Step In and Out for high G ukulele

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Anne Ku

The basis of Travis Picking is “inside, outside.” Fingerpick the two inside strings (C and E) then the outside strings (G and A) of the ukulele. Most of my new piece “Step In and Out” uses such movement of inside and outside pairs of strings of the high G ukulele, hence the title of this piece from my new book “Pick! Pluck! Play!”

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Thrive on Five in Five (pentatonic) for high G ukulele

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Anne Ku

Add one more beat in every measure, common time becomes 5/4 time. “Thrive on Five” (pentatonic) becomes “Thrive on Five in Five.” It’s still pentatonic, for only the five notes from a major pentatonic scale are used. This is one of the 12 pieces in the new book “Pick! Pluck! Play!” that I’m writing for beginners to play on the high G ukulele.

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Thrive on Five (pentatonic) for high G ukulele

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Anne Ku

When I wrote the Five Note Dance, it was before I started my pentatonic journey which created a pentatonic piece for each of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. However, the Five Note Dance was not pentatonic, despite having five notes. Why not?

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Gallop on First for high G ukulele

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Anne Ku

Skipping a few notes from “Wander on One” changes the movement from wandering (meandering) to a gallop. “Gallop on First” is a short piece for high G ukulele in 6/8 time. The left hand finger movement should be the same. The two pieces can be played one after another for comparison.

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Skip the Second for high G ukulele

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Anne Ku

Following “Wander on One,” I aimed at composing a short piece deliberately using only the four notes on the four open strings and the four notes that requires pressing the second fret on the high G ukulele. To this end, I also enlisted a few “necessary” notes on the third fret. “Skip the Second” doesn’t mean to not play the second fret. On the contrary, it requires playing on the second fret as well as a few instances of the third fret. Because the first fret is not used at all, I recommend to use your left hand index finger on the second fret.

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Harmonizing B-A-C-H

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Anne Ku

One reason why the four notes of B-A-C-H work so well on the ukulele is that these notes can all be played on the A-string on frets 1, 0 (open), 3, and 2 consecutively. As we tend to hear the melody as the highest pitch in any chord, it makes sense to explore all the chords that offer this possibility. And there are many indeed to harmonize any melody with the notes of B-A-C-H.

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B-A-C-H in a Minuet for high G ukulele

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Anne Ku

Was Johann Sebastian Bach born on March 21st or 31st? Regardless which, organists all over the world celebrate his birthday the entire month of March by playing his works and giving concerts. To join the celebration, I wrote a piece for high G ukulele that can be played as a solo or duet (with given chords) that pays tribute to the letters in his name, which JS Bach himself famously used in his compositions, juxtaposed with fragments of the most famous minuet that bears his name.

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Waltz Up the Neck for high G ukulele

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Anne Ku

What do you call sheet music that looks challenging and sounds beautiful but is deceptively easy and fun to play? That’s the kind of music I want to write. For beginners, it looks intimidating to see a lot of notes and fret numbers that leap beyond number 3 and jump around.

Here’s an easy piece to get you to slide your left hand (fretting hand) fingers up and down the neck, hence the title “Waltz Up the Neck.” I will teach this piece as a starting warm-up at the next 3 Chord Thursday session, to celebrate our fifth anniversary.

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Wander on One for high G ukulele

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Anne Ku

The six eighth notes in six / eight time meander or wander on open strings and the first fret of the high G ukulele. “Wander on One” is a short piece I wrote for fingerstyle ukulele in the second book of “Pick! Pluck! Play!”

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Walk With Fingers for high G ukulele

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Anne Ku

Alternating the index and middle fingers to “walk” the strings prevents repetitive strain and produces a better sound than using the same single finger repetitively. It’s also possible to “walk” the index and middle fingers on the fretboard when alternating strings on the same fret. I wrote a short piece making use of this principle to walk with fingers.

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