STRUMMERS GUESTMAIL ARCHIVES PAGE FIVE
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yeah?
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Mahalo to all of you who have taken
the time to sign my book.
7-15-04,Brian A. Sak Age 31
Really starting to get into Ukulele now. I bought my uke when I was on Maui at Bounty Music
almost three years ago. Never really played it much until this year, but now I am
hooked. I play it every day now, even if only for a few minutes. I've learned most
of the first positions and can strum my way through a few different songs.
But then I started
encountering sus chords and diminished and 7+5's. Do you know how hard it is to
find info on that stuff? Until I found your website of course. Definitely the most
helpful website I have found yet. Thank you so much for all the free lessons and music
theory. It is very much appreciated.
Jake Shimabukuro and Led Kaapana just came through
my town here in Ann Arbor, MI. What a treat that was. They brought the spirit
of Aloha with them and left plenty of it behind for all of us that were there.
Makes me want to play even more!
7-15-04,Clint
Mahalo for the kind words, Brian, I really appreciate it.
Glad you found and are using my site. I enjoy hearing about how people find
my site helpful, it makes it all worth it, yeah?
It is awesome you had the opportunity to see both of those outstanding performers play.
They are both really top notch musicians, and especially Led. Wow.
And I know what you mean about wanting to play even more after seeing them...that is what
a great performance will do...make you want to get home and practice even harder.
Good for you brah. Many Mahalos for signin' da guestbook and for talkin' story,
Brian.
(
Okay everyone, here is my short speech -
)
I decided to put all the chords and their positions on my site because I got
tired of people talkin about helping everyone learn to play, (for the
Aloha Spirit of it all), and then trying to sell the new students these
chord books containing all the chords that should have been free in the first place.
So I post all these chords here for free in order to help these learners
(of all levels) learn more about how to play and enjoy this wonderful instrument.
(For free), 'cause that's what the Aloha Spirit is all
about, don't sell da free stuffs, cuz...
7-12-04,Lori Gibson Age 39
Love your website! Wanted to write to say thank you for having your Ukulele Strummer
T-Shirts in 3X. My husband is a (as you say) "big poi eatin' brudda"
and needs that loose fit. Please contact me off the internet by the phone number
I have included or by personal email and let me know how to order some things from
your store.
Mahalo for all your hard work.
7-12-04,Clint
Lori, will do. Mahalo for signin'
7-11-04,Greg Barnett
Dear Clint
I am a bad ukulele player. More truthfully, I am a very bad ukulele player and I can't
carry a tune to save my life-or anybody else's life. Nonetheless, I own three
ukes- an Ovation standard, one of the new pineapple fleas from Flea Market Music,
and a koa wood Keli'i tenor I picked up on Maui a couple of years ago. I enjoy strumming
them while listening to IZ, the Ka'au Crater Boys, Jimmy Buffett, John Denver
- whoever. Much to my family's dismay, one of my ukes usually goes with me whenever
I travel. (No comparison is intended here, but I once heard that George Harrison liked
the uke so much that he would travel with two of them, one instrument for himself and a second
for anybody else that might want to play along with him).
My obsession with the uke started several years ago, late at night while watching the ending
credits to the movie Meet Joe Black. As the credits rolled up my television screen,
I was captivated by IZ's beautifully sung, deceptively simple, ukulele rendition
of Somewhere over the rainbow-What a wonderful world. I was hooked.
Today I own just about every songbook Jim Beloff has published and I am very interested in
obtaining one of your playbooks too. Like you, I live in Southern California, near
San Diego, and so I hope this can be easily accomplished. Please let me know if this is
possible.
Yours
Greg Barnett
7-11-04,Clint
Eh Cuz, you need to work a bit on your ukulele-abilities-self-image,
yeah?
Don't lose the real focus here Greg, it is about having fun, relaxing and
enjoying -
remember?
I am sure you are better than you believe yourself to be, so just go with it, but
have fun.
Remember, there is always the other group -
I know a lot of players who think that they are better than they really are.
Mentally I think I would rather be where you are. Think about it, and relax brah.
I also always take a uke on vacation. I try to play everyday. That is just the way it should
be when you love something. You need to love it everyday, yeah?
I will email you about da Playbook.
Keep strumming and enjoy.
Many Mahalos for signin'
7-8-04,Darlene
Hi
I am Darlene and I am writing you from Lompoc, Ca. Love your website. I am a new ukulele
player, never played an instrument in my life and after breaking my ankle a couple of
months ago decided to learn the uke with all my extra free time. My friend recently
joined a ukulele club in Orcutt, Ca, and there was alot of ukulele music around...his
club is really new and not very organized yet.
We are planning a trip to your area the end of July and thought it might be fun tom stop by
and see how your club works and bring back some ideas. Just want to make sure you will be
meeting the last Saturday of July, then we will be there. Would appreciate if you would
write back and let us know.
Thanks for your great site!
Darlene
7-8-04,Clint
Wow, it took you to break your ankle to start playin dis awesome instrument, yeah?
Maybe you gonna break you arm next and den discover anutta use for da poi?
Yeah, we gonna be there every Saturday of every month, so when you on your field trip
come on in Darlene, you always welcome, but no forget your uke.
Mahalo for signin
7-7-04,Mike Ekinaka Age 61
Great website...printed out a few of the songs I recognized and will give them a try.
So it's March and we're driving back to Poipu through Kalaheo and it's raining,
of course. Not because we're on Kauai, but because it's the first time we've
rented a convertible. Stop at the light and off to the right is a sign that says "Ukulele
Sale". So we pull in and 15 minutes later I own a Lanikai tenor uke, a small book of
chords, a spare set of strings and a case to keep it all dry.
Tomorrow is my first lesson and I am not exactly sure what I want to learn or why. I started
out playing the ukulele then switched to guitar a bunch of years ago when folk music
was popular. Hadn't touched the instrument for probably 20 years but ended up fooling
around with a ukulele in a bar in Honolulu a few years ago and remembered a fair bit.
Been to the Islands about 6 or 7 times over the past 10 years...mostly Kauai best...and really
like the weather, the music, and the lifestyle. Favorites are Keali'i Reichel,
Hapa, and IZ. Favorite song by IZ is La Elima, about a fishing village. Any chance
you have the lyrics and chords?
Mike Ekinaka
Irvine, Ca.
7-7-04,Clint
Eh Mike
Mahalo for checkin da site and usin da song sheets...it's what I do brah.
I think I have La Elima layin around hea somewhere...I keep lookin and yell at you later.
Not exactly what you wanna learn or why, cuz? Because da Uke da bomb brah, that
why!
Good Luck
7-1-04,Noel Tardy
Hi
Your website is awesome! The chords in all positions area is terrific and just what most
of our club members need. My roommate and I just underwrote bringing James Hill to town
for a workshop and concert (so we are broke now-but don't even care!).
The main thrust of the workshop was learning chord inversions.
I could not find your name anywhere on your website! I feel awkward asking for help from
someone I cannot call by name! We have three uke clubs in our area- two very new and
one loosely formed that has been around for about two years. The one I recently formed is
UFO-Ukulele Friends and Ohana of North Texas, then we have DUH-Dallas Ukulele
Headquarters and a new unnamed one in Ft. Worth.
We want to bring some more uke people to the North Texas area as well as to do our best to
promote the instrument. With that thought in mind we have set up an educational fund for
that purpose. I'd like to know if you would like to donate a few items from your store to
our cause - we will be having raffles and drawings to fund the educational fund. We are
hoping that other organizations and players will donate some uke-abilia to our cause.
Just so you will know I'm somewhat legit, you can check out our Yahoo group -
UkuleleFriends. Don't have a website yet but I'm working on it!
Any help would be very much appreciated!
Thanks
Noel-lele
The Colony, TX
7-1-04,Clint
Noel, I will email you privately on the donations.
I am glad you and your club find my site very helpful, that's awesome, brah.
It is also very awesome that you are out there starting ukulele groups.
You're priceless, cuz! Keep on jammin and keep this love alive!
Much Mahalo.
6-30-04,Walt
Hello!
