraordinary is his relaxed smooth style, and his skill in adding embellishment to the basic form of the solo.
Don't know what music genre you're looking for. As Craig mentioned, Dominator has an extensive selection on his website -- a terrific resource. If you're looking for some simpler songs better suited for an aspiring beginner, there are a couple on http://kauairainbow.com . Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on "ukulele". Two of the songs are Hawaiian melodies, so you may or may not be familiar with them, but they are short and simple enough for a dedicated beginner. The third, Crazy G, is fast and showy, a lot of fun, and still not too hard: I've taught it to my pre-teen nieces and nephews.
Have fun with this, Frank! You'll be well rewarded for your efforts.
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Posted By:
MR Bulk
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Date: 8/6/2008 7:38:44 AM |
Greensleeves was the first one I learned, almost automatically easy. I have the tab somewhere on the hard drive, let me know and I'll go look it up on my computer.
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Posted By:
Marko
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Date: 8/6/2008 10:00:00 AM |
I am going to insert a paid advertisement here. Learn to create your own chord solos. At the Blue Stone Folk School, take the theory based class. Its a week long intensive view of how music theory applies to the ukulele fretboard. Then we take that knowledge and write chord solos. Last year my students were able to come up with two solos one for Beso Me Mucho and When you Wish Upon a Star, both are very nice arrangements. The cool thing about creating your own arrangement is it can be as complex as you want it to be and its your very own. You won't come out sounding like every other person that has memorized a Lyle Ritz book. Now.... I love Lyle and his books don't get me wrong but my motto is "learn to be the song bird not a myna bird.
Peace
Spanky
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Posted By:
Mimi
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Date: 8/6/2008 8:57:08 PM |
I just purchased a downloadable (is that a word?) book from ukulelehunt.com for Christmas solos.
http://howtoplayukulele.com/
For a very few dollars you can print out the tab and hear them played on MP3s. These are the nicest simple solo arrangements I've come across. I'm happy with my purchase.
Learning to do your own is the ultimate goal but this book might give you a jump start.
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Posted By:
Cattywampus
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Date: 8/8/2008 6:26:20 AM |
| Brian, I have the Lyle Lite book, and it's great. The arrangements are a lot simpler than his other books, but they still have that Lyle touch and sophistication.
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Posted By:
BrianT
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Date: 8/10/2008 1:45:40 PM |
| That's good to hear, Cattywampus. I have been stumbling through the blue Lyle Ritz book and like it but Lyle Lite might be better for my skill level. Thanks.
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