So far, I have been writing down the melody and then finding the chords to go with the notes. After recording “Cadencia Andaluza Por Favor” which I wrote to adhere to the Andalusian Cadence, I am hearing that four chord progression like an ear worm that refuses to leave. I succumb to it and hope that it will not haunt my dreams. “I Hear Ya, Andaluza” for high G ukulele is the result.
I didn’t know it was the Andalusian cadence when I jotted down the tab while travelling in Long Island. My fingers were doing the composing. It felt good to use the three fingers of my right hand to shape the first three bars of this tune.
Only after I entered the notes and tabs and looked for chords that go with the tune did I realize it was the Andalusian Cadence!
I am no stranger to the Andalusian region of Spain. Years, if not, decades ago, I spent a week in that beautiful southern part of Spain and bought my guitar after visiting the Alhambra. I always say that I bought it at the footsteps of the Alhambra. It was Granada.
It’s fun to get my left hand to play the same notes on different places on the ukulele. As a pianist, there’s only one location for each note. There are no decisions about where to play the note.
This one to one correspondence (one note per key and vice versa) does not exist for plucked or stringed instruments. Decisions have to be made.
Pick! Pluck! Play!
“I Hear Ya, Andaluza” is at the second level of the book “Pick! Pluck! Play!” book.
The last page “Ukulele Chords” of the new book contains a table of ukulele chord diagrams ordered alphabetically for the chords used in the book.
I’m thrilled about releasing these books as a precursors (prerequisite) to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Suite, which contains three skill levels.
I am recording all my new compositions in the 100 Days of Ukulele 2025 project. To me, this challenge means uploading a new video recording of a new piece each consecutive day from 1st March to 8th June 2025.
For other recent compositions and arrangements by Anne Ku, please visit the Daily Music Writing Project or scroll through the consecutive blog posts.