I love your site-thanks so much for such a great resource! I finally got around to
buying a decent ukulele and I've already learned a couple of really simple songs.
I already know the saw. I love the sound of it and it is fretless! Since I can
sing okay, I can play it by ear pretty well. That's why I decided to learn ukulele-
I love singing but I am sort of daunted by stringed instruments. Nothing seems better to me
than to be able to play a real proper instrument while singing my favorite songs, you
know? I would've used your name, but I could not find it, even in your
"About Me" pages.
Oh well, I'm interested in your Strummers Playbook. A few of my favorites I saw listed
and would love to get a copy.
I now work as an animator at Cartoon Network and a coworker and I have begun to practice
together. He's the one who sent me to your site, actually.
Thanks for your time and please let me know about the Strummers Playbook.
Ciao and Aloha
Walt
6-30-04,Clint
You play da saw by ear, brah? Be careful!
You gonna end up like Picasso, cuz!
(sorry)
I gonna email you about da playbook, Many Mahalos for signin, Walt.
6-30-04,Gregg
Aloha
Mahalo for creating a wonderfully informative website for ukulele beginners like me.
I have a dumb question-
What does 1st position, 2nd position and 3rd position mean?
I am an expatriot from Kaimuki, Oahu, now living in Seattle. I have a concert
Kamaka and I want to learn how to play the uke, so I am very greatful for your instruction
and also providing some song sheets.
I love Brudda IZ and gospel music. Do you have some gospel songs and some old time hymns?
What is your mailing address, I could send you some little bit kala.
Dats why I appreciate your aloha and kokua.
Mahalo nui loa, Gregg.
6-30-04,Clint
Mahalo Gregg, I appreciate your nice words.
Rememba - dumb questions are the ones we don't ask, yeah?
The positions on the fretboard are locations where chords are fingered. All chords that a
beginner will learn are in the 1st Position area of the fretboard, (first 3 frets).
Most beginners know that a "C" Chord is fingered on the first string,
third fret, ring finger.
This is not the only "C" Chord on the fretboard.
If you move down towards the body of the instrument to the third fret,
(and on the third fret) finger the Bb chord, (because
it is on the third fret) it is actually the 2nd position "C" Chord.
As I move further down the fretboard I will run into different fingerings of the "C"
Chord. These different locations for the same Named chord are called positions.
For the most part the 1st positions are frets 1 to 3. The 2nd positions fall on frets 3 to 6,
the 3rd positions fall on frets 6 to 9... and so on. See the overlapping of frets, yeah?
It is not a precise science, but a close guide.
For examples see my Chords Pages, or study my All Positions Pages.
I will also email you independently on this matter.
Mahalo for signin' Gregg
6-28-04,Chris Cutrell Age 34
Nice Sight. In Memphis, TN learning first position chords on my first uke. I like
it because I'm left handed and can manage playing the chords (except for G Major)
while it is tuned traditionally (right handed).
I can't wait to burn some 1-4-5 progressions on stage with this little puppy.
I hope you can forgive me for not playing it in a traditional Hawaiian manner. I haven't
been there yet, but plan to go soon. My Washburn uke has ALOHA written on the head.
Unfortunately, it's upside down when I play. I am hoping it means "hello" or
"goodbye" right side up or upside down.
Thanks for the info on the history of the dog and fleas.
Chris Cutrell
6-28-04,Clint
Eh Chris, I forgive you brah, now you can sleep in peace.
It does not matter if you play Hawaiian music on this awesome instrument or not, as long
as you play and try to live with the Hawaiian Aloha Spirit,
(having love and respect for the Culture, Islands and People).
Everyone should have a great time with the uke, just respect what it really
stands for. The Uke can convey much, and as a player it's your job to tell
that story.
Keep Jammin, cuz.
Oh yeah, and go to Hawaii.
6-23-04,Wolfgang Ertel
Hello! I am from Germany and I play the ukulele for half a
year. Although I'm not very musical, I managed to make very good efforts in playing
this instrument. Meanwhile I can play some nice songs like Jamaica Farewell or
the Bourree of the Lautensuite from J.S. Bach.
A few days ago I found the Homepage of Risa Music, a small company which produces acoustic
and electric ukuleles. On their page I heard the wonderful melody of "E Ku'u
Morning Dew" performed by Steve Espaniola. So I surfed in the net to find the notes of
this song and hit upon your great homepage. To complete my little collection of songs I
would be very pleased if you could send me a playbook with this song. Of course I undertake
all of your costs, and send you a cheque or the cash.
Best regards from Germany
Wolfgang
6-23-04,Clint
Germany! Dis site gettin around brudda! How cool is dat?
Much Mahalos for emailin and yeah, I can include
probably three different arrangements of Ku'u Mornin Dew, no problem.
(I love dis international stuffs).
We gonna talk cuz.
Mahalo
6-23-04,Christopher Gauld
I've been playing the Uke for 5 years (guitar for 10)...folks picked one up on
vacation in Hawaii (asked...as a joke...for a HI shirt and ukulele...got a cheap shirt and a
sweet ukulele). I am from CT and work at Mystic Seaport Museum (home of Charles W.
Morgan - Whaling ship that whaled out of HI for awhile), so I learned how to play
the uke from what I knew about the guitar and by learning sea music. It is a great back up
to mandolin, banjo, concertina, fiddle, and anything else that went on board
a sailing ship in the "age of sail".
Still loving it and trying to learn more.
Cool website, thank you.
And that's my story
Chris
6-23-04,Clint
And a fine story it is me boy, a fine story....aaarrgh!
(Sorry brah, hard to resist, yeah?)
Glad you like da site Chris, there are alot of cool old sea songs that have been writin down
throughout the history of shipping, kinda neat to hear that some young player gettin
his "uke fingers" that way. Hope you keep checkin da site for stuffs you can find
useful.
Mahalo Chris.
6-22-04,Kimo
Howzit!
Mahalo plenty for having an easy site to find da stuff fo free! At's like "mynah
bird price" as they say in Hilo. Am going on the 63 and got my first uke as Father's
Day gift from my daughter who sent it from Kauai. Nice sounding Lanikai Tenor Koa one.
Was looking for the chords and you was the only one who made it easy and free....much mahalo
for the true Hawaiian Spirit.
Here in Walla Walla Valley of Washington hard to find other
Kanakas. As a graduate of Kamehameha who moved here in 93 I take trips to Portland and
Seattle to get a pick-me-up. Now that I am retired may find my way to your corner
and come visit.
My full name is James K. Ahia, Jr. Keiki hanau of Kaimu, Puna, of Hawaii where
the lava took the blacksand beach. Grew up personally knowing the Kaapana Brothers,
G-Girl, Pavao, Don Ho, Danny kaleikini, Aunty Genoa Keawe, Cousin Peter
Ahia and the whole gang. As student engineer for KVOK at Kamehameha, I had the opportunity
of assisting 49th State Records tape a whole bunch of the local talents including Johnny
Alameida, Ohta San (just starting), among others. HOWEVER, I never did
learn to play the uke or any other stringed instrument...with my brothers I was the lead singer...
so now, I do benefit performances of hapa-haole Hawaiian songs Karaoke style and hope
to add a few numbers with me strumming the uke.
Sorry to be so long winded! Will check back your site periodically. Mahalo again.
Aloha
Kimo Kaleikaapuni,
The Hawaiian Song Man.
6-22-04,Clint
Mahalo for the nice words, Kimo. I'm glad you use the chords pages. I am amazed
that people who know I have this site, with all the chords for free, still
wastin' their money on chord books. Kinda lolo if you ask me...
Anyways, glad you usin' dem. Cool you gro up knowin da kine people. Awesome.
Enjoy your Lanikai, good jammin uke. Be ready to play it hard when you visit,
yeah?
Good luck in all you musical endeavors, again Mahalo.
6-20-04,Rudy Alcantara
My name is Rudy Alcantara and from the Philippines I started playing the Uke when I was in
High School. One of my friend taught me how to play the chords then I started playing solo
by ear. I can't sing nor read music, just do it myself. I am too old now "66
years old". I had a Martin and Favilla Ukulele. Both sound real good and when I saw your
website I print all your chord pages. I wish I'm in Hawaii so I can learn to play real
music. I am retired U.S. Navy in 1977 and now living in Jacksonville, FL. There is nobody
in Jacksonville that knows ukulele, they don't even sell uke in music store. I bought
my uke from the ads in the news paper. I paid $160.00 for my Martin and $50.00 for
Favilla and both in very good condition. No crack, ding or scratch. I am looking for CD
that has a lyric showing the fingers when playing solos.
If you know where I can get please let me know.
Thank you
Rudy
6-20-04,Clint
Eh Rudy
You neva too old brah. I gonna email you alone to talk about the lyric cd you lookin for.
Mahalo for printin all my chord pages, I glad you can use them all.
Keep playin. Have fun. Enjoy.
6-20-04,Sally Jo
Hi Clint
My name is Sally Jo and I'm a friend of Kerry P's. She invited me to come and listen
today to the South Bay Strummers...which I did. How fun it was to listen to everybody
playing their ukuleles. I would love to join in.
I have a B.A. in Music Education and Music Therapy from the Conservatory of Music,
in Kansas City, Mo. I loved learning about music theory...similar to you as you mention
on your website. I taught piano lessons all the way through school, then taught
elementary music in Western Kansas for awhile.
Then came to-as you wonderfully put it "the big Island of L.A." to go to grad
school. Got my M.A. a few years ago...and have been working with blind children
as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist ever since.
I have such a passion for music, and although I've been playing piano on my own,
I have wanted for quite awhile to play music with others...it's a huge desire...I would
love to do something with piano-keyboard with others. In the meantime, Kerry told me
about you and the great group you have started.
Sooo... I guess I'm writing...because...well..to introduce myself to you..."hello"
and to tell you a bit about me...and to see if maybe I could take a lesson or two from you...
so I can learn some of the basics before joining in with the others.
Thanks
Sally Jo
6-20-04,Clint
Mahalo for signin my guestbookmail Sally Jo. I will call you today and we'll talk.
Again, Mahalo
6-20-04,Marlyn Lewis Age 50
Born and raised in Hawaii. Came over to the mainland for college and like so many others
stayed. I do have fond memories of my High School Polynesian Music class in Honolulu Hawaii
and 30 plus students playing the ukulele. Bought a second hand uke here in Portland,
Oregon and hope to learn to play.
Found a local group of "strummers" that gather and play on the last Sunday of every
month at Artichoke Music. Someday, I'll get over to visit and enjoy the comraderie.
Love your website. Don't miss the food, the climate, the traffic, but I do
miss the music
6-20-04,Clint
Bring the home to youself through your music, sistah! You gonna rememba to play
real fast, and den the Hawaiian pull you even harder. If I had da roots somewhere
in Hawaii, I be right there quick. Home is where da heart is, yeah?
Mahalo for signin', Marlyn.
Enjoy the journey of relearnin dis beautiful instrument.
Mahalo
6-19-04,Big Island Boy
Aloha,
I am just here for the first time ever and I would like to thank you for being here.
I am just learning to play Uku but I have played guitar for many years now. My close
friend in Hawaii is David Gomes in North Kohala-Hawi Town and I have just bought
one of his fine Koa Uku's. I just returned from an annual trek to the islands of
which I love Lanai the most. My wife likes the fast life but for me the slow speed of Lanai
is what I enjoy the most. I worked on Lanai for almost three years building the lodge at
Koele and Manele Bay Hotel. I did live on the Big Island, Hawi for about 7 plus years
and I feel I will never lose the Aloha I have come to love and enjoy. I have many hawaiian
shirts and wear them almost solely. Hawaii is where I want to be. The warm water and Aloha
spirit can never be found anywhere else, so I think anyway. But again, thank you
so very much for being here and making a place for people to get some standard music to play.
Aloha Always,
Lui Lui
"One of the Big Island Boys"
6-19-04,Clint
I hear ya cuz, nothin' like da Islands. Nothin.
Keep playin that awesome Uku and rememba, it is up to you to convey (through da
music you gonna play), what the true Aloha is all about.
Peace brah.
Copyright© 2003 CF